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Osmanthus syrup is a fragrant, versatile sweetener that brings a unique floral aroma to teas, desserts, and cakes. Making osmanthus syrup at home allows you to control its freshness and flavor, which is much richer than store-bought versions. This recipe walks you through the steps to dry osmanthus flowers and then infuse them into honey-based syrup.

What is osmanthus

Osmanthus is a type of flowering plant native to Asia, particularly popular in China, Japan, and parts of Southeast Asia.

The small, fragrant flowers are known for their delicate, sweet, and slightly fruity aroma, which resembles apricot or peach.

The flowers, often golden-yellow or white, are harvested and dried to be used in teas, desserts, and syrups.

In Chinese cuisine, osmanthus flowers are celebrated for their floral sweetness and are used to infuse flavors into cakes, jellies, and drinks.

In this recipe, I dry all the osmanthus flowers, setting some aside to create a batch of osmanthus syrup.

This syrup is beautifully aromatic and versatile, adding an elegant floral touch to a range of desserts.

Here are some traditional and creative ways to use osmanthus syrup in your kitchen:

How to Use Osmanthus Syrup

Osmanthus Syrup Tang Yuan
Add a fragrant twist to traditional tang yuan (glutinous rice balls) by drizzling them with osmanthus syrup.

This sweet floral syrup pairs beautifully with classic desserts, like Red Bean Soup with Glutinous Rice Balls.

Osmanthus Jelly Cake
Infuse the syrup into osmanthus jelly cakes, which are popular dim sum desserts made with glutinous rice flour and set with a soft, chewy texture.

Osmanthus Tea
Stir a spoonful of osmanthus syrup into tea for a refreshing, lightly sweetened drink with a floral aroma.

Sweet Toppings for Yogurt or Ice Cream
Drizzle osmanthus syrup over plain yogurt or vanilla ice cream for a quick and elegant dessert.

Osmanthus Pudding
Add osmanthus syrup to milk pudding or other creamy desserts for a unique floral twist. It pairs beautifully with treats like Red Bean Pudding with Coconut Milk.

Glazes and Sauces for Cakes, Pastries, and Snacks

Brush it over freshly baked pastries or sponge cakes for a subtle, aromatic glaze that enhances the dessert without overpowering it.

This syrup also works beautifully over unique snacks like Lotus Root with Sticky Rice.

Tips for Storing and Using Osmanthus Syrup

Storage: Store osmanthus syrup in a clean, airtight container in a cool, dark place or refrigerate it for extended freshness.
Serving: Since osmanthus syrup is highly aromatic, a little goes a long way. Use it sparingly to accentuate your desserts and drinks without overwhelming their natural flavors.

Ingredients

300g osmanthus flowers, fresh
100g honey

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing and Drying Osmanthus Flowers

Pick Fresh Flowers: Select 300g of fresh, full osmanthus flowers, choosing ones that are clean and vibrant. Avoid picking flowers with any signs of damage.

Remove Impurities: Gently sort through the flowers, removing any leaves, stems, or debris. Using tweezers can help you remove small stems without damaging the flowers.

Rinse the Flowers: Add the flowers to a bowl of clean water and gently stir to wash away dust and fine particles. Strain the flowers, then place them in a cool, ventilated area to drain.
Note: Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade the flower’s color and fragrance.

Dry the Flowers:

If you have a dehydrator, set it to 36-38°C (96.8-100.4°F) and dry the flowers for approximately 4 hours, stirring occasionally for even drying.
Alternatively, use the oven on the lowest setting, watching carefully and stirring occasionally to prevent the flowers from browning.

Step 2: Making Osmanthus Syrup

Prepare Dried Flowers: Once dried, store half of the osmanthus flowers in glass jars for future use, and place the remaining half into clean, dry containers to prepare the osmanthus syrup.

Add Honey: Pour honey over the dried osmanthus flowers, adding just enough to fully submerge them. Adjust the honey amount if needed to cover the flowers completely. Stir well to combine.

Steam the Mixture: Place the container in a pot with enough water for steaming, ensuring that the water level is low enough to prevent boiling water from splashing into the container.

Steam gently for around 10 minutes to allow the osmanthus fragrance to fully infuse into the honey.

Cool and Thicken: Remove the container from the pot and let it cool at room temperature. As the osmanthus syrup cools, it will thicken slightly, becoming a rich and fragrant syrup ready to use.

Tips for Best Results

Environment: Choose a clean and pollution-free area to pick osmanthus flowers for the best quality.
Flower Handling: Be gentle when handling osmanthus flowers as they’re delicate and can bruise easily.
Honey Quality: High-quality honey not only improves the taste but also complements the floral fragrance of osmanthus, so select the best honey you can.

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