Honeysuckle Orangeade {a refreshing herbal summer drink recipe}
Honeysuckle Orangeade is a refreshing summer drink recipe with the added benefits of honeysuckle herbal tea.
It’s easy to make, kid-friendly and was so well received by my family, I barely got photos of it before they drank every last drop.
My goats also seemed fascinated! :)
How to Make Honeysuckle Orangeade
Step 1: Make the Herbal Tea
I chose honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) for this orangeade recipe because it’s currently blooming around my house, plus it has an amazing scent, mild flavor, and a ton of great health benefits.
- Honeysuckle may help reduce inflammation in diabetic nephropathy. (study link)
- Honeysuckle directly targets influenza A virus. (study link)
- Honeysuckle may be helpful for COPD. (source)
- In Traditional Chinese medicine, honeysuckle flowers are among the important herbs for clearing heat and relieving toxicity. (source)
If fresh honeysuckle isn’t available, you can used dried honeysuckle instead or experiment with different herbal tea flavors such as chamomile, elderflower or lemon balm.
To make the honeysuckle tea:
- Pour 1/2 cup of simmering hot water over 1/4 packed cup of honeysuckle flowers (about 30 flowers).
- Steep for 10 minutes.
- Stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons of honey until dissolved.
- Strain.
Step 2: Make the Orangeade
Orangeade is a naturally sweeter alternative to lemonade. It’s made mostly of freshly squeezed orange juice, but a small amount of lemon juice is added as well, to help round out the flavor.
To make the orangeade:
- Squeeze several oranges (about 3 to 6 depending on size) plus 1 lemon until you get 1 1/2 cups of combined orange/lemon juice.
- Strain to remove seeds and pulp.
- Combine the orange/lemon juice with the honeysuckle tea/honey mixture – starting with a mixture of 1/2 cup tea/honey + 1 cup orange/lemon juice. (See important tip below.)
- Honeysuckle Orangeade can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.
- To serve, fill a glass with crushed ice and fresh orange slices (optional) and serve immediately.
Important Tip: Don’t combine all of the juice and tea mixture at once. Instead, start with mixing just 1/2 cup of the orange/lemon juice with 1/4 cup of the tea/honey mixture. Place a small amount of ice in a glass and taste test this 2:1 ratio.
If it’s too sweet for your taste buds, you’ll know to add a higher amount of juice, or a little less tea/honey mixture. Or, if it’s too tangy, add a higher ratio of tea/honey syrup to juice. Adjust and combine the two mixtures to taste.
