Stoppage Time Africa Recipe
house preserved lemon & orange blossom cordial, mint tea, lemon, honey, rose water spritz.
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Ingredients
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Preserved Lemon & Orange Blossom Cordial
Mint Tea Concentrate
Cocktail Assembly & Garnish
Method
Preserved Lemon & Orange Blossom Cordial
Prepare Ingredients
Thinly slice or finely chop preserved lemon rind to measure 3/4 cup. Zest two fresh oranges using a microplane, avoiding pith.
Combine 0.75 cups chopped preserved lemon rind, 2 tablespoons fresh orange zest, 0.75 cups fresh lemon juice, 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan.
Warm the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. Do not boil vigorously; maintain a gentle simmer for 6–8 minutes to allow flavors to meld and slightly reduce.
Remove from heat and let the mixture steep, covered, for 30 minutes to extract more aroma from the rind and zest.
Strain the cordial through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on solids to extract liquid. Discard solids. Stir in 1 teaspoon orange blossom water. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled. Yield: about 1 cup cordial.
Mint Tea Concentrate
Place 1 packed cup fresh mint leaves in a heatproof container. Pour 2 cups boiling water over the leaves, cover tightly, and steep for 8–10 minutes for a strong concentrate.
Strain the tea through a fine sieve, pressing the leaves gently to release liquid. While still warm, stir in 2 tablespoons honey until dissolved. Chill the concentrate in the refrigerator until cold.
Cocktail Assembly & Garnish
Fill a Collins glass or highball with ice.
Add 2 tablespoons vodka or gin (omit for a non‑alcoholic version).
Pour in 1.5 tablespoons preserved lemon & orange blossom cordial and 3 tablespoons chilled mint tea concentrate.
Add 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon honey syrup (see note: to make honey syrup, warm equal parts honey and water and stir to combine) to balance sweetness.
Stir gently to combine all base ingredients.
Top with 2 ounces club soda or sparkling water to give the drink lift.
Lightly spritz 1 teaspoon rose water over the top of the finished drink (do not overdo — rose water is potent).
If making multiple servings, scale ingredients proportionally. Cordial and mint tea concentrate will keep refrigerated (cordial up to 2 weeks, tea concentrate up to 5 days).