Butterfly-Garden Herbal Tea Syrup

A syrup that captures the garden’s hush—violet, mint, lemon—bottled for quiet mornings and soft twilights.
Curatorial: Petals and herbs steeped like silk; strained clear and decanted in glass for a ritual that feels timeless.

This floral herbal syrup turns simple water, tea, or sparkling wine into a moment. Inspired by your butterfly garden, we use lavender, mint, lemon balm, and edible petals to create a gentle, uplifting concentrate you can keep in the fridge for 2–3 weeks. Stir a spoonful into iced tea, drizzle over yogurt, or shake into an evening mocktail.

“Steep the garden; decant the calm.”

Butterfly-Garden Herbal Tea Syrup

Herbs & Florals

  • 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint
  • 1 cup lemon balm (or lemon verbena)
  • 1 tbsp culinary lavender buds
  • ½ cup edible petals (rose, calendula, violet, or butterfly pea)
  • Finely peeled zest of 1 lemon (no white pith)

Base

  • 1 cup cane sugar (or honey)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of sea salt

Essential Tools

  • Non-reactive saucepan
  • Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
  • Sterilized glass bottle with lid
  • Small funnel

Optional Color

  • 1–2 tsp dried butterfly pea flowers (for a sapphire hue that turns lilac with lemon)

Method

  1. Warm the Base: In a saucepan combine water, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Heat gently until sugar dissolves; do not boil.
  2. Steep: Remove from heat. Add mint, lemon balm, lavender, petals, and (optional) butterfly pea. Cover and steep 20–30 minutes.
  3. Strain & Brighten: Strain through a fine sieve/cheesecloth, pressing gently. Stir in lemon juice.
  4. Decant: Funnel into a sterilized glass bottle. Cool, seal, and refrigerate.
  5. Shelf Life: 2–3 weeks chilled. If using honey, shake before each use.

Serve Three Ways

  • Morning: 1 tbsp syrup + sparkling water + lemon slice.
  • Afternoon: Stir into iced green tea; add crushed ice and mint sprig.
  • Evening: Mocktail—2 tbsp syrup + ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar + soda over ice, garnish with edible flower.

Notes & Variations

  • Rose & Cardamom: Add 2 lightly crushed cardamom pods and swap petals for fragrant rose.
  • Lavender-Vanilla: Add ½ tsp vanilla extract post-strain for a dessert-leaning profile.
  • Low-Sugar: Use ¾ cup sugar; add ¼ tsp liquid stevia to taste after straining.

Garden Ritual

Clip herbs in the cool of morning. Rinse gently, pat dry, and thank the plants. As the syrup steeps, open a window and let the scent move through the house—the smallest act can reset the day.

Tools that Make it Beautiful

  • Apothecary-style glass bottle for a stunning fridge shelf
  • Fine-mesh strainer for a clear, jewel-tone syrup
  • Large ice molds to keep drinks undiluted and elegant

Keep a bottle ready for guests, garden days, and quiet evenings. One pour and the whole room exhales.