Yup. It really WAS about 9am when I started thinking about a cocktail. Ha!! Only another mama raising her child without a resident partner or any family support will know that feeling. It is relentless - the 5am start with no lover's smile and maybe no text, tea consumed while writing lists and planning the entrepreneurial day whilst sorting uniforms, lunches, school notices and getting us showered and breakfasted and in the car by 7.15am. Quick shopping errand on the way home and by 9am, after traffic and chatter and Thai-K-pop whilst running through the metal list of all outstanding emergencies and the feeling of more being required than one human could reasonably give in a week, let alone a single day, I am making coffee but definitely thinking ahead for a cocktail when the school pick-up witching hour is done.
Sustainable and organic are more often applied to what we eat, rather than what we drink. And so I try to plan ahead for great sustainable alternatives to store-bought-chemical-filled crap that don't involve cleaning the juicer or the blender, cos we do that in the morning and once a day is QUITE enough!
And so I started with this. At 9am.
5 mins to pluck 10 anchan flowers (blue butterfly pea - Clitoria ternatea) in the bright Thai morning sunshine. We have dozens of flowers every day creeping over the side fence. Slice up 2 organic Thai limes and a few slices of organic Thai ginger. And get the wild raw Burmese honey out. Where do we get ours? We buy sustainably sourced, wild, raw honey through Baan Tung Boon Lom Homestay. They get it from the Karen Department of Health & Welfare whose mobile midwives collect it from the mountains along the Thai-Burma border, and who use the proceeds for medical supplies for indigenous & refugee pregnant and new mothers.
It goes into a 1 litre glass bottle in roughly this proportion.
I add boiling water.
Let it cool until the glass bottle is cool enough to touch, and then put it, as is, into the fridge for the rest of the day.
When Miss 13 going on 14 and I crawl in the door in the late afternoon-early-evening-heat, she gets the pristine version and mommy's comes with a very substantial 'splosh' of vodka in it. Refreshing, relaxing, delicious.
I love that it is seriously anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and full of anti-cancer and neuron-nourishing flavenoids. I love that the whole jug costs me less than 10 baht (USD $0.30) and takes only 10 mins to make. Vodka optional and obviously changes mommy's cost factor, depending whether you choose a Russian cheapie or are a Grey Goose girl. :)
But ALL NATURAL. ORGANIC. SUSTAINABLE. EASY.
To take it the last step to "pure", substitute commercial vodka for the local 'Lao Khao' - a clear white spirit made from either corn or rice, or both. Taste can range from paint-stripper-strong to actually surprisingly drinkable, although astoundingly potent. But guaranteed chemical free and supporting an enterprising local, somewhere. :)
Cheers. Or, as we say, in Dutch: Proost!
Or locally here in Thai, ไชโย (Chok-dii).
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Now I REALLY understand your first line :)))
I actually started planning my daughter's after-school herbal drink a SPLIT SECOND before the cocktail idea flew into my head. haha... :)
Gingery.. but I liked it!!
Ok - more lime, less ginger next time... promise. :)
Thank you for the resteem LURVE @kenistyles :) x joop joop
always nice to set yourself up for a refreshing, healthy and tasty relief from fatigue and heat
All part of my "better self care" strategy so I can be more productive, more giving, happier and more alive. In that way, my cocktail becomes almost a community service! Haha... :)
This looks so jazzy and yummy. :')
Have you named this cocktail yet @artemislives?
haha no, but I thought of you as I was writing about it, sweating away over there... :)
Ahahaaa chok dee and extended love from us three! You are such a giving human and incredible mother, don't think any mom is hearing that enough! Enjoy your very well deserved re-fresh-mind! 🤗
It IS especially nice for us solo mamas to hear that we're doing OK as a mom. I think sometimes the fatigue and relentless mental pressure cause distortions of how we view ourselves. So sweet to be encouraged. I feel re-fresh-ed by that alone!
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that looks so refreshing, the color is very nice.
It is soooo refreshing and the colour changes from clear blue to purple when you add lime. It is super delish and it feels nice knowing it's just really good for you. Thanks for your ongoing support. :)
Wow this looks and sounds sensational! Either version though I'm definitely leaning towards the adult version lately! lol! Another wonderful post! ❤️
Haha.... wait till Kai s a pre-teen and you will wonder why on earth you ever drank anything other than the adult version. :) I will bring you some anchan flowers when next we have lunch or dinner - let's make that soon - I have a biz idea to discuss with you and Mr @kenistyles :)
Yes let's make that soon! I can't wait to hear this new idea you have!
It's a GOOD one and involves a new revenue generator around a classy organic tantric-adult product. :) You and young Keni will like a lot, I think - and a win-win for EVERYone. Next week? Choose a day (not Monday) and bleep me through the discord.
Intrigue! I like it! Will chat with Mr Styles when he gets up and let you know when is good!
Oh I love how you make sure you have a relaxing moment with something enjoyable for you and your girl! It looks amazing and I love the name of the blue flower, makes me think of a body part that can also provide a relaxing moment ;-) ( I'm Dutch too, so I don't shy away from saying these kind of things, hope you don't mind.)
Mind? It is a lovely moment to be reminded of that amazing enfolded miracle pleasure place!! May there be more conscious sharing thereof. :) Yes, I too, am very dutch that way and yes, it IS a very Georgia O'Keefe image and was named for that. :) Love your support - following you too for more great Dutch sharing and engagement. Ik was in den Haag geboren. :)
I'm glad! I'm not familiar with Georgia o 'Keefe though... Yes, let's keep exchanging Dutchiness. xx Ik ben geboren in Leiden.
Georgia O'Keefe is a famous american artists who paints erotic flowers. Beautiful. :) Ik heb en oom in Leiden. :) Maar ik schrijv nu heel slecht!! Kan het wel nog goed lezen. :)
Right! Erotic flowers! Flowers are a celebration.
Mmm so good and so EASY! That's what I love the most. And there's such an abundance of butterfly pea flowers in Thailand. Can't wait to try. 🙏😁
They really grow like the proverbial weeds. :)
Such vibrant colors of these cocktails @artemislives. Truly amazing, maybe I can try this with dried leaves because at my place, it's difficult to get fresh flowers. I will add a little beetroot to give it a different color. And at the end - VODKA. :D Hehe. Thankfully almost every alcohol is vegan especially when I am trying to be on a diet. ;-) Superb idea. Maybe you do a video tutorial for this next time!
haha... the gentle video tutorial encouragement is welcomed - please keep it coming! :) Yes, you can make this from dried flowers too. :) Appreciating your optimistic self, Sugandha :)