Syrup of Poppies

Ingredients

• 36 ounces dried poppy capsules, freed from seeds and coarsely powdered
• 1 pint alcohol
• 4 pounds refined sugar
• sufficient boiling water

Directions

1. Mix the poppy capsules with 4 pints of boiling water and infuse for 24 hours, stirring frequently.

2. Strain the mixture through a percolator, adding more water until about 2 gallons are obtained or the poppies are exhausted.

3. Evaporate the liquid in a water bath until reduced to 3 pints.

4. Once cool, add the alcohol and let the mixture stand for 12 hours before filtering.

5. Distill off the alcohol and evaporate the remaining liquid to 2 pints, then add the sugar.