Capillaire

Class: Basic

Source: The Art of French Cookery

Ingredients

1 handful Canadian Maidenhair (dried)

4 Pints Water

4 lbs Sugar

1-2 Tbls Orange Flower Water

Instructions:
Put the Maidenhair in a pan and pour the 4 pints of boiling water over it. Let it infuse for 10 to 12 hours. Strain. Make a simple syrup of sugar using a very small quantity of water to dissolve the sugar. When the simple syrup is cool, add it to the Maidenhair tincture. Add Orange Flower water and bottle.

Notes:
Some recipes call for a second infusion of Maidenhair after the combining the tincture with hot simple syrup. Coarsely chop 1/2 oz of Maidenhair and pour the Capillaire over it and bring to a boil for a minute or two. Cool, add the orange flower water and bottle.

History
Capillaire is pretty much a simple syrup with some aromatics added. Orange flower water is the main one and found in almost every recipe, but Maidenhair, in addition to Orange Flower water, is the preferred recipe.

Comments
Canadian Maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) or the Five Fingered Fern, is very common in Canada.

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