This recipe makes approximately six cups.
It can be served as a concentrated infusion or diluted with extra water for a lighter flavor.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Cooling time: 30 minutes
Yield: Approximately 6 cups
Ingredients
2 cups finely chopped purple cabbage
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
¼ cup dried food-grade hibiscus petals
6 cups drinking water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 tablespoons honey, optional
6 fresh mint leaves, optional
Lemon slices for serving
Ice cubes for serving cold
How to Prepare It
Wash the purple cabbage thoroughly under clean running water.
Remove any damaged, wilted, or moldy outer leaves.
Chop the cabbage into small pieces.
Smaller pieces release their color more easily and make the final mixture easier to strain.
Rinse the blueberries when using fresh fruit.
Frozen blueberries can be added directly to the saucepan without thawing.
Pour the water into a large saucepan.
Add the chopped cabbage, blueberries, and dried hibiscus petals.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat.
Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes.
Gently crush several blueberries against the side of the saucepan with a wooden spoon.
This helps release their flavor and color.
Turn off the heat.
Cover the saucepan and leave the ingredients to steep for another five minutes.
Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large heat-safe bowl or pitcher.
Carefully pour the mixture through the strainer.
Press the ingredients lightly with the back of a spoon, but do not force all the cooked pulp through.
Allow the strained liquid to cool for approximately 15 minutes.
Add the fresh lemon juice.
Stir in the honey while the drink is still slightly warm, if sweetness is desired.
Taste the drink before serving.
Add more water when the flavor is too concentrated.
How to Serve It Cold
Let the strained beverage cool completely.
Pour it into a clean pitcher or wide-necked glass bottle.
Cover it and place it in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
Fill a glass with ice.
Pour the chilled drink over the ice and garnish it with a fresh lemon slice and mint leaves.
For a lighter version, combine equal quantities of the purple drink and unsweetened sparkling water.
Add sparkling water immediately before serving so it does not lose its bubbles.
How to Serve It Warm
This drink can also be enjoyed like an herbal tea.
Pour one cup into a small saucepan and warm it gently.
Do not repeatedly boil the entire stored batch.
Add a little honey and lemon immediately before serving.
Sip it warm rather than extremely hot.
A warm cup may feel pleasant after activity or during cold weather, but that comforting sensation should not be confused with treating the cause of chronic pain.
A Gentler Family Version
