Benefits Of Grapes In A Tasty Herbal Syrup

Early fall means that my lovely, vivacious grapevine is heavy with clusters of dark purple abundance. These are the kind of grapes that are so flavorful it is almost painful to eat more than a few. For years I have grappled with finding a way to harness and enjoy the benefits of grapes from our amazing grapevine. Until one day when a wonderful, wise friend of mine told me about making grape syrup with plenty of my favorite things – herbs! We enjoy making and using herbal syrups in our home so this was the perfect solution to my dilemma.

Grapes, especially those with rich, dark purple skin, are full of antioxidants that promote longevity. These phytonutrients help to nourish wellness, lower overall inflammation, and prevent many of the prevalent diseases in our society such as heart disease and cancer (“Grapes,” n.d). Grapes are also said to offer antiviral and antibacterial actions as well as the ability to help build the blood and immune system (Mars, 2004).

Herbs To Choose

One of the wonderful things about this recipe is that it is flexible. You can use whatever herbs you have on hand. Perhaps the herbs growing in your garden are spent and ready to come join the grapes in your syrup making pot? Alternatively, if you want, you can pick herbs for a specific purpose. If you know your family is susceptible to coughs during the winter you may want to use herbs to address lung function such as mullein, elecampane, wild cherry, codonopsis, and red clover. Or perhaps you would like to craft a syrup for boosting immune function in which case you might choose to include astragalus, lycium berries, and calendula. For a longevity and stress relieving tonic, consider herbs such as hawthorn, holy basil, and schizandra.