You can make a salve from apple and cinnamon that feels wonderfully wintery. When I make the salve in winter, I use winter apples. The recipe was created by Janne Hallqvist, who founded Naturens medicin on Biskops Arnö, and this has become a classic "Biskops Arnö salve".
The scent is amazing! And the skin salve is not at all difficult to make. The recipe makes enough for several jars, so make one for yourself and the rest will make great Christmas gifts.
The photograph is from the dreamy, old apple grove at Wik Castle outside Uppsala. This is where I pick apples every year.
The manufacturing method is different from the usual way of making ointments; here you boil the plants in the oil.
DO THIS:
500 g peeled apples
1/2 liter of olive oil or rapeseed oil
60 g cinnamon sticks
100 g beeswax
If you have dried marigold, you can add that too.
Cut the apples into wedges and break the cinnamon sticks into pieces. Mix everything in a saucepan.
Cook on a fairly low heat for about 40 minutes. When the temperature is about 106°C, it is ready.
Strain through a coarse sieve and try to squeeze out as much oil as possible. Strain the oil once more through a fine sieve. Pour into a clean saucepan. Heat to 110°C. Remove from the heat and let stand for a few minutes until the water starts to bubble away. Pour into a bowl and add finely ground beeswax. Let cool while stirring. Pour into jars before it becomes too stiff and thick.
You can find fine beeswax at your local beekeeper.
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Text and image: Sara Bonadea George
