Healthy Indulgence: Blackberry Lemonade

Did you know? Blackberry Lemonade:

• helps soothe a sore throat
• supports healthy kidney function
• helps remove toxins from the body
• helps alleviate heavy periods

Blackberries are a great medicine if you have a painful or swollen throat, mouth, or gums. Their antioxidant, kidney-toning, and detoxifying properties make them a must-have when in season.

Collect the leaves too, because a blackberry-leaf infusion enhances the anti-inflammatory effects further. Serve with ice, or as a warm drink, if you have a throat condition.

RECIPE:

Serves 2

4 tsp dried blackberry leaves, or 12 fresh leaves

2 cups blackberries, rinsed

2 lemons, juiced, plus a few thin slices for decoration (optional)

3 tbsp maple syrup

 

1 To make an infusion with the leaves, boil 1¼ cups water, pour over the leaves, and let it infuse for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture, reserving the liquid to use in the lemonade. Discard the leaves.

2 Place the blackberries in a food processor or blender and purée to a pulp. If you don’t like the gritty texture of the seeds in your drink, strain the pulp through a fine mesh strainer and collect the smooth juice.

3 Pour the lemon juice, blackberry juice, and 1 cup of the blackberry leaf infusion into a pitcher, add the maple syrup, and stir well. Pour into large glasses, decorate each with a slice of lemon, and serve.

 

Excerpted from Healing Foods. Copyright 2013 Dorling Kindersley / DK Publishing.