Garlic scapes, the flowering stems of garlic, also belong in folk herbalism. Gentler than the clove but still green, pungent, and sulfurous, they work well in fresh seasonal preparations.
Here is a simple oxymel recipe made with vinegar, honey, thyme, and ginger.
Garlic scape, thyme, and ginger oxymel
Oxymel is an old preparation made with vinegar and honey. Its name comes from Greek: oxy for acid, and mel for honey. Originally, it could be prepared very simply, then drunk diluted in water.
It already appears in the medical texts of Greek antiquity and later in the Greco-Roman tradition. Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Galen mention this sweet-and-sour type of preparation, where honey softens the acidity of vinegar. Later, oxymel continued to appear in pharmacopoeias as a simple base, sometimes used alone and sometimes enriched with plants.
Over time, this sweet-and-sour base was also used to carry strong plants, roots, seeds, or fruits. Here, garlic scapes follow the same logic in a more seasonal form: the green and tender part of the plant is used instead of the clove.
The result is gentler than raw garlic, while keeping a warm, pungent, sulfurous note.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh garlic scapes, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp dried thyme or 2 tbsp fresh thyme
- 3 to 5 thin slices of fresh ginger
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 to 1 cup raw honey, to taste
Preparation
Place the garlic scapes, thyme, and ginger in a clean glass jar. Cover with apple cider vinegar, then add the honey. Mix well.
If the lid is metal, place a piece of parchment paper between the jar and the lid, because vinegar can corrode metal.
Let macerate for at least 7 days away from light. For a stronger preparation, let it sit for 2 to 4 weeks instead. Shake the jar from time to time. Strain, bottle, and label.
How to use oxymel
Oxymel is generally taken in small amounts. It can be diluted in a little water, added to a warm drink, or simply taken by the spoonful depending on the intensity desired.
In this recipe, honey rounds out the strength of garlic, vinegar brings a bright acidic base, thyme adds a deep aromatic note, and ginger reinforces the warming side of the preparation.
How to choose garlic scapes
Choose firm, green, very fresh stems with no soft or yellowing spots. For this kind of preparation, young and tender garlic scapes are the most interesting: they cut easily and give a finer flavor.
Use them ideally soon after harvest. If you need to wait a few days, keep them in the refrigerator in a bag or slightly open container.
Precautions
This preparation contains honey. It should not be given to children under one year old, because honey can contain spores responsible for infant botulism. Use caution with anticoagulants, aspirin, bleeding disorders, or before surgery, especially if use is regular or concentrated.