There’s truly something special about being welcomed with a chilled glass of Sharbat-e Panirak – Blue Mallow Flower Drink شربت گل پنیرک on a hot summer day in Tehran, right? It’s like a hug in a glass, but way more refreshing! This Blue Mallow Drink (شربت پنیرک) is such a treat—fruity, slightly sweet, and super refreshing. Honestly, is there a better way to cool off? Sharbat comes in so many delicious versions, it’s hard to pick a favorite.
But today, I’ve got a magical one for you: my Sharbat-e Panirak recipe. It’s super simple and oh-so-delicious. I served the sharbat with colorful candy sticks*. They’re not just cute; they add an extra pop of sweetness as they dissolve. This drink is like a mini summer party in your mouth—refreshing, fruity, and just the right amount of sweet. Perfect for impressing guests or just treating yourself on a hot day. Try it out, and trust me, you’ll be sippin’ happy all summer long!
watch my preparation video on Instagram
HERE´S WHAT YOU NEED FOR SHARBAT-E PANIRAK
Wild mallow flowers 🌸 (trust me, they’re not just pretty; they’re magical!)
Sugar syrup 🍯
Lemon or lime juice 🍋
Want to spice it up? Oh, the possibilities! You can add:
Basil seeds (tokhme sharbati)—they puff up like little pearls when soaked, so fun! 🐣
Broom rocket seeds (khakshir)—tiny, but mighty! 🌱
Rose water for a floral touch 🌹
Or, if you’re feeling fancy, a splash of saffron infusion for a golden glow 🌞
I used a store-bought sugar syrup to keep things easy, but don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with a quick DIY sugar syrup recipe below.
EMBRACE THE MAGIC MOMENT OF DAILY LIFE
As a kid, I used to call Sharbat-e Panirak – Blue Mallow Flower Drink “Adji Madji La Taradji Sharbat,” which is basically my version of an Abrakadabra Drink! Even now, the little kid in me gets wide, sparkly eyes whenever I see it. Why? Because this drink is pure magic! It’s all about that special moment—the one that opens up your heart and fills you with joy. And you know what? You can see the magic moment happening right in front of your eyes! Just add a few drops of lemon or lime juice to the cold mallow blossom drink, and poof—watch what happens!
Take a moment to enjoy it. See if you feel a little change inside, a little more joy, lightness, and excitement. It’s just like life—sometimes, all it takes is a few drops of lightness for everything to transform. Magic moments are always around us. I try to notice them in my everyday life. Whether it’s a sip of this magical sharbat or a tiny thing that makes me smile, they’re everywhere! You just have to watch for them—and who knows, maybe you’ll find your own “Adji Madji La Taradji” moment!
MALLOW BLOSSOMS: NATURE´S COLOR-CHANGING MAGICIANS
Sharbat-e Panirak – Blue Mallow Flower Drink شربت گل پنیرک and Tehran just go hand in hand for me. It’s like peanut butter and jelly, but so much more magical! You know, I’ve never come across this colorful mocktail outside of Iran, and it’s such a shame because it’s not just a drink—it’s an experience! As kids, we were totally mesmerized by the color-changing magic of mallow flowers. These blossoms are real color magicians! But here’s the best part: it’s not just for kids. Adults can enjoy the color magic too. Let me break it down for you:
Brew the mallow flowers in cold water, and the tea turns a stunning bright blue. 💙
Add a few drops of lemon or lime, and it magically shifts to pink! 💗
A dash of saffron extract? Boom, you get yellow. 💛
And if you’re feeling sweet, mix in some honey for a soft green hue. 💚
It’s like a rainbow in a glass, and it’s delicious!
But wait, there’s more! For the adults who like a little something extra in their drink, I’ve also made an alcoholic version. I call it the Magic Vodka Mallow Flower Infusion, and it’s a german guest post for Bettina`s Blog from diealltagsfeierin. Trust me, it’s delightful with vodka, but if you’re a gin lover, it’s just as magical! So whether you’re making it for fun, for the colors, or for a little buzz, this mallow drink is guaranteed to surprise and delight!
MALLOW BLOSSOMS – EDIBLE FLOWERS
The Persian wild mallow is like a little magician—it starts out blue-turquoise and turns a lovely green when you add saffron! Sadly, if you’re using German mallow flowers, the magic is a bit different. Instead of green, your sharbat will turn yellow. Still pretty, but a little less “wow.” I’ve heard it should turn green if you add honey though, so I’ll definitely try that next time and let you know!
For a fun touch, I like to freeze ice cubes with mallow blossom cold extract (or even just boiled water). They look gorgeous floating in the sharbat, and the best part? You can eat the flowers once the ice melts. It’s like a little surprise at the end! A quick heads-up! Hibiscus tea is often sold as mallow tea because it’s from the same plant family. But for this drink, you need the wild blue mallow—also known as the cheese poplar. It’s the natural anthocyanin dyes, malvin and myrtillin, that work their magic to create those stunning colors.
PANIRAK – DRIED BLUE MALLOW FLOWERS
In midsummer, from June to early September, blue mallow flower is like nature’s confetti, blooming along roadsides, field edges, and sometimes even decorating house walls. Bees and bumblebees are totally smitten with these lovely blooms! But it’s not just about looks—blue mallow flower is also a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. The leaves and flowers are not only edible but also add a touch of magic to your dishes. The leaves pack a tangy punch and are perfect for a wild herb salad, a veggie soup (just like you’d use spinach), or even a green smoothie. They make the smoothie extra creamy thanks to their mucilage, which is just a fancy word for the gooey stuff that makes things smooth.
The flowers, on the other hand, are like little bursts of sweetness and aroma. Toss them in salads, soups, or even sprinkle them over ice cream. They’re fantastic as a syrup or in desserts too. And here’s a fun tip: you can pickle the fruits for a mild, slightly nutty flavor. They add a unique twist to your pickling adventures! Oh, and if you want to save some flowers for later, you can let them dry right on the plant. For fresh flowers, spread them out on a cloth and let them dry in a cool, dark room. This helps keep their vibrant color intact. So next time you see blue mallow flowers, remember it’s not just a pretty face—it’s a versatile, tasty treat ready to jazz up your summer dishes!
BLUE MALLOW FLOWERS HEALTH BENEFITS
In persian traditional medicine (Teb-e Sonati), blue mallow flower is known for its warm properties, which means it has a gentle heating effect on our bodies. It blooms in June and July, and its leaves stick around until fall. There’s even a Spanish proverb that says, “The mallow in the vegetable garden makes the doctor wait outside.” How cool is that? Panirak—the wild mallow (Malva sylvestris)—is packed with goodies like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Plus, it’s full of valuable bitter substances and essential oils that are great for your health.
To get the most out of blue mallow flowers, make your tea using a cold extract. This means you should let the mallow steep in cold water rather than boiling it. Why? Because the mucilage (the gooey, good stuff) is better preserved in cold water. So, cold brewing is the way to go for a health boost and to keep all those beneficial properties intact! Enjoy your wild mallow tea and let it work its magic!
The mucilage in blue mallow flower is like a natural water binder—it helps hold and store moisture. This makes it super helpful for soothing colds and calming inflammation in your stomach and intestines. If you’ve got a scratchy throat, dry cough, or hoarseness, blue mallow flower tea can work wonders. It has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, plus it helps heal wounds and provides a protective film over irritated mucous membranes. It’s also great for calming external skin irritations and insect bites.
Just a quick note: if you’re taking any medication, it’s best to wait about an hour before enjoying your mallow drink. As mallow blossom extract can sometimes interfere with how your meds work. So, sip your tea or sharbat one hour after your medication and let the soothing magic of blue mallow flowers work its charm!
BLUE MALLOW FLOWER AS A BEAUTY ELIXIR
Ready to add a splash of magic to your life? Why not turn your bath into a blue dream by tossing in some blue mallow blossoms? It’s like having a little slice of paradise right in your tub! A blue mallow bath is fantastic for soothing irritated or itchy skin and can help calm mild sunburn after a day in the sun. Plus, if you’ve been battling hay fever, just soak a cotton pad in cold mallow extract and place it on your puffy face—instant relief!
For those pesky red veins or to smooth out wrinkles, a mallow blossom compress can work wonders. And don’t forget your eyes! An eye bath with cold mallow extract will refresh and brighten them, making them clear and sparkling. So go ahead, bring some color and relaxation into your life with a mallow bath. It’s like a mini spa day with a touch of nature’s magic!
ANCIENT MYTHS OF BLUE MALLOW FLOWER
Here’s a quirky superstition for you! In the old days, there was a belief about the mallow plant that’s both intriguing and a bit funny. If a woman wanted to know if she could have children, she would sprinkle her pee-pee over the mallow plant. If the plant wilted within three days, it was thought that she might not be able to have children. But if the mallow kept its color and stayed healthy, she was believed to be able to bear children. So, the mallow got a nickname—“the piss flower”! Just a fun piece of folklore to add a little color to your day!
INGREDIENTS FOR BLUE MALLOW COLD EXTRACT
3 tbsp blue mallow blossoms*
120 ml cold water
4 ice cubes
2 – 3 tbsp sugar syrup* bought ready-made or
MAKE YOUR OWN SUGAR SYRUP
250 g sugar
250 ml water
1/2 lemon, juice
INGREDIENTS FOR SAFFRON INFUSION
1/2 tsp saffron threads*
1 ice cube
TOPPING AND GARNISH
a few fresh mint leaves
1 lime or
1 tsp rose water or
2 tbsp basil seeds*(Tokhme Sharbati) or
or khakshir* (broomrake) optional
3 – 4 ice cubes
PREPARATION BLUE MALLOW COLD INFUSION
To make a refreshing blue mallow cold infusion, start by covering the mallow flowers with cold water and adding a few ice cubes. Let them infuse for 2 to 20 minutes, but be sure not to leave them too long, or the color might turn off.
Next, soak the basil seeds in water until they swell up like jelly. This usually takes about 5 minutes.
If you’re using khakshir seeds, rinse them well first to get rid of any sand. I’ve explained how to do this in more detail here.
Once your infusion time is up, strain the mallow flowers through a sieve, and you’re all set!
PREPARATION SUGAR SYRUP
Boil the water, then lower the heat and stir in the sugar. Let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes until it becomes syrupy. For a special touch, add saffron and rose water at the end. Allow the syrup to cool completely.
PREPARATION SAFFRON INFUSION
Grind half a teaspoon of saffron threads finely. Pour the ground saffron over two ice cubes and let it sit.
PREPARATION BLUE MALLOW FLOWER DRINK
Start by pouring 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar syrup into each glass. You can adjust the amount based on how sweet you like it. If you want, add 1 teaspoon of rose water and 1 tablespoon of swollen basil seeds. Next, pour in 120 ml of mallow flower extract and drop in the mallow flower ice cubes.
MAGICAL COLOR CHANGE
You can adjust the color of your drink by how much mallow blossom extract you use.
Blue:
Serve the drink as is for a beautiful blue color.
Pink:
Add a few drops of lemon or lime juice to turn it pink. The more juice you add, the lighter the pink. If you don’t stir it, the bottom will stay pink while the top remains blue.
Yellow:
Add 1 tablespoon of saffron extract to get a lovely yellow hue.
Green:
For a green version, simply mix in 1 teaspoon of honey.
Enjoy your colorful and refreshing drink!
BEFARMAYID!
Susan
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Sharbat-e Panirak – Blue Mallow Flower Drink شربت گل پنیرک
This Blue Mallow Drink is such a treat—fruity, slightly sweet, and super refreshing.
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS FOR BLUE MALLOW COLD EXTRACT
- 3 tbsp wild mallow blossoms*
- 120 ml cold water
- 4 ice cubes
- 2-3 sugar syrup ready-made or
MAKE YOUR OWN SUGAR SYRUP
- 250 g sugar
- 250 ml water
- 1/2 lemon juice
INGREDIENTS FOR SAFFRON INFUSION
- 1/2 tsp saffron threads*
- 1 ice cube
TOPPING AND GARNISH
- a few fresh mint leaves
- 1 lime or
- 1 tsp rose water or
- 2 tbsp basil seeds Tokhme Sharbati or
- or khakshir broomrake optional
- 3-4 ice cubes
Instructions
PREPARATION BLUE MALLOW COLD INFUSION
-
To make a refreshing blue mallow cold infusion, start by covering the mallow flowers with cold water and adding a few ice cubes. Let them infuse for 2 to 20 minutes, but be sure not to leave them too long, or the color might turn off.
-
Next, soak the basil seeds in water until they swell up like jelly. This usually takes about 5 minutes.
-
If you’re using khakshir seeds, rinse them well first to get rid of any sand. I’ve explained how to do this in more detail here.
-
Once your infusion time is up, strain the mallow flowers through a sieve, and you’re all set!
PREPARATION SUGAR SYRUP
-
Boil the water, then lower the heat and stir in the sugar. Let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes until it becomes syrupy.
-
For a special touch, add saffron and rose water at the end.
-
Allow the syrup to cool completely.
PREPARATION SAFFRON INFUSION
-
Grind half a teaspoon of saffron threads finely.
-
Pour the ground saffron over two ice cubes and let it sit.
PREPARATION BLUE MALLOW FLOWER DRINK
-
Start by pouring 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar syrup into each glass. You can adjust the amount based on how sweet you like it.
-
If you want, add 1 teaspoon of rose water and 1 tablespoon of swollen basil seeds.
-
Next, pour in 120 ml of mallow flower extract and drop in the mallow flower ice cubes.
MAGICAL COLOR CHANGE
-
You can adjust the color of your drink by how much mallow blossom extract you use.
-
For Blue: Serve the drink as is for a beautiful blue color.
-
For Pink: Add a few drops of lemon or lime juice to turn it pink. The more juice you add, the lighter the pink. If you don’t stir it, the bottom will stay pink while the top remains blue.
-
For Yellow: Add 1 tablespoon of saffron infusion to get a lovely yellow hue.
-
For Green: For a green version, simply mix in 1 teaspoon of honey.
-
Enjoy your colorful and refreshing drink!
Save the recipe for later on Pinterest!
Have you cooked this or maybe another delicious recipe of mine? Feel free to leave me a comment below. If you tag your picture on Instagram with @labsalliebe and use the hashtag #labsalliebe, I won’t miss a post and will be happy to leave you a comment as well. Can’t wait to see your creations.
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