Minted passionfruit potion

Eat me — drink me! This multi-purpose “potion” is equally delicious for eating and drinking. Try it drizzled over french toast, pancakes or waffles. Toss it through a bowl of fresh-cut strawberries or on top of chargrilled pineapple and bananas or simply poured over vanilla icecream (my personal favourite). Use it as the syrup base for Christmas punch (see recipe below), add a tablespoon to a flute of bubbly or to boiling water as a refreshing caffeine-free beverage at the end of a hectic day.

Minted passionfruit punch

600 ml	Passionfruit juice, unsweetened, see Geoff's tips in the comments section below the recipe (Main)
100 g	Honey
200 g	Soft brown sugar
600 g	White sugar
1 cup	Mint leaves, tightly packed (Main)
100 g	Fresh ginger, peeled and grated
½ cup	Fresh lime juice

Christmas party punch

1 cup	Minted passionfruit potion
1 cup	Freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup	Pineapple juice
1 cup	Dark rum, or vodka (optional)
750 ml	Tonic water, or soda, ginger ale or Champagne

Directions

For the minted passionfruit potion

1. Gently heat the passionfruit juice, honey and sugars in a saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat, stir in the mint, ginger and lime juice.
3. When cool strain through a fine sieve and pour into sterilised bottles.

For the Christmas party punch

1. Mix all the punch ingredients together, fill tall glasses with ice cubes, ladle in punch and garnish with fresh mint sprigs, sliced strawberries and tall straws.

See theBiteteam's suggestions for more edible gifts

• Honey spiced nuts
• Christmas cracker butter
• Prunes in gin
• Small batch fresh strawberry jam
• Buckwheat granola