Pohutukawa Fizzy Drink

This Pohutukawa fizzy is like drinking in the Kiwi Summer. Made with our iconic Christmas tree the pohutukawa, the flowers taste like honey and matched with fresh ripe strawberries its fruity and sparkly the perfect Christmas drink.

Pohutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa, are such gorgeous giant trees with their gnarly reaching trunks and spectacular flowers throughout December, they fringe the coastline here in Northland and are a buzz with bee's gathering their precious nectar.

As with all wild foraging only take what you need and give thanks for natures gifts while harvesting, I always hold this in my heart while out and about foraging whether it be in my garden or out and about. The wonder and awe of what nature provides us is always humbling, and sharing ways to use these gifts is my way of giving thanks and honouring our mother nature.

Extracts of the flowers of the pohutukawa tree are antiseptic, antioxidant-packed due to their deep red colour, deeply moisturising and conditioning for the skin and promote cell regeneration.

 

Pohutukawa Fizzy Drink Recipe

~New Recipe~

It gets it fizziness from the natural yeasts on the flowers and strawberries, so you’re best to use organic or spray-free strawberries because you don’t want to wash these off and when picking the pohutakawa flowers catch as much pollen as you can and avoid washing these also.

Makes 2.5L

4 cups pohutukawa flowers, stamens only

1 cup strawberries, crushed

1 elderflower head, flowers only (optional)

1 1/2 cups organic golden sugar

1 lemon, sliced

2.5L water

Measure the sugar, water and lemon into a large jar or similar and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Add the pohutukawa stamens, elderflowers and strawberries. Stir well to submerge under the liquid, it will rise straight back out but will sink as the fermentation process takes over. Cover with muslin or similar and secure with a rubber-band and date. Stir vigorously every day for 3-4 days, in this time the flowers should rise up as it ferments and bubbles will appear when you stir it. Strain through muslin to remove any impurities and bottle up in flip top bottles. Leave at room temperature for 1-2 days, check the fizz and store in the fridge after it's reached the fizziness you’re after and enjoy cold. It actually last for ages in the fridge if you don't drink it up immediately as the cool slows the fermentation and keeps it stable.