Spekboom and lime soda
Drink your greens
I love this spekboom and lime soda for its fresh, zesty energy and subtle herbal brightness, it’s a drink that not only refreshes, but tells a story too. This is one of the new recipes that we have introduced at The Palace of the Lost City as part of the Lost Ingredients project, where we’ve re-imagined South African ingredients that are humble, bold, and deeply rooted in our landscape.
Try it for yourself!
SPEKBOOM & LIME SODA
For the drink
1 part spekboom syrup
1 part lime cordial
Soda water
Fresh spekboom leaves and lime wheels, to garnish
For the spekboom syrup
Makes approximately 300 ml
60 g fresh spekboom leaves
200 g white sugar
300 ml water
Zest of 1 lime
5 g fresh ginger, sliced
Rinse the spekboom leaves well and pat dry. Lightly bruise the leaves with the back of a spoon or your hands to help release their natural tartness.
In a small pot, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the spekboom leaves, lime zest and ginger.
Cover with a lid and allow to steep for 30–45 minutes. (Longer steeping will result in a deeper herbal note; shorter steeping yields a cleaner citrus profile.)
Strain through a fine sieve or muslin to remove all solids. Press gently to extract as much flavour as possible without clouding the syrup. Allow to cool completely before bottling. Refrigerate until needed.
To serve
Fill a glass with ice. Mix 1 part spekboom syrup with 1 part lime cordial and top with soda water. Garnish with a small sprig of spekboom and a lime wheel.
