Preparation

1. Check Lilacs for Bugs: Shake the bunches of lilacs to ensure there are no bugs. Inspect the blossoms carefully and discard any unwanted debris.
2. Remove Blossoms: Delicately remove the individual lilac blossoms from their stems. This process can be therapeutic, so take your time and enjoy the activity.

Assemble the Lilac Sugar

3. Layer the Sugar and Lilacs: Pour 1/4 of the sugar into the glass jar. Add a large handful of lilac blossoms on top of the sugar. Continue to layer sugar and lilacs until you’ve used all of both.
4. Seal and Shake: Seal the jar with the lid and give it a good shake to distribute the lilac blossoms evenly throughout the sugar.

Let the Sugar Infuse

5. Store the Jar: Place the jar in a cool, dry place away from direct light and humidity. Let the sugar infuse for at least 2 days, shaking the jar daily to redistribute the lilacs.
6. Dry the Sugar: After a few hours or the next day, empty the lilac sugar onto a parchment paper-lined tray to dry for about an hour. This helps remove excess moisture. Return the lilac sugar to the jar and give it a shake.
7. Repeat Drying: Repeat this drying process every other day, or more frequently if needed, to keep the sugar from getting too damp.

Final Steps

8. Strain Out the Lilacs: After at least 2 days or up to 1 week, sift or pluck out the lilac blossoms from the sugar. This can be done with a fine sieve or by hand.
9. Store and Use: Transfer the sugar to a clean jar and store it in a cool, dry place. Use the lilac sugar in baking recipes, as a sweetener for tea, or even as a body scrub for a fragrant touch.