Autumnal Sage-Maple Syrup

FoodSeasonal RhythmsRecipesHerbal
Written By Barbara Meza

At the (now closed) Gertrude’s Coffee on the UWS, I was introduced to the delight of a sage-maple latté made with their house-made syrup.

Crisp autumn air. The earthy, resinous scent of sage mingling with the deep sweetness of maple, all wrapped up with the pleasure of a hot cup of coffee nested in my hands.

Simply sublime.

I may not be able to get another coffee there, but I can recreate this autumn treat at home.

And from experience, I can say it’s not only a delight in coffee and matcha, but also drizzled over…

  • steel-cut oats with cranberries, apples, and pumpkin seeds

  • baked apples (perhaps stuffed with oats, nuts, and butter?)

  • plain yogurt with pear and pecan

  • roasted acorn squash slices

  • in a seasonal salad dressing

…and you get the idea. It’s versatile.

Two Ingredients

Pure dark maple syrup + fresh sage.

I want to infuse as much of that resinous sage flavor as I can into the syrup, so I coarsely chopped the leaves and tender stems for maximum exposure, then cover them with pure dark maple syrup + an inch.

Bring the syrup to a soft boil, drop the heat, cover, and gently simmer for about 15 minutes or so. Remove from the heat leaving the herbs further infuse in the cooling syrup - for a couple of hours or an afternoon.

I’ve got some writing projects to finish (including this post) and a batch of sourdough to prep… so the syrup will be doing its own thing for another couple of hours or more.

Pondering Possibilities

The sage sprigs were fresh from the garden, VERY aromatic, and may be incorporated into a loaf of cranberry sourdough bread.

I can mentally taste the hints of sage and maple with the tart cranberries.

Anyway, that decision will be made when the syrup is strained and I assess how flavorful the leaves still are.

(Should I include some walnuts too? If I was baking at home, I’d include pumpkin seeds and perhaps some fresh citrus zest, but alas, I did not pack those.)

Seasonal Rhythms

And that’s it - another simple way to turn what’s growing in the garden into a little seasonal indulgence.

For me, that’s the creative pleasure of small batches, seasonal ingredients, and the occasional kitchen surprise.

Until our next chat!

~Barb

Barbara Meza

Hello! I’m Barb! I’m a lymphatic drainage therapist and integrative bodyworker, wellness educator, entrepreneur, passionate about food, family, and seasonal living.

For over two decades I’ve supported my client’s wellness journeys. And now, I would love to help you feel your healthiest self.

I am a certified manual lymphatic drainage therapist in the Vodder method and practitioner of the Chikly method. My integrative sessions may incorporate craniosacral therapy, somatic movement therapies, energy work, acupressure, cupping therapy, aromatherapy, or other complementary modalities

I look forward to meeting you! Sessions are by appointment only at 104 State Route 15 in Lafayette, NJ.

https://InspiredWellnesswithBarb.com
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