Making my first herbal cordial recipe happened by accident three years ago. I’d bought too many dried herbs for tea blends and didn’t want them going to waste. My neighbor mentioned her grandmother used to make “medicinal wines” so I figured why not try it myself.

herbal cordial recipe for cocktails

Best decision ever. That first batch tasted incredible and I noticed my afternoon sugar cravings basically disappeared after drinking it regularly for a few weeks. Now I’ve got multiple cordial projects going at any given time and friends constantly asking for my recipes.

The thing about homemade cordials is they’re forgiving. Unlike complicated tinctures or extracts you might mess up, cordials work even if you’re not super precise with measurements. Plus they taste good enough that taking your daily herbs feels like a treat instead of a chore.

herbal cordial recipe

Why Making Your Own Cordial Beats Store Options

Commercial herbal drinks are either loaded with sugar or taste like medicine. There’s no middle ground. When you make recipe cordial at home you control every ingredient that goes into your body.

My sister used to spend $40 monthly on those fancy wellness shots from the health food store. Now she makes her own cordials for under $15 and gets way better results. The homemade versions are stronger, fresher, and actually address her specific health concerns instead of generic “wellness support.”

Plus you can adjust everything. Want it sweeter? Add more honey. Need it stronger? Use less water. Prefer different flavors? Swap herbs around. Every batch becomes exactly what you want it to be.

What You Need to Get Started

Main Herb Blend

  • 1 cup dried rose hips – vitamin C powerhouse that tastes fruity
  • 1/2 cup dried schisandra berries – adaptogenic herb that supports liver function
  • 1/4 cup dried lemon balm – calming mint family herb with citrus notes
  • 2 tablespoons dried ginger pieces – warming spice that boosts metabolism

Supporting Herbs

  • 1 tablespoon dried orange peel – adds brightness and supports digestion
  • 1 teaspoon dried stevia leaves – natural sweetener that won’t spike blood sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried cinnamon chips – helps regulate glucose levels

Liquid Components

  • 1/2 cup raw honey – provides enzymes and balances herbal bitterness
  • 1.5 cups filtered water – for diluting to drinking strength

The herb quality makes a huge difference here. I get mine from Mountain Rose Herbs or Starwest Botanicals because they test everything and the herbs actually smell fresh when you open the packages. Grocery store herbs often sit around too long and lose potency.

How to Make Your Cordial Step by Step

Week 1: Setting Up Your Extract

Put all the dried herbs in a quart mason jar. Screw the lid on tight and shake it up good.

Store the jar somewhere dark and cool – I use a kitchen cabinet that doesn’t get much light. Set a reminder to shake it every few days. The mechanical action helps break down plant cell walls.

Weeks 2-4: Watching the Magic Happen

Keep shaking every few days and watch the liquid change color. By week two it should be getting darker and starting to smell really herbal. Don’t open it during this time – you want to keep oxygen exposure minimal.

If you forget to shake for a week don’t stress about it. The extraction still happens, just maybe not as efficiently. I’ve made good cordials even when I was terrible about remembering to shake them.

Week 4-6: Deciding When It’s Ready

After four weeks you can start testing. Strain out a small amount and taste it. Should be pretty potent and herbal. If it tastes weak, let it go another week or two. Stronger herbs take longer to fully extract.

The liquid should be a rich color that reflects whatever herbs you’re using. Rose hips and schisandra give this recipe a beautiful deep red color.

Final Steps: Straining and Sweetening

Strain everything through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Press the spent herbs to get every drop out. Don’t throw them away – they’re great composted or you can even eat them if they taste good.

Add your honey to the strained liquid and stir until it dissolves completely. Then add water gradually until you like the taste. I usually end up with something that’s about 25% alcohol by volume – strong enough to preserve but mild enough to drink regularly.

Seasonal Variations Worth Trying

Spring Detox Version

Replace rose hips with dandelion root and add some nettle leaves. Makes a slightly bitter cordial that’s perfect for supporting your liver after winter. The natural bitterness actually helps digestion.

Summer Cooling Blend

Use hibiscus flowers instead of rose hips and add fresh mint leaves. Creates a gorgeous pink color and tastes amazing mixed with sparkling water. Perfect for hot afternoons when you want something refreshing.

Fall Immune Booster

Add elderberries and a bit of echinacea root to the base recipe. This haw berry recipes variation helps support your immune system as cold season starts. The elderberries make it taste almost like wine.

Winter Warming Formula

Include extra ginger and add some dried orange slices. Sometimes I throw in a few whole cloves too. This version is perfect heated up like a hot toddy on cold nights.

Digestive Support Mix

Focus on fennel seeds, chamomile, and fresh ginger root instead of the fruit herbs. Great for after meals or when your digestion feels off. The fennel makes it taste slightly licorice-like.

Women’s Balance Recipe

Use red raspberry leaves, rose petals, and vitex berries. Specifically helpful for hormonal balance issues. Takes a bit longer to extract but worth the wait.

Getting the Most from Your Cordial

Store finished cordials in dark glass bottles in the fridge. They’ll stay good for over a year thanks to the alcohol content. I reuse wine bottles or buy amber glass bottles online.

For daily use I take about 2 tablespoons mixed into water or tea. Usually do this before meals since it seems to help with digestion and reduces my tendency to overeat. The herbs work better when taken consistently rather than randomly.

You can also use cordials in cooking. Add to salad dressings, drizzle over fruit, or use in cocktails. The herbal cordial recipe for weight loss works great mixed with seltzer water as a healthy soda replacement.

herbal cordial recipe for weight loss

Herbal Cordial Recipe for Weight Loss

Emma
This homemade herbal cordial supports weight loss and boosts wellness naturally. Made with rose hips, schisandra, and ginger, it tastes amazing and is easy to customize.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 day 4 hours
Course Weight Loss Support
Cuisine Herbal
Servings 30
Calories 45 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 quart mason jar
  • Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
  • Dark glass bottle for storage
  • Measuring cups
  • Mixing spoon

Ingredients
  

Main Herb Blend:

  • 1 cup dried rose hips
  • 1/2 cup dried schisandra berries
  • 1/4 cup dried lemon balm
  • 2 tbsp dried ginger pieces

Supporting Herbs:

  • 1 tbsp dried orange peel
  • 1 tsp dried stevia leaves
  • 1/2 tsp dried cinnamon chips

Liquid Components:

  • 1/2 cup raw honey
  • 1.5 cups filtered water

Instructions
 

Week 1 – Extract Setup:

  • Combine all dried herbs in a quart mason jar. Seal and shake well.

Store & Shake:

  • Place in a cool, dark spot (like a cabinet). Shake every 2–3 days to help break down herbs.

Weeks 2–4 – Steeping:

  • Continue shaking periodically. Watch color deepen and smell become herbal. Avoid opening to minimize oxygen exposure.

Week 4–6 – Test & Taste:

  • After 4 weeks, taste a small sample. If flavor is weak, let it steep for up to 6 weeks total.

Strain:

  • Strain through cheesecloth or fine mesh. Press herbs to extract all liquid.

Sweeten & Dilute:

  • Stir in raw honey until dissolved. Add filtered water gradually to taste. Store in dark glass bottles in the fridge.

Notes

For daily use: mix 2 tbsp into water or tea before meals.
Cordial keeps for 12–18 months refrigerated.
Customize with seasonal herbs like elderberry or mint.
Use in dressings, cocktails, or as a healthy soda alternative.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Herbal Cordial Recipe for Weight Loss
Amount per Serving
Calories
45
% Daily Value*
Sodium
 
2
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
30
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
7
g
2
%
Fiber
 
0.5
g
2
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
50
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
20
mg
24
%
Calcium
 
10
mg
1
%
Iron
 
0.3
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword DIY herbal drink, herbal cordial recipe, homemade weight loss drink
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Questions People Ask About Making Cordials

How do you make herbal cordials?

Basic process is steeping herbs in alcohol for 4-6 weeks, straining, then adding sweetener and water. The long steeping time pulls out way more beneficial compounds than just making tea.

What is cordial made of?

Traditional cordials combine herbs, alcohol, and sweetener. My version uses dried herbs like rose hips and schisandra, honey for sweetening, and water to dilute to drinking strength. The specific herbs determine both flavor and health benefits.

What herb is used in alcoholic cordial?

Lots of herbs work well. Rose hips add vitamin C and fruity flavor. Schisandra berries are adaptogenic and support liver function. Ginger warms you up and boosts metabolism. Choice depends on what health benefits you’re after and what flavors you enjoy.

What is the difference between cordial and elixir?

Cordials are sweeter and more diluted than elixirs. They’re designed to taste good enough for regular drinking. Elixirs are more concentrated and medicinal – you take them in smaller doses. Cordials bridge the gap between medicine and enjoyable beverages.

How to make a herbal tincture without alcohol?

Use apple cider vinegar instead. Same process but the extraction takes longer and tastes different. Vinegar tinctures don’t last as long but work fine if you avoid alcohol. Glycerin also works but creates a really sweet result.

Does this herbal cordial recipe actually help with weight loss?

The herbs support weight management in different ways. Schisandra helps your liver process fats better. Ginger boosts metabolism slightly. Rose hips provide nutrients without calories. It’s not magic but as part of healthy eating it definitely helps.

How long do homemade cordials last?

Alcohol-based cordials keep for 12-18 months in the fridge. The alcohol and honey preserve them naturally. Always smell and taste before using older batches. If something seems off, trust your instincts and make a fresh batch.

Making This Part of Your Routine

This herbal cordial recipe has completely changed how I think about daily wellness. Instead of choking down supplements or forcing myself to drink bitter herbal teas, I actually look forward to my daily cordial dose.

My great-aunt used to make something similar during the 1960s when natural health was having its first big revival. She called them “tonics” and swore they kept her healthy into her 90s. The hawthorn tincture recipe she taught my mom inspired me to start experimenting with my own blends.

Whether you want natural weight support, better digestion, or just a healthier alternative to wine, cordial making offers something for everyone. Start with this basic recipe then experiment based on your needs and taste preferences.

For more natural health recipes, check out our Natural Mounjaro Tea Recipe for additional metabolic support, or try our Gluco Cleanse Tea Recipe for blood sugar balance. Our Costa Rican Tea Recipe and Bariatric Tea Recipe offer other tasty options for your wellness journey. Don’t forget our Flu Bomb Tea when you need immune support.

The best part about making cordials is how personal they become. Each batch reflects your choices and preferences. Start simple, then get creative as you learn what works for your body and taste buds.

This information is for educational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Herbal cordials are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new herbal regimen, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have health conditions. Individual results may vary.

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