When chives start to blossom before they turn to seed, it’s time to make a Chive Blossom Martini.
Chive Blossom Martini – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Chives are a perennial herb that are easy to grow in the edible garden. They blossom in mid to late spring with delicate pink flowers that appear at the end of chive stalks. Chives have wide culinary uses and while the onion flavour of the stalks may not have a general appeal in drinks, it works well in a Chive Blossom Martini.
The drink is essentially a take on the Gibson cocktail which has pickled cocktail onions for garnish. For this cocktail, fresh chive blossoms are steeped in gin which impart a mild onion flavour that can vary depending on the length of the infusion. It is recommended to taste as you go until the desired level is achieved. In our trials, we infused for 24 hours and the flavour was intense.
When it comes to the choice of gin, a London dry style gives the best results followed by a citrus forward gin. Gins that lean towards the floral end of the spectrum are best avoided as the onion flavour can compete with their botanicals.
Chive Blossom Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 60ml chive blossom infused gin*
- 10ml dry vermouth
For chive blossom infused gin:
- 150ml gin
- 1 small chive blossom
Glassware: Martini glass or coupette
Garnish: chive blossom
Method
*To make chive blossom infused gin:
- Rinse and dry the chive blossom to remove any insects or dirt.
- In a glass jar, add the chive blossom to the gin, secure the lid and give it a gentle shake. Leave to infuse at room temperature for 2-24 hours (this can vary depending on how strong you like the flavour).
- Using a fine strainer, coffee filter or cheese cloth, strain the liquid and discard the solids.
To make the Martini:
In a mixing glass, add the gin, vermouth over ice and stir. Strain into a chilled coupette and garnish with a chive blossom.
