blog 3 Thyme Syrup

A Herb Obsession (and a Recipe for Thyme Syrup)

I’ll admit it: I’m a little obsessed with herbs.

Whenever I spot a herb in someone’s garden or growing wild, I have to run my hands through it. And take a sniff.

I’m also slightly addicted to herb books. I own far too many — but hey, everyone has their guilty pleasures. 😉

Our garden is filled with herbs. Each year, I faithfully harvest them for drying. But I’ll be honest: sometimes life in the studio gets so busy that I completely forget about them. That happened last year too.

So when the Christmas holidays arrived, I decided to finally give my “forgotten” herbs a proper place. My tisane and tea jars are now restocked, and the empty herb jars have been filled again.

The scent of thyme always reminds me of my mother — I have no idea why. But I love the smell.

Thyme is also a powerful medicinal herb. The Romans already knew that, and it’s mentioned in almost every herb book you’ll find. You can make all kinds of things with it — including this simple cough syrup.

It’s a recipe I make every year at the end of summer, and I’m happy to share it with you here.

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Recipe for Thyme Syrup

What you’ll need:

 • 75 grams fresh thyme

 • 500 ml water

 • 250 grams raw cane sugar

 • (optional) a handful of fresh marjoram and/or sage

 • sterile bottle

When I harvest herbs, I always lay them out on a large sheet in the garden. That way, any little insects can safely crawl away.

 1. Bring the water to a boil and add the fresh herbs.

 2. Let it simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes.

 3. Remove the pan from the heat, put the lid on, and let it steep overnight.

 4. The next day, heat the mixture again and strain the herbs through a clean cloth.

 5. Return the liquid to the pan and bring it to a boil once more.

 6. Add the sugar and let it reduce for about 10 minutes.

 7. Pour the syrup into a sterile bottle and seal it immediately.

The syrup will keep for about a year. It’s wonderful when you have a sore throat!

Tip: if you prefer to use honey instead of sugar, let the liquid cool slightly before adding the honey.

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Enjoy your time in the kitchen!

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From natural inks to hand-shaped ceramics — here I share recipes, stories, and quiet craft from my studio in Norway.

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