Content
- 1 Benefits of Tarragon drink
- 2 What is Tarragon lemonade made from?
- 3 How to make Tarragon at home
- 4 Classic tarragon recipe at home
- 5 Homemade tarragon syrup recipe
- 6 Homemade lemonade with tarragon and lemon
- 7 Delicious drink made from tarragon and mint
- 8 How to make tarragon lemonade at home: recipe with lime
- 9 How to make tarragon from dry tarragon
- 10 How to make tarragon with honey at home
- 11 Tarragon compote with gooseberries
- 12 Homemade tarragon, mint and strawberry lemonade recipe
- 13 Refreshing tarragon tea recipe
- 14 Conclusion
Recipes for the Tarragon drink at home are easy to follow and allow you to make it as healthy as possible. A store-bought drink does not always meet expectations and may contain chemical substitutes for the plant extract. You can get all the benefits of tarragon at home without spending a lot of time, and experiment with different recipes, adding mint, lemon balm, lemon or berries.
Benefits of Tarragon drink
The most pronounced properties of tarragon are its tonic, invigorating effect, and the ability to elevate mood. Lemonade made from herbs is refreshing in the heat, at the chemical level allowing the body to cope with overloads more easily.
Features of the chemical composition of tarragon:
- The combination of a high content of ascorbic acid with significant amounts of other vitamins allows us to consider the drink a prophylactic against vitamin deficiency. The herb tarragon is one of the first places among the means to prevent scurvy.
- The unique balance of potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium supports the functioning of the cardiovascular system, nourishes the muscles (primarily the heart), and prevents osteoporosis.
- Rare microelements: selenium, zinc, copper, iron - when taken regularly, tarragon allows you to saturate the body with necessary substances, just like fruits or vegetables.
- The presence of polyunsaturated acids has a beneficial effect on brain function, revitalizes metabolic processes, accelerating cell regeneration.
Tarragon lemonade, prepared at home, can preserve the healing properties of the plant as much as possible. A drink taken a glass a day can affect the following organs and systems:
- gastrointestinal tract – stimulation of digestion, increased appetite;
- cardiovascular system: strengthening the walls of blood vessels, preventing atherosclerotic changes;
- genitourinary system: strengthening the work of the endocrine glands, increasing libido, diuretic effect;
- immune system: increased resistance to viral, bacterial, fungal respiratory infections;
- nervous system: treatment of migraines, insomnia, depressive states, relief of pain of various localizations.
Calorie content of Tarragon lemonade
The chemical composition of tarragon lemonade, obtained at home and industrially, is very different. Since the ingredients of drinks are different, the energy value of similar-tasting liquids is also different.
Homemade lemonade contains about 50 kcal per 100 ml. This figure can vary greatly, depending on the composition of the recipe and the sweetness of the drink. The calorie content of such a drink can be easily adjusted by changing the amount of sugar or water.
Nutritional value of homemade Tarragon lemonade per 100 ml of finished drink and as a percentage of the average daily intake.
Calories | From 50 to 55 kcal | 4% |
Squirrels | 0.1 g | 0, 12% |
Fats | 0 g | 0% |
Carbohydrates | 13 g | 10% |
Water | 87 g | 3,4% |
The store-bought product also has a different composition at the discretion of the manufacturer. Lemonade may contain sugar substitutes, preservatives, stabilizers, dyes, which are not high in calories, but do not provide health benefits. Therefore, the indicated figures, which turned out to be smaller, do not mean that the drink is harmless to the body.
Approximate nutritional value of store-bought Tarragon drink (per 100 ml).
Calories | 34 kcal | 2% |
Squirrels | 0 g | 0% |
Fats | 0 g | 0% |
Carbohydrates | 7.9 g | 5% |
Whether a drink will bring benefit or harm is determined not only by its origin. Homemade and store-bought lemonades should not be consumed in large quantities. The drink produced by industrial methods is dangerous due to its chemical components, but homemade requires dosing due to the strong medicinal properties of the tarragon herb. For an adult, the daily intake of natural herb lemonade is no more than 500 ml; children are recommended to have half that amount.
What is Tarragon lemonade made from?
Tarragon first appeared as a drink in Georgia. It was created by M.Logidze, a pharmacist from Tiflis, who compiled recipes for refreshing drinks based on carbonated water and homemade syrups. So in 1887, an extract of a local variety of tarragon herb, chukhpuch, was added to regular lemonade. The pharmacist’s successful discovery made it possible to combine the refreshing properties of the drink with the benefits of Caucasian tarragon.
The sweet soft drink Tarragon became widespread during the Soviet period, when it was produced unchanged, emerald green in color, according to one established recipe.
Modern lemonade based on natural extract may be yellow in color. The store-bought product, in a form close to the traditional recipe, includes citric acid, sugar, natural tarragon extract, and sparkling water. To preserve the lemonade, preservatives are added to the composition. Emerald color is most often the result of adding yellow and blue dyes.
The herb extract can be replaced with synthetic analogues or other additives that imitate the aroma of tarragon. Therefore, before buying lemonade, you should pay attention to the inscription on the label: the phrase “with tarragon extract” indicates the presence of natural raw materials, “with tarragon flavor” does not guarantee full compliance with the name.
How to make Tarragon at home
Homemade lemonade does not harm your health, refreshes, gives strength, and saturates the body with essential substances all year round. It is not difficult to make homemade Tarragon tasty and healthy by following a few rules.
Features of making homemade tarragon lemonade:
- Green tarragon leaves provide the drink with a soft taste and a classic emerald hue. Dry raw materials give lemonade its sharpness and color, close to yellowish.
- When grinding the raw material to a paste in a blender, the drink will turn out to be cloudy, but will get the maximum benefit from the herb. By infusing the slightly crushed leaves for a long time, they obtain a more transparent consistency.
- The softer the water taken to prepare the syrup, the more readily the plant will give its aroma, color and nutrients to the drink.
- When using any recipe, you should ensure that the amount of herb does not exceed 1 tablespoon per 250 ml of finished lemonade. Using more tarragon can spoil the taste of the drink and harm your health.
What can be prepared from tarragon herb
Tarragon, belonging to wormwood, does not contain the bitterness characteristic of this botanical family. The unique aroma and unusual taste of the herb is widely used in Asian, Caucasian, and Mediterranean cuisines. The seasoning complements sweet and salty dishes well and is perfectly compatible with vinegars, fruit and citrus acids.
Uses of tarragon in cooking:
- Add fresh herbs to vegetable, meat, and fish salads. The cooling notes of tarragon are also appropriate in fruit mixtures.
- Dry spice is suitable for flavoring first and second courses, added at the end of cooking. Cold soups are seasoned with green leaves.
- The aroma of tarragon goes well with any types of meat, fish, and poultry. The spice is added when marinating, baking, stewing meat dishes.
- When canning at home, tarragon not only flavors the preparations, but also serves as an additional preservative.Twigs of the plant are added to marinades and pickles, and to soaked apples.
- Menthol notes of tarragon are appropriate when cooking fruit and berry compotes, jams, and syrups. Independent sweet dishes are prepared from the green leaves of the plant: jam, jellies, concentrated syrups.
- The taste of the herb is well revealed in white sauces, mustard, and when mixed with oils or vinegar in salad dressings.
The unique color and refreshing aroma goes well with strong and non-alcoholic drinks. Tarragon can be added to tea, compote, smoothies, and vegetable juices. Homemade recipes for alcoholic drinks infused with tarragon or mixed with its syrup are popular.
Classic tarragon recipe at home
For the traditional method of preparing the drink, you will need a bunch of fresh tarragon herb and 1 liter of sparkling water. Other ingredients:
- drinking water without gas – 300 ml;
- sugar – 200 g;
- lemon - optional.
The preparation process consists of preparing a sweet syrup extract and diluting it with mineral water.
Homemade Tarragon recipe step by step with photo of the finished product:
- From the total amount of sugar and 300 ml of ordinary clean water, syrup is boiled. There is no need to boil the composition until thick. It is enough to wait for the crystals to dissolve and bring the mixture to a boil.
- The leaves and tender shoots of tarragon are placed in a wooden mortar and crushed with a pestle until the juice appears.
- The greens are poured with hot sweet mixture, covered tightly and left to infuse for 3 hours.
- The infused syrup is decanted, and the remaining mass is squeezed through gauze.
The finished syrup can be diluted with mineral water and served with ice cubes. Most often, the sweet taste of the drink seems cloying, so citric acid or citrus juice is added to the composition.To adjust the taste, just add the juice of one medium lemon to this recipe.
As you can see in the photo, the Tarragon drink, made independently, differs in a more delicate color from its industrial counterpart. Normally, homemade lemonade is a little cloudy, but it gets all the positive qualities of the grass.
Homemade tarragon syrup recipe
Tarragon syrup can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator. By diluting the concentrated composition with mineral or regular drinking water, you can quickly prepare lemonade in the required quantity.
Components:
- fresh tarragon with shoots and stems - 150 g;
- filtered drinking water – 500 ml;
- white refined sugar – 500 g;
- citric acid (powder) – 5 g (1 tsp);
- juice of half a lemon.
Preparation of syrup:
- Grind the leaves and stems of the tarragon with a knife or blender, cut the lemon randomly along with the peel.
- Add water to the green mixture with lemon and heat the mixture in a water bath for at least 60 minutes.
- Strain the infusion and squeeze the remainder from the leaves into one cooking vessel.
- Add citric acid, sugar and cook until thickened.
Hot syrup is packaged in sterile small containers and sealed tightly. The concentrate is applicable not only for quickly making lemonade. It can be added to sauces for meat or salad dressings, to prepare alcoholic cocktails, to pour over ice cream and desserts.
Homemade lemonade with tarragon and lemon
The taste of tarragon is interesting in itself, but in sweet drinks it often requires balancing with acid. The aroma of natural citrus fruits pairs best with tarragon. A quick recipe for Tarragon with lemon is the most popular way to make homemade lemonade, without the need for long standing time.
Ingredients:
- fresh tarragon leaves without cuttings – 30 g;
- sugar – 100 g;
- boiled water – 100 ml;
- sparkling mineral water – 500 ml;
- juice of one medium lemon;
- ice crumbs.
Preparation:
- Place tarragon greens and sugar in a blender bowl and beat, adding boiled water little by little.
- The resulting mixture is filtered, lightly squeezing the thick mass.
- The concentrate is diluted with sparkling water and lemon juice.
The drink will not be completely transparent, but the color of the lemonade is classic, bright green, and the taste is closest to industrial concentrates. Before drinking, fill the glass 1/3 with crushed ice, and then pour in the drink.
Delicious drink made from tarragon and mint
The aromatic herbs combine beautifully and provide an enhanced menthol flavor to the lemonade. A drink made from tarragon with mint is even more pleasant to drink in hot weather, because both plants have a cooling effect.
Components:
- tarragon and mint greens taken together - at least 150 g;
- filtered or boiled water – 1 l;
- white sugar – 200 g;
- lemon, orange or lime juice – 50 ml.
Preparation of mint-tarragon lemonade step by step:
- Tarragon and mint leaves are placed in a blender, half the norm of sugar is added, citrus juice is added and crushed.
- Pour all the water into the mixture, cover the container and leave overnight.
- The infused mixture is filtered in the morning and the sweetness is adjusted by adding the remaining sugar.
Store the finished lemonade in the refrigerator and add ice when serving. The composition turns out to be concentrated; for children it can be additionally diluted with sparkling water.
How to make tarragon lemonade at home: recipe with lime
The acidic environment promotes the release of beneficial substances from the green leaves of tarragon.And the high content of ascorbic acid helps them to be better absorbed in the body. Therefore, popular recipes for tarragon with citrus fruits are not only tasty, but also healthy.
Lime Lemonade Ingredients:
- tarragon greens with stems – 200 g;
- lime – 2 pcs.;
- sugar – 1 glass;
- water can be added to taste.
To prepare the drink, finely chop the greens along with the stems with a knife, add sugar and, adding a little water, boil in a water bath. When the mixture becomes slightly viscous, strain it and dilute it with lime juice. This syrup is diluted with mineral water to taste just before serving.
How to make tarragon from dry tarragon
You can make Tarragon at home not only from fresh herbs. Home-dried herbs or store-bought seasonings can also be used to create lemonade. Its color and taste will differ from the traditional one, but will become sharper and spicy.
Ingredients:
- dry, crushed tarragon herb - 2 tbsp. l.;
- drinking water – 250 ml;
- sugar – 100 g;
- lemon juice – 50 g;
- mineral water to taste.
It is not recommended to boil dry tarragon herb for a long time, so to obtain an aromatic drink, the raw material is infused for a long time. The syrup is not thickened, but a sweet infusion is used.
Preparation:
- Pour water over the grass, add sugar, and bring to a boil.
- Cover tightly with a lid and leave to obtain an aqueous extract.
- After a few hours, when the liquid acquires a characteristic color, the composition can be filtered. The best result is obtained after 24 hours of settling.
The resulting concentrated extract is diluted with mineral water by half, lemon juice is added, bringing to the desired taste. You can substitute dried herb for tarragon in any lemonade recipe.
How to make tarragon with honey at home
The amount of sugar in lemonade is regulated arbitrarily, the quality of the drink does not suffer from this, and the calorie content is significantly reduced. If desired, Tarragon can be sweetened at home by adding honey. In this case, sugar is replaced either completely in the same amount or partially.
Tarragon compote with gooseberries
An original combination is obtained by adding tarragon to fruit and berry compotes. Green gooseberries with the emerald hue of the herb look especially impressive.
It is not necessary to grind tarragon for this method of preparing lemonade. A few sprigs of tarragon are added to the hot gooseberry compote immediately after turning off the stove. Infuse under the lid until the drink cools, remove the herb and drink the drink chilled.
For 3 liters of compote you will need no more than 4 sprigs of fresh herbs or 3 tbsp. l. dry tarragon. In the latter case, the drink will have to be strained. A good combination is obtained if you add several shoots of mint and lemon balm along with tarragon.
Homemade tarragon, mint and strawberry lemonade recipe
All ingredients in this drink are used fresh, so the taste of lemonade is light and refreshing. No pans are needed for cooking. All ingredients are placed immediately into a decanter in which Tarragon is supposed to be served.
Compound:
- a bunch of tarragon;
- several sprigs of mint;
- lemon or lime juice to taste;
- at least 6 large strawberries;
- filtered water.
Sugar is added to this lemonade to taste. One liter of drink will require at least 50 g.
Preparation of Tarragon with strawberries:
- Citrus fruits are cut into small pieces along with the peel. Squeeze the juice into a jug and add the slices there.
- Sprigs of greenery are placed on top of the lemons, berries are added, and sugar is added.
- Fill the jug 1/3 full with hot water, cover and leave to infuse.
Add mineral water to the cooled drink to the top of the carafe, add ice cubes and serve. At home, any Tarragon recipe can be repeated without soda; the refreshing taste and unusual spiciness of the drink are perfectly manifested with ordinary water.
Refreshing tarragon tea recipe
The menthol flavor and fresh aroma of tarragon are appropriate not only in chilled drinks. Tarragon added when brewing tea also helps to invigorate and cope with the heat. It is not for nothing that the eastern peoples quench their thirst with hot drinks.
Preparation of green tea with tarragon:
- prepare a mixture of 2 tsp. green tea, 1 tsp. dried tarragon and a few pieces of dried pomegranate peel;
- pour the mixture into a large teapot, pour 250 ml of boiling water;
- steep the tea for at least 10 minutes, then add another 250 ml of boiling water;
- After 10 minutes the drink can be tasted.
Tarragon is infused in a hot drink until it cools down. Then you can add ice to the tea and use it like regular lemonade.
Conclusion
Recipes for the Tarragon drink at home are designed to take a few minutes, but can take several hours or even days. Everyone can choose a convenient way to prepare lemonade or create their own unique recipe. The benefits of tarragon in homemade drinks are completely preserved and can be supplemented with a variety of ingredients to suit every taste.