This simple Honey Osmanthus Syrup is infused with fragrant dried osmanthus flowers, giving it a delicate floral aroma and a lovely honeyed sweetness. It’s such an easy little syrup to make and is incredibly versatile! You can use it to sweeten tea, drizzle over pancakes or yogurt, or add it to your favorite bakes, sweets, and desserts. With just 4 simple ingredients, it comes together in no time and is a great way to add a subtle floral flavor to all kinds of treats. Once you make a batch, you’ll want to keep a jar on hand!
Let me tell you a cute folklore about the osmanthus tree on the moon 🌙🌼
Have you ever wondered why osmanthus is so closely connected to the moon in Chinese culture? There’s a sweet old Chinese legend about an osmanthus tree that grows in the Moon Palace and a young scholar who dreamed of plucking one of its golden branches.
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a brilliant but poor young scholar named Li
He had spent years studying the Confucian classics, hoping to pass the famously difficult Imperial Exams. Back then, passing these exams was the only way for a commoner to become a government official and bring honor to his family.
The night before one of the most important autumn exam, Li was exhausted from studying. After one last look through his books, he finally fell asleep at his desk, with the bright autumn moon shining through his window.
In his dream, Li found himself walking along a mysterious, silvery path that stretched high into the night sky. At the end of the path stood a magnificent palace glowing in the moonlight.
He had arrived at the Moon Palace!
And right in front of it stood an enormous osmanthus tree, so tall that it seemed to reach beyond the mountains. Its branches were covered in tiny golden flowers, glowing softly in the moonlight and filling the air with an irresistible, sweet fragrance.
As Li stood there in amazement, the goddess Chang’e appeared before him. She smiled and said:
“You have studied diligently for years. Tonight, I grant you a gift. Reach up and pluck a branch from this sacred osmanthus tree.”
Li reverently reached up and broke off a single fragrant branch. The moment he held it in his hands, the little golden flowers began to glow even brighter.
Chang’e then told him:
“Take this as a sign. The fragrance of the moon will follow you.”
Li suddenly woke up
The dream felt so real that he could almost still smell the sweet fragrance of osmanthus lingering in his room. Taking it as a heavenly omen, he went to the examination hall the next morning with renewed confidence.
Weeks later, the examination results were posted, and there, at the very top of the list, was Li’s name. He had passed with the highest honors, becoming a Zhuangyuan (状元) the top scholar in the entire empire!
And this is where the story gets even more interesting!
The legend of plucking an osmanthus branch from the Moon Palace gave rise to the famous Chinese idiom 蟾宫折桂 (Chán Gōng Zhé Guì), which literally means “to pluck the osmanthus in the Moon Palace.”
Then, this phrase has been used to describe passing an important examination, achieving academic success, or reaching a major milestone in one’s career.
So, the next time you drizzle this thick, sweet, and fragrant osmanthus syrup over your dessert, maybe think of it as a little taste of sweet ambition! A spoonful of scholarly luck, a touch of moonlight, and a tiny reminder to dream big enough to reach the moon.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS HONEY OSMANTHUS SYRUP
- You only need 4 simple ingredients and a few minutes to make this fragrant homemade syrup.
- Beautifully floral and so fragrant!
- Honey gives the syrup a lovely rich sweetness that pairs so well with the floral notes of osmanthus.
- So versatile! Stir it into tea, drizzle it over pancakes and yogurt, or use it in cakes, cookies, ice cream, and other desserts.
- A little goes a long way! Just a small drizzle or spoonful adds a lovely floral sweetness and aroma to your favorite recipes.
- Great to keep on hand! Make a jar ahead of time and keep it in the fridge so you can easily add a little sweetness and floral flavor whenever you need it.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED & NOTES TO MAKE THIS HONEY OSMANTHUS SYRUP
Dried osmanthus – Choose the best quality dried osmanthus flowers you can find. Look for flowers that are fragrant and have a bright golden-yellow color for the best flavor and aroma.
Sugar – Regular granulated sugar works perfectly for this recipe. It helps sweeten the syrup and gives it a smooth, pourable consistency.
Honey – Honey adds a lovely natural sweetness and pairs beautifully with the delicate floral aroma of osmanthus. Use a good quality honey that you enjoy the flavor of, since its taste will come through in the finished syrup.
Lemon – This recipe uses a little fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavor and balance the sweetness without overpowering the delicate osmanthus.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THIS HONEY OSMANTHUS SYRUP
(Be sure to check the printable recipe card below)
20g dried osmanthus
450ml hot water
400g granulated sugar
30g honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the dried osmanthus flowers and hot water. Cover the bowl with a plate and let the flowers steep for at least 15 minutes to release their beautiful floral aroma and flavor.
Place a fine mesh sieve over a medium saucepan and strain the osmanthus water into the pan. Don’t throw away the soaked osmanthus flowers, you’ll add some of them back into the syrup later.
Add the granulated sugar, honey, and fresh lemon juice to the saucepan. Stir to combine, then cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the syrup thickens to a consistency similar to warm honey. Avoid boiling it too vigorously.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in about 2 tablespoons of the reserved soaked osmanthus flowers. Mix well to distribute the flowers throughout the syrup.
Then, let the syrup cool completely to room temperature, then transfer it to a clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator and use it for tea, baking, sweets, and desserts.
Honey Osmanthus Syrup (蜂蜜桂花酱)
This simple Honey Osmanthus Syrup is infused with fragrant dried osmanthus flowers, giving it a delicate floral aroma and a lovely honeyed sweetness. It’s such an easy little syrup to make and is incredibly versatile! You can use it to sweeten tea, drizzle over pancakes or yogurt, or add it to your favorite bakes, sweets, and desserts. With just 4 simple ingredients, it comes together in no time and is a great way to add a subtle floral flavor to all kinds of treats. Once you make a batch, you’ll want to keep a jar on hand!
Ingredients
- 20g dried osmanthus
- 450ml hot water
- 400g granulated sugar
- 30g honey
- 1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the dried osmanthus flowers and hot water. Cover the bowl with a plate and let the flowers steep for at least 15 minutes to release their beautiful floral aroma and flavor.
- Place a fine mesh sieve over a medium saucepan and strain the osmanthus water into the pan. Don’t throw away the soaked osmanthus flowers, you’ll add some of them back into the syrup later.
- Add the granulated sugar, honey, and fresh lemon juice to the saucepan.
- Stir to combine, then cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the syrup thickens to a consistency similar to warm honey. Avoid boiling it too vigorously.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in about 2 tablespoons of the reserved soaked osmanthus flowers. Mix well to distribute the flowers throughout the syrup.
- Then, let the syrup cool completely to room temperature, then transfer it to a clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator and use it for tea, baking, sweets, and desserts.
Leave a Reply