Pōhutukawa Cordial Recipe

Pōhutukawa Cordial Recipe

Pōhutukawa Cordial

The iconic, stunning Pōhutukawa tree is known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree because of the bright red blooms, which decorate the trees during the Christmas season.

It is a sacred tree, for it is from the ancient trees on the cliffs at Te Reinga, where the spirits of the dead left this land. Legend tells us that the red of the flowers comes from the blood of the mythical hero Tawhaki, who fell to his death from the sky.

Medicinal Uses: Like many other native plants, Pōhutukawa also has medicinal uses. In traditional Māori herbal medicine, Pohutukawa was used topically for wounds and abrasions.
The inner bark can be used as an infusion to treat diarrhoea, chewed to cure thrush, steeped in water as a mouthwash, or tied against wounds to stop bleeding.

Māori used to collect the nectar as a sweetener for food, and they sucked the nectar through a straw made from a reed to ease the pain of a sore throat.
The extract from the flowers of the Pōhutukawa is conditioning, deeply moisturising, antioxidant-packed and antiseptic. It also promotes cell regeneration and soft, youthful skin.

Emotionally/Spiritually: Pōhutukawa is helpful for connection to Nature, self-awareness; self-assertion; power used with wisdom; personal will and strong sense of self. (First Light Essences NZ make a beautiful remedy for this)

To harvest Pōhutukawa flowers, wait until you see plenty of fallen blooms around the base of the tree, or harvest those flowers that are about to fall. As with any harvest, only take what you need and leave plenty ♥

Pōhutukawa Cordial Recipe

This gorgeous-looking cordial has a mild, sweet nectar/blossom type flavour, it's delicious!

Ingredients

  • 300 grams of pōhutukawa stamens (a couple of good handfuls)
  • 1 litre of water
  • 100g of sugar

Method

Boil the water and reduce it to a simmer.

Add the sugar and simmer until it's absorbed. Turn off the heat.

Add your pōhutukawa flowers in and let the mixture steep overnight, brewing like a cup of tea.

The next day, strain out the flower stamens, gently pressing but not squeezing them.

Bottle your cordial in clean, warm glass bottles.

Enjoy a splash of this cordial with bubbles (or gin for adults) or cold water & ice. We've also tried adding a dash to less sweet kombucha, which the kids loved!

They also make beautiful gifts or Christmas presents!

Posted: Monday 13 December 2021

Comments

  • My so tried this at the beach over Christmas and I’d never heard of it. It’s gorgeous and refreshing as well as being full of antioxidants etc. So cool!
    Posted: 2024-01-14 15:41   by Christina