Passionately Raw!

As we are moving towards summer, proper hydration becomes more important than ever. For many of us freshly drawn, purified water is enough, but many people prefer to add some flavor to it, if only a few drops of lemon juice to make the water taste better. Water is versatile. With the help of water kefir cultures it can be turned into something quite amazing.  Since elderflowers are abundant right now I foraged some and will use them to flavor to make a delicious fizzy drink. Elderflowers are quite versatile. For centuries they have been used as medicine. They can be used to make herbal teas and infusions, to make cordial, to flavor vinegar, to make syrup, to flavor kombucha and water kefir, or to make delicious Vienna-style fritters. And of course, once you've made vinegar or syrup, the possibilities are endless.  In late spring elders produce abundance umbels (flower clusters) that are covered with dozens of tiny creamy-white fragrant flowers. To harvest, pick the umbels that...