Kate’s Propolis Bitters

From DIY: Do It For the Bees

Honor the bees by misting your propolis bitters over the drink through a handmade bee stencil like the one pictured on the right, which was cut from the lid of a fresh herb container. Download a pdf of this pattern. Photo by Erin Scott

After years of awakening the magic of spirits in her bartending, Kate August has gone on from the restaurant world to forge a career in herbalism, helping folks raise their personal spirits to new and beneficial heights. Whether behind the counter at Oakland’s Homestead Apothecary or helping her private clients live healthier lives through herbs, she espouses the idea that you are what you drink.

4 ounces clove tincture (recipe below)
4 ounces propolis tincture* (see below for sources)
Peel of half an orange

Combine ingredients and let macerate for 2 days, then strain off the alcohol and compost the peel.

Clove Tincture: Macerate 2 parts cloves in 3 parts El Dorado 151 Rum for one week. Strain off the alcohol and compost the cloves.

What is propolis?
This sticky combination of collected plant resins and other hive products (such as beeswax, essential oils, and pollen) is sometimes called “bee glue” for the way bees use it to seal holes and cracks in the hive.
*Find propolis tincture at local herb shops like Homestead Apothecary, Five Flavors Herbs, and Lhasa Karnak.