More homemade stuff... Hugo

Bamberg is called the "Garden City" because there are so many farms (gardens) right in the middle of the city. There are always fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit bearing trees, and flowers. This might be part of the reason that everyone seems to know how to make everything from scratch- part of the rich tradition. Mia has two good friends whose parents have farms right in the city - it is really neat. They are very hard workers, but in my mind, it is such a gift that these families continue the gardening tradition instead of selling their extremely valuable land for a huge profit - definitely special people! In the summer here, one of the very favorite drinks to have on hand or to buy when you are in town is call a Hugo. It is made from special syrup that is made from a Holunder Flower (in English, we call it an Elderberry Flower).  Anyway, My friend taught Mia and I how to make the Syrup this week. It is a deliciously refreshing drink on hot summer days. I love being able to make things from the wild - there is just something really neat about it....

This is the Holunder Flower - it grows wild everywhere here. You can smell it, and recognize that it is in fact the right flower :-) You cut 10 clips off from the branch 

boil water and sugar and then add the flower

You let it sit for 24 hours

drain the flower out (using a tea towel to avoid getting any little bits of flower in the syrup), and then use a funnel to put it in a sealed bottle

and Voila - it is finished

Then you pour cold sparkling water into a glass and add a little bit of the syrup. Typically, it is served with fresh mint as well. In the evening, you can add Prosecco to the sparkling water and syrup if you want too...

Delicious!!!

We had a nice fresh bowl of cherries from Mia's friends too - there is something so special about eating/drinking things freshly grown. I have a friend that said something wise... "Why don't we teach how to grow things in school, because if you think of it, food is a little important :-)"  - so true - food is just a little bit important ;-)