Sweet Violet leaf Syrup recipe

Sweet Violet (Viola odorata / Viola sororia)
aka English violet or Common violet

These dainty, purple blooms have been captivating hearts (and healing bodies) for centuries. Blooming from the depths of winter into early spring, Sweet Violets are deeply soothing, nourishing, and full of natural medicine.

As a child, I’d spend hours collecting violets at the end of the garden, mixing them into “fairy potions” and marveling at the way the water turned purple. Now, they’re part of my home apothecary, especially when it comes to caring for the lungs, skin, and digestion.

Medicinal Magic:
Violet leaves are especially useful in treating bronchial conditions. As an expectorant, they help the body clear phlegm and ease chest congestion, great for harsh coughs, asthma, whooping cough, and bronchitis. Thanks to their high mucilage content, violets have a demulcent action: they soothe irritation in the respiratory tract, digestive system, and more.

They’re particularly nourishing for folks with a dry constitution, think dry skin, dry throat or mouth, sluggish bowels, or a tendency toward constipation. Violet is both gentle and moistening, supporting the body from the inside out.

Historically, violets were also used to address tumors of the breast, lungs, and digestive tract, and they continue to be valued in herbal traditions around the world.

Edible + Delicious:
The flowers, tender stems, and young leaves are all edible.
~ Add the flowers to salads, baking, herbal honey, or freeze into ice cubes.
~ Use the leaves in soups, stews, pestos, smoothies, or slice finely into salads.
~ Infused into drinks or syrups, violets tint everything a vibrant purple!

Make Your Own: Violet Leaf Syrup with Honey
A beautiful way to preserve their benefits and ease dry coughs and irritated throats.

You’ll need:
~ 1 cup fresh violet leaves
~ 1 cup water
~ 1 cup raw honey

~ Rinse and dry your violet leaves.

~ Bring water to a boil, add leaves, and simmer gently for 10 minutes.

~ Let the infusion cool slightly, then strain out the leaves.

~ Stir in honey until fully dissolved.

~ Pour into a sterilised bottle or jar, label, and store in the fridge.

Take 1–2 tbsp as needed, in tea, warm water, or even drizzled over breakfast or dessert.

This syrup is not only a lovely respiratory remedy, but also works as a mild laxative, supporting digestion gently and naturally.

Want to dive deeper into Sweet Violet and many other seasonal wild plants?
You’ll find it featured in my Wet Season Foraging Guide, where I teach you how to safely identify, harvest, and use wild edible plants through the wetter months.