Beverages

[scullion]

Elderflowers are in full bloom right now here in S Lincs

they won't be out here for a few weeks yet - as you know, the temperature swop over means we are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than upcountry.

[Suffs]

[Amber]

It’s years since I last tasted it, but Morrisons own brand tonic used to be very acceptable.

[scullion]

they won't be out here for a few weeks yet

i take that back, saw quite a few trees in bloom on the way to the beaver project. i'll go and check my usual harvesting ground (walking distance), i think they may be a little later than some of the places around but they do have nice big flower heads and easy to pick.

[Suffs]

A lot of wild flowers seem early this year. The dog roses have been out for a week here and Pa always said that when they bloomed it was 6 weeks to harvest! That would take us to 24 June!

[Busybee]

A lot of wild flowers seem early this year. The dog roses have been out for a week here and Pa always said that when they bloomed it was 6 weeks to harvest! That would take us to 24 June!

There really isn’t much around here to harvest. It’s been so wet that farmers are still seed drilling.

Things are early flower wise, our peonys are out - which I think is early- may blossom is doing its thing, throthy white hedgerows abound.

BB

[Stokey Sue]

It was the hawthorn that got me - I’ve never seen it flower so profusely as it has this year and it was very early, in full flow before the end of April
Picture taken locally on 21 April

[Binky]

Do 'beverages' include long, cool soft drinks?
Just wondered if people had come up with anything nice over the past couple of hot days.

I have had a third of a box of satsumas in the fridge for ages and decided to extract the juice from some of them then topped up with sparkling water and ice. Very simple but delicious.

I am also fond of Robinsons Crushed Lime and Mint cordial - with sparkling or still water and ice. I discovered it last year. It is designed really for Mojitos I think.

Thank you Earthmaiden for this timely info. I bought a non-alcohol Mojito product from the chilled juices/drinks section at M&S. It is disappointingly mostly water, very faint lime flavour and you needed to add your own fresh mint to give it a kick (although it's supposed to already contain mint flavour). Utterly unimpressed and would not buy again or recommend. And it was £2.30ish to add to the insult.

Anyway, as Wolfgirl says, Tesco are selling nearly all the Robinson mixer cordials at an almost knock-down price so you can make umpteen mojito drinks with or without the rum. I also get a raspberry syrup/cordial from a Polish shop and that's lovely either in Pellegrino or plain water, and also decoratively splashed onto a vanilla ice cream. Oh for the hotter weather!!

[Uschi]

I also get a raspberry syrup/cordial from a Polish shop and that's lovely either in Pellegrino or plain water, and also decoratively splashed onto a vanilla ice cream. Oh for the hotter weather!!

Semolina pudding with a swirl of said raspberry syrup was a treat of my childhood!!!

[WolfGirl]

It’s been a lovely afternoon here so I’ve sat outside sipping my Robinson’s mint and lime syrup with fresh mint and lime, ice and soda water. It was lovely. On my third glass we were approaching early evening so I felt obliged to add a shot of white rum. That will happen again.
I’m tempted to buy more especially as they are on offer.

[Earthmaiden]

Glad you like it Wolfgirl!

I may have to investigate Polish raspberry syrup. We've quite a few Polish shops.

[Binky]

Glad you like it Wolfgirl!

I may have to investigate Polish raspberry syrup. We've quite a few Polish shops.

It's called Lowicz raspberry syrup and I see that Tesco (amongst other supermarkets) are selling it also.

[Earthmaiden]

Thank you Binky. I'll look out for it.

[scullion]

i prefer the cherry one - there's a range of flavours in our local eastern european shop.

[WWordsworth]

We are away for a few days in Northumberland again.
The property is well supplied with good tea and ground coffee.
The coffee is Asda Italian style and it's really nice, strong and rich, just how we like it.

It's new to me as we don't shop at Asda.