Camomile and Lemon Syllabub

My favorite bed time drink- a warm cup of camomile tea. Pure flowers of Camomile have a soothing effect on us (helpful when you come crashing back home). It's also known to aid healing in case of stomach disorders. So perfect after a guilty (heavy) meal :)

The delicate white flower has a taste that doesn't go well with many; but it's a must-try drink for all herbal tea lovers. Loose Camomile flowers are not readily available in Mumbai, India. However, don't fret as tea bags from a reliable brand or source is also good (Twinings, for me).

I found this unusual recipe by Gordon Ramsay including Camomile. It's a light English desert called Syllabub. It is usually made from rich milk or cream seasoned with sugar and lightly curdled with wine. It carries quite an interesting origin- Traditionally a bowl containing 'Sille,' a wine that used to be made in Sillery, in France's Champagne region, was placed under a cow's udder, which was milked into the bowl. Well, we don't need to try that hard. Here is something simpler we can try at home-

1 camomile tea bag
50ml boiling water
50g caster sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
4 tbsp dry sherry
300ml double cream

1. Infuse the tea in the water and leave for 30 minutes. Strain through a tea strainer or fine sieve and chill for 30 minutes.
2. Place all the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl and with an electric whisk start to whip together. When the mixture is starting to thicken, slowly add the tea. Continue to whisk until the mixture is quite thick and stands in soft peaks.
3. Transfer to four wine glasses and chill for 2 hours. Serve with sponge biscuits.

[Image: Snigdha Manchanda Binjola for Now Cooking]
[Recipe: Gordon Ramsay for TimesOnline]