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  • 600g blackcurrants
    washed and stems removed
  • 4 tbsp dried or fresh lemon verbena
    leaves
  • 300g sugar
  • 400ml raw cider vinegar
  • fizzy or still water
    to serve
  • lemon verbena
    or lemon balm sprig, to serve (optional)

Nutrition: per 100ml serving (diluted with water)

  • kcal14
  • fat0g
    low
  • saturates0g
  • carbs3g
  • sugars3g
  • fibre0g
  • protein0g
  • salt0g
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Method

  • step 1

    First, sterilise a large jar or bottle. Wash in hot, soapy water, then place on a baking tray and put in a low oven for 10 mins or until completely dry. Put the blackcurrants in the warm sterilised jar and set aside. Make an infusion with 500ml boiling water and the lemon verbena, then stir through the sugar. Pour over the blackcurrants, stir and leave to cool. Cover with a lid, then put in the fridge. Every day for about 5 days, gently shake the jar.

  • step 2

    By this time, the fruit should have macerated in the sugary tea. Tip into a pan with the vinegar and gently bring to a very light simmer for about 5 mins. Allow to cool to room temperature, then strain through a muslin-lined, fine mesh sieve into a large, sterilised jar and seal with a lid.

  • step 3

    Keep it in the fridge and serve topped up with fizzy or still water – add a sprig of fresh verbena or lemon balm if you like. Will keep in the fridge for up to 4 months.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, August 2016

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Comments, questions and tips (4)

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jennyb1234

Should the leaves be strained from the infusion before adding the sugar?

stephhugs

I made this with some home grown blackcurrants. I tried the first glass today diluted with some sparkling water. It’s odd. It smells of blackcurrant and you do get that fruit flavour initially but the vinegar is overpowering and that’s the main aftertaste you’re left with.

carolfieldhouseAQRjU9IE

question

Can you use lemon balm instead of lemon verbena for the infusion?

goodfoodteam avatar
goodfoodteam

Hi, thanks for your question. We haven't tried it with lemon balm but it should work fine as they are largely interchangeable. We hope this helps. Best wishes, BBC Good Food Team.

Caterina Moll avatar

Caterina Moll

Could I make this with stevia sugar instead of cane sugar ?

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