Geranium Rose Elixir

Important Point of clarification: The "rose-scented geranium" is in the same family as geraniums but not in the same genus.

Pelargonium graveolens - is confusingly called 'rose-scented geranium'. The scent is in the leaves, not the flower.

Best bought. Not very hardy, potted plants can be overwintered in a greenhouse.

Ingredients

Method

  1. Snip the leaves and the soft stalks into small pieces.
  2. Bruise them slightly, using pestle and mortar.
  3. Fill a jar, pour over the vodka and leave in a dark place for about a month. After which the liquor will turn a green-brown colour.
  4. Strain off the leaves. Add a couple of drops of cochineal if you don’t like the colour (last time I made it it turned a lovely shade of light green and looked very pleasant without the colouring).

Bottle the liquor, adding a sprig of geranium for decoration if liked.

Images

Rose-scented geranium

Rose scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

An easy-to-grow garden herb usually stocked in herb-sections of nursery suppliers.