Rose Petal and Rhodiola Valentine’s Day Herbal Lollipops

Although sugar shouldn’t be a regular feature in a healthy diet, homemade candy making can be a delightful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day without the artificial sweeteners and dyes found in typical store-bought candy. Roses, hawthorn, and Rhodiola are the herbs that take center stage for these special Valentine’s Day herbal lollipops, and they bring a little herbal goodness to the party.

About The Herbs

Hawthorn is beloved by herbalists for being near and dear to the emotional as well as the physical heart, so it’s an obvious choice for these lollipops, but you might be less familiar with the herbal uses of rose and rhodiola.

The symbol of love itself, red rose petals have an uplifting influence on the emotions. Some even find the scent of roses to be an aphrodisiac! Rose also has an affinity for liver health.  

Rhodiola is an adaptogen that seems to have an affinity for the heart as well as helping to balance the reproductive system in both men and women. Rhodiola is sometimes known as roseroot, because the fragrance and flavor of the root resemble that of roses.  

Hibiscus is included for its tart, fruity flavor and to help impart a dark, seductive shade of red wine to the finished lollipops. Despite being made with sugar, these lollipops will have a floral taste underneath the tangy flavor of hibiscus and a slight bitter note that is a signature of Rhodiola. (If you have ever enjoyed horehound candy you will be familiar with that herbal, bitter undertone, but these do not come anywhere near horehound’s level of bitterness!)

For Adults Only

The unique taste of these Valentine’s Day herbal lollipops alone makes them suitable for more sophisticated adult palates, but because they include Rhodiola, an adaptogen, these lollipops are not intended for children. If you are pregnant, please talk to your doctor and herbalist before enjoying this recipe as adaptogens may not be suitable for you.  

Making the Herbal Decoction

For the first step, you will need to make a decoction of herbs that will be the liquid used in your Valentine’s Day herbal lollipops. This decoction will be made using a two part process because some of the ingredients are better prepared as an herbal infusion which will help preserve their more delicate flavors and aromas.

How to Make the Herbal Lollipops

Many of our readers are interested in avoiding corn syrup, so for this recipe I adapted a version of basic hard candy from Food Network that utilizes cream of tartar to stand in for corn syrup.

Corn syrup is an invert sugar that helps keep hard candy clear and pretty (and smooth in the mouth) by preventing unnecessary crystallization.

Cream of tartar (Potassium bitartrate) is a by-product of winemaking. When used in hard candy, it helps convert sucrose—your table sugar—into a slightly different form (glucose), which is an invert sugar like corn syrup.

Hard candy made with herbs may foam during the cooking process. Please be careful to use at least a 4 quart saucepan for this recipe, otherwise your candy will boil over and make a huge mess!  

To turn your decoction into Valentine’s Day herbal lollipops, follow the directions below.

Even adults need a treat from time to time, and it’s hard to go wrong with heart-happy botanicals to grace your homemade candies! Rose Petal and Rhodiola Valentine’s Day Herbal Lollipops are a fun way to enjoy crafting a little herbal magic for yourself and a loved one this Valentine’s Day!