89Süd Organic Lavender-Elderberry Syrup Essence. Organic syrup essence made from a lavender blossom infusion and elderberry juice, delicately floral – for lemonade, spritz, gin, and chai.
89Süd Organic Lavender-Elderberry Syrup Essence is an organic syrup essence made from an infusion of lavender blossoms, organic sugar, elderberry juice, and citric acid by the 89Süd manufactory in Waldkirch, Bavarian Swabia. More concentrated than classic syrup, with less sugar and plenty of floral notes, vegan and alcohol-free, 330 ml in a swing-top bottle. No lavender oil, no added flavorings, no elderflower syrup – an essence made from real blossoms and wild-harvested berries.
Organic Lavender-Elderberry Syrup Essence by 89Süd is the floral variety of the manufactory and, after Rhubarb and Bitter Lemon, the essence most frequently ordered from us. A syrup essence is a concentrate for dilution, but structured differently than classic syrup. At 89Süd, the raw ingredient is the focus; for this reason, the manufactory states that the essence contains significantly less sugar and the highest possible concentration of blossoms and berries. In this case, that means an infusion of lavender blossoms, which provides the flavor, and elderberry juice, which adds color and dark fruit notes. In a glass, you add one part essence to eight to nine parts water. A 330 ml bottle thus yields a good three liters of lavender lemonade – or many glasses of spritz if the summer is long. Flora and Christoph Nieß collect the elderberries in Swabian forests, and the boiling and bottling are done by hand.
Flavor
The Lavender-Elderberry Syrup Essence tastes delicately floral: lavender at the forefront, floral and fresh, followed by the dark fruit of the elderberry, which colors the glass violet. 89Süd describes this as a taste experience that transports you to the South of France.
Those who only know lavender as a scent from a sachet are usually surprised by the first sip. In the glass, it is refined and fresh, more blossom than perfume, and the elderberry gives it depth and color. Diluted into lemonade, the lavender remains recognizable but delicate, with a light fruit sweetness and a subtle acidity. The color is a selling point in its own right: a splash in a champagne flute turns Prosecco violet to rosé, which is why the manufactory explicitly recommends the essence for sparkling wine and Prosecco.
Those expecting a strong fruit spritzer are better served by the rhubarb. This essence thrives on the blossom, and those who generally find lavender in a glass unfamiliar will feel the same way here.
Usage
For lavender lemonade, add one part essence to eight to nine parts sparkling mineral water, ice, and a slice of lemon. Pour the water into the glass first, then the essence, and stir briefly. This is the drink that 89Süd itself describes as wonderfully Southern French – for an afternoon in the garden or dinner outdoors.
As a spritz, the essence comes in a wine glass with Prosecco and a splash of sparkling water over ice, garnished with a lemon twist. In a gin and tonic, it takes on the role of a mixer: a splash with gin, topped with tonic, and the drink becomes floral and violet. 89Süd also recommends it for cocktails and as a variation of a Hugo, where the essence replaces elderflower syrup and adds lavender.
It works warm in chai: a teaspoon in a chai latte gives the spiced tea a floral note that the manufactory claims is a fantastic match. It is also an alternative to orange juice for toasting with sparkling wine and Prosecco – in terms of color, it certainly is.
Store the bottle in a cool, dark place. Once opened, it should be kept in the refrigerator and used up promptly.
Our tip: Prepare a carafe of lavender lemonade for guests, with ice cubes, lemon slices, and a few blueberries. The berries absorb the color, and everyone at the table sees immediately that there is more in the glass than just water with syrup. Prepared with still water, the carafe will keep in the refrigerator until the evening; add the sparkling water to the glass at the table.
Origin
The 89Süd manufactory is based in Waldkirch, a district of Winterbach in the Günzburg district of Bavarian Swabia. Flora and Christoph Nieß grow most of the fruit, herbs, blossoms, and vegetables themselves, using mixed cultivation and keeping bees and insects on the fields in mind. They harvest the elderberries for this essence in Swabian forests as wild forage.
The lavender blossoms are infused—meaning their flavor is transferred into liquid rather than pressed as juice—which is why "infusion of lavender blossoms" is the first ingredient on the label. The boiling takes place when blossoms and berries are at their ideal harvest time, followed immediately by bottling: everything is done by hand, from cultivation to boiling and labeling. The illustration on the bottle was drawn by Flora Nieß herself. The manufactory has been officially organic-certified since the summer of 2020.
The philosophy behind all the essences from Waldkirch is: little sugar, lots of flavor. Compared to conventional syrup, the focus is on the intense taste of fruits, herbs, and blossoms, resulting in less sugar and the highest possible concentration of raw ingredients. You can find more about the couple and their seven varieties on our 89Süd page.
Who it's for
The Lavender-Elderberry Syrup Essence is the bottle for anyone who likes to mix spritzes and gin and tonics at their home bar and is looking for something unique. It is perfect for hosts who want to impress with a violet carafe on the table and for anyone who loves the South of France in a glass. As a gift, the swing-top bottle with the illustrated label is a souvenir that smells of lavender upon opening and shows off its color when poured.
Those who like it fruity and sour should reach for the Organic Rhubarb Syrup Essence, our bestseller from Waldkirch; if you are looking for a second gin partner, try the Organic Green Herb Syrup Essence with mint, lemon balm, and tarragon. You can find further syrups and essences in our Syrup category. The lavender essence is not suitable for those expecting a classic fruit lemonade – here, the blossom leads while the berry plays a supporting role.
Lavender blossoms and wild-harvested elderberries, delicately floral and violet – the organic syrup essence from Waldkirch for lemonade, spritz, and gin and tonic.
