2 tablespoons cinchona bark
Peels from 3 whole grapefruit
5 sage leaves and 2 bee balm flowers
6 allspice berries
1 ounce lime juice
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan; cover and let simmer for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and chill. Strain with cheese cloth and add one teaspoon of citric acid. Cover and refrigerate until needed. (Note: you can substitute sage and bee balm with other herbs and edible flowers growing in your garden!)
Toby Thomason is General Manager of Harvest Seasonal Kitchen and Board Member of The Seed Project Foundation