Bacanha Verbena Syrup. Organic herbal syrup with lemon verbena aroma – light and lemony for iced tea, lemonade, and sparkling water.
Bacanha Verbena Syrup is an organic herbal syrup made from cane sugar, water, and natural verbena aroma by the Parisian syrup manufacturer Bacanha. The 400 ml glass bottle is enough for around 20 drinks; non-alcoholic. No herbal tea, no pre-made drink, no coloring – a light syrup that you mix yourself with water and lemon.
Verbena Syrup by Bacanha is known by the manufacturer as Sirop Verveine Brut, and "Verveine" is a familiar term in France: that is what they call lemon verbena, the leaves of which are added to a cup as an infusion after a meal. The German label says "Eisenkraut-Aroma" (verbena aroma), referring to the same plant. An herbal syrup like this one has one of the shortest ingredient lists in the range: organic cane sugar, water, natural verbena aroma, and a little citric acid—nothing more. The manufacturer describes the syrup as a refreshing lemon verbena concentrate with a lemony, fresh taste and light fragrance, intended for iced tea and lemonade. Along with yuzu and ginger, verbena is part of Bacanha’s "Les Essentiels" package, the three varieties the company considers essential.
Taste
The verbena syrup tastes lemony and fresh, but lighter than a lemon syrup – more like leaf than fruit, with a subtle sweetness.
Lemon verbena smells like lemon without being sour; the leaf has the freshness of the peel along with something green and herbaceous. This is exactly what the natural aroma brings to the syrup. There is hardly any acidity, which is why the manufacturer recommends a dash of lemon juice in its recipe. Cane sugar is the primary ingredient; according to the manufacturer, a "Sirop Brut" is less sweet than classic syrup, and this is especially noticeable with the verbena, because there is only the delicate leaf aroma alongside the sweetness. Anyone expecting a punchy lemonade will find the syrup delicate. Anyone familiar with "verveine" from a trip to France and who wants to have it cold in a glass will be in for a treat.
Use
The house recipe is called "Vervein Iced": 2 cl of verbena syrup, 1 cl of lemon juice, and 3 ice cubes in a glass, topped up with cold water.
Still or sparkling, both work; with sparkling water, it becomes a light herbal lemonade; with still water, a verbena-infused water for the table. For iced tea, brew black or green tea, let it cool, and add 2 cl of syrup per glass, with ice and a lemon slice. The ratio is about 1 part syrup to 8 parts liquid, so one bottle is enough for about 20 glasses. In cocktails, verbena takes the role of sugar syrup while adding an herbal note.
One bottle contains 400 ml. It is best stored in a cool, dry place; once opened, keep it in the refrigerator and use it up promptly.
Our tip: Mix verbena syrup with powdered sugar to create a glaze and brush it over a lemon loaf cake. The herbal note turns a Sunday cake into something that tastes like a French garden.
Origin
The Parisian syrup manufacturer Bacanha was founded in 2013 in Paris, according to the company, as a result of a family history and is still run by a small team today.
Production takes place in an atelier near Paris, in the Seine-et-Marne department. For the herbal varieties, listed in the range under "Plantes" and "Herbes," the same principle applies as for all "Sirops Brut": organic cane sugar from South America as the main ingredient, water, and a natural aroma that is developed in the Grasse region, the hub of the French fragrance and flavor industry. It is heated gently at a low temperature and bottled in glass. All 15 Bacanha varieties we carry are organically certified and bear the EU organic logo. We introduce the house and all its varieties on our Bacanha page.
For whom
The verbena syrup is the bottle for anyone who prefers their lemonade light and herbal rather than sweet and fruity. It fits perfectly in the summer for iced tea, on the table as flavored water for guests and children, and at the home bar as an herbal note in non-alcoholic drinks. As a souvenir for France fans, it is a piece of "verveine" for the home.
Those who prefer stronger herbs should try the Mint Syrup; those looking for citrus with more acidity should choose the Yuzu Syrup from the same producer. You can find all our syrups in the Syrup category. Verbena is not suitable for those expecting a strong, acidic lemon syrup – it remains delicate.
Verbena aroma from Grasse and cane sugar, bottled near Paris – the light organic herbal syrup for mixing your own iced tea and lemonade.
