All the flavour of a lemongrass stalk in a single drop? Allow us to introduce you to Spice Drops®, a super-easy way to take your cocktails and cooking to the next level. Our members have been loving the lemongrass spice drops they unwrapped in their January Gin of the Month box - particularly the refreshing and exotic cocktail below!

The beguiling flavour of lemongrass – crisp and fresh, simultaneously lemony and sweet – can lift drinks and dishes into whole new realms. But now you can get the vibrant burst of lemongrass without all of the smashing and slicing. In fact, one drop of Holy Lama’s lemongrass Spice Drops® is equivalent to an entire stalk of this glorious herb. 

A winner of double gold at the 2015 Good Taste Awards, the lemongrass Spice Drops® in January's Gin of the Month box are handmade in Kerala, on the coast of southwestern India. It’s just one of the 30 natural spice and herb extracts Holy Lama make here, which range from mulled spices and orange to chai spices and saffron. 

So how are these amazing little drops made? 

To begin with, the raw ingredients – whether fiery black pepper or fragrant cardamom – are sourced from local farms. They are then cold-pressed and undergo an extraction process more than 20 years in the making, specially developed to retain the natural goodness of the raw ingredients. 

The result is the essence of an exotic flavour, in a liquid form that blends effortlessly with other ingredients, no matter at which point in the cooking process it’s added. And you can forget about all of that chopping, peeling and zesting – with Spice Drops®, all the hard work is already done.

As Gouri Kubair, managing director of Holy Lama, explains: “The beauty of Spice Drops® is their simplicity and ease of use.” 

Unlike dried herbs and spices, which lose their flavour and aroma very quickly, Spice Drops® retain their intensity for up to three years. They’re quickly winning fans amongst celebrity chefs including Nigella Lawson, Tom Kerridge and Rachel Khoo; and, with clearly labelled instructions and 150 drops in each bottle, it’s not hard to see why.

But it isn’t just chefs – amateur or otherwise – benefitting from the wonder of Spice Drops®. The factory in Kerala also operates as a social enterprise. Here, women made vulnerable by personal circumstances can regain control of their economic power and personal futures.

As Kubair says, “In a traditionally male-dominated society, employment in the factory gives these women much needed self-confidence and independence, making a true difference to their lives.”

Available individually and in special sets for curry lovers, tea enthusiasts and master mixologists, Spice Drops® might just be 2017’s best new addition to your kitchen. Or, in the case of the lemongrass extract in January's box, your gin cabinet! 

Want more Spice Drops®? Claim an exclusive 25% discount at holylama.co.uk with code: SPICEDGIN25

Lemongrass and Ginger Gin Fizz

A delicious, zesty and rejuvenating drink. 

50ml gin
1 drop Lemongrass Spice Drops®
200ml natural ginger beer or ginger ale
 
Method: 
Pour the gin into a glass over ice, drop in the Spice Drops®. Top with ginger beer or ginger ale, stir well and serve.

Super-Speedy Stir Fry

An easy, delicious and healthy mid-week supper.

Serves 2
2 tbsps vegetable oil
25g prawns, or tofu cut into small cubes
1 tbsp roasted, unsalted peanuts
300-400g packet of prepped stir fry vegetables
Dash of soy sauce
Dash of rice vinegar
4 drops Lemongrass Spice Drops®
¼ tsp ground black pepper (or 3 drops Pepper Spice Drops®, added at the end)
¼ tsp grated ginger (or 3 drops Ginger Spice Drops® added at the end)

Method:
Heat oil in a wok on medium heat and fry the prawns or tofu and the peanuts for 2 minutes.
Add the stir fry vegetables, grated ginger and ground black pepper (if using). Stir together and continue to cook for 2 more minutes. Add soy sauce and rice vinegar, and fry for a minute more. Turn off the heat and add in the Spice Drops® and mix it all together. Serve hot.