Let me start this off by saying you can use almost any berry you choose if you are unable to source or harvest fresh winterberries. If you are furtunate like me to live in an area where winterberry grows, please forage responsibly so that we have this for years to come.

Not sure how to wildcraft (forage)? No problem! It’s important to leave most of what we find for the wildlife. We never take all of the leaves or berries from a plant, we also never take from the first plant we see.

3 cups wild foraged winterberries (please forage sustainably and responsibly)
3 cups water
1 cup sugar
add a few of your favourite spices to a spice bag (cinnamon, cloves, anise – whatever you enjoy!)

• Add all ingredient to a large sauce pan and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  
• Once the mixture comes to a boil, continue to boil and stir for 5 minutes. Stir continuously and do not leave the mixture unattended.
  
• Next, turn off the heat, but leave the sauce pan on the burner. Allow the mixture to steep and cool for 1 hour, removing the spices (in the spice bag) as they can be too strong if left to steep. Test the mixture and see if you prefer it to have more spice or less.
  
• After the hour has passed, pour the mixture through cheesecloth to drain and to remove all of the berry seeds and/or pulp.
  
• Transfer to a sterile bottle or jar. Keep refrigerated.
  
• To use, pour approximately 1/4 cup of the syrup into a large drinking glass. Add ice and pour in 1 1/2 cups of cold water. Stir and enjoy.

Depending on how flavourful you want your drink, a serving size is about 1/4 cup mixed with 1 1/2 cups of water. Your cordial should last about a month or so if you keep it in your fridge or even longer if you freeze it. 

Since you are foraging you may want to grab some of the leaves and make a tincture, but that’s a whole other post.

Let me know in the comments how you served yours, what spices you used and if you have a great photo you’d like to share don’t forget to tag us on instagram!