YIELD: Makes 32 oz.
INGREDIENTS
32 oz. – favorite honey
1/2 cup – water
2 – star anise
1 tsp. – fennel seeds
1 tsp. – black peppercorns
1 tsp. – coriander seeds
1 tsp. – whole cloves
1 – cinnamon stick
1 tsp. – cardamom pods
1 – whole vanilla bean
4 slices – fresh ginger, peeled
from 1 orange – orange peel, thinly sliced
DIRECTIONS
Gather all the spices and ginger in a piece of cheesecloth and tie off with cotton twine.
Pour the honey into a heavy saucepan and submerge the spice packet in the honey, add the orange peel. Simmer on low for 30 minutes, swirling occasionally. The syrup will reduce a bit.
Remove the honey from heat and let it steep for 2 hours.
Remove the spice packet, squeezing the excess honey from the cheesecloth and pour the honey into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid along with the orange peel.
Store in a cool dark place.
TIP
This honey syrup is wonderful in tea or coffee, but also on waffles, toast or drizzled on fruit salad with a bit of lime. You can retrieve that star anise and the cinnamon stick from the spice packet and add to the honey jar for a pretty presentation.