Sweet Woodruff Syrup

This delicate syrup captures the soft vanilla-like fragrance of sweet woodruff — a plant long celebrated in European herbal traditions. Whether made with briefly wilted fresh sprigs or dried leaves, the aroma transforms simple drinks and desserts into something magical.

Stir it into lemonades, drizzle over pancakes, sweeten winter teas, or add a touch of woodland charm to cocktails. A tiny bottle of pure spring fragrance.

Fragrant sweet woodruff syrup in a glass jar with fresh sprigs on a rustic wooden table

Sweet Woodruff Syrup

A fragrant, floral syrup made from dried or briefly wilted sweet woodruff. Perfect for lemonades, desserts, winter drinks, and spring celebrations.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 1 bottle (300 ml)
Course: Herbal Remedy, Infusion, Sweetener, Syrup
Cuisine: European, Foraged, Herbal, Rustic
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 10-12 sprigs fresh sweet woodruff (wilt 1–2 hours) or 1–2 tbsp dried woodruff
  • 250 ml water
  • 250 g sugar or 180 g honey
  • strip of lemon peel optional

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • fine strainer
  • Glass bottle or jar

Method
 

  1. Let fresh sweet woodruff wilt for 1–2 hours to develop its natural aroma.
  2. Add water and sugar to a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Remove from heat and add the wilted or dried woodruff (and lemon peel if using).
  4. Cover and let infuse for 12–24 hours for the best flavor.
  5. Strain and pour into a clean bottle.
  6. Store in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

Notes

💡 Tip: Add to sparkling water for a gentle spring lemonade, or to warm winter teas for a soft, floral sweetness.
⚠️ Note: Only use *Galium odoratum* (Sweet Woodruff) and avoid consuming in very large amounts.

Why This Syrup Works

Sweet woodruff contains natural aromatic compounds that develop as the herb wilts or dries. These gentle coumarins bring a soft, comforting fragrance reminiscent of vanilla, hay, and spring forests.

Transforming the herb into syrup makes it shelf-stable and easy to use — just one spoonful can brighten an entire drink or dessert.
Perfect for spring celebrations, cozy winter drinks, or any moment that needs a hint of woodland sweetness.

Tips & Variations

  • Add a strip of lemon peel to the simmering syrup for a citrus lift.

  • Replace half the sugar with honey for a warmer, deeper flavor.

  • For a stronger aroma, let the sweet woodruff sit in the hot syrup for 12–24 hours before straining.

  • Use dried sweet woodruff if fresh is unavailable — the flavor is often even better.

Seasonal Ritual

Traditionally, sweet woodruff was gathered just before flowering, when its fragrance is at its peak.
Make this syrup during the waxing moon, a time linked to growth, sweetness, and nourishment.
Store a small bottle in your kitchen as a reminder of spring’s gentleness — even in the middle of winter.

More Foraged Sweetness

If you enjoy botanical syrups and woodland-infused drinks, you may also like:

The Winter Herbal Chest

Do you want more magic and usefull remedies? Take a look at my ebook The Winter Herbal Chest.

Buy the Winter Herbal Chest Here
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