I like to collect old recipes and I wanted to share them with all of you.

Since everyone seems to be on the subject of Spring and Summer I thought I should share a refreshing Summer drink. This is a recipe that was used during the Victorian Era.This was very popular at Summer teas (at large teas very few people actually drank hot tea. Punch and cold tea was a much more popular since it was more refreshing and easier to make). Now if you are thinking of the Victorian Era as nothing but dances and parties, fancy teas and games or Summer Fetes, you would be wrong. These were popular, yes, but among wealthy society. Now this was a popular drink among working common people that lived it the country. They too had their get-togethers and teas but for things like harvest parties and church meetings. This drink made from this pretty woodland wildflower was to only be drunk on days of feast at the beginning of Summer.

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{Woodruffe Summer Cup}

~ Handful of sweet Woodruffe ~

~ 2 Teaspoons of China tea ~

~ Half pound of Strawberries ~

~ 40 oz. of pure Apple Juice ~

~ 1 Lemon; 1 Orange; Ice ~

~ Water if needed ~ 

~ Woodruffe for Decoration ~

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   Put a handful of fresh or dried woodruffe in a jug and pour 10 oz. of boiling water over it. Leave to infuse.

   In the meantime brew the China tea, strain 10 oz of it and leave it to cool.

   Slice the Strawberries and put them in a large bowl. Add chilled apple juice, then the cold tea and strained herb infusion and the strained, squeezed juice of one lemon and one orange. Add ice, taste, and dilute with a little water, still or sparkling, if needed. Scatter fresh Woodruffe Flowers on the surface and serve very cold.

(This photograph was not taken by me, but I wanted you to know what woodruffe looks like and I thought the insect looked neat.)

(Hint: Woodruffe is now spelled Woodruff, the "e" was droped in the 1920's since it made no sound and did not change they way the word was pronounced.)

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   I hope you enjoy the first entry of "Old Time Recipes".

In the words of Albert Camus, "In depth of winter, I finally learned that with in me lay invincible summer."

Sincerely,

~Mary-Ann~

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Posted by maa

Thanks for sharing it! Where do you find old recipes like that?
Belle
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That recipe came from a book by Jane Newdick. But I get many from books and from my Grandmother and a Magazine I get called "Remanise".

~Mary-Ann~

Edited by poppy on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 02:23

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Posted by CaraDD

I have had trouble finding sweet woodruff as a plant. Do you have a source?

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You can buy it from a site called NextHarvest.com. It use to grow wild where we lived in California. You can buy it dry at the health food stores too.

~Mary-Ann~

Edited by poppy on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 09:21

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