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Elderflower Cordial
- Buzz OnNature
- Jul 6, 2023
- 3 min read
This is the time of year when walking down a path or lane, your eyes can't stop looking around and spotting all the free goodies and extra flavours and recipe combinations you can come up with for free!
This month for me was spotting all the beautiful white clusters of flowers dancing in the breeze - you got it, the fragrant Elderflower.
In the shops you pay an enormous amount for a small amount of Elderflower Cordial, so grab a few flower heads and make your own stunning supply!
Do not to take too many flower heads from one bush. Leave some for local wildlife since elder supports many insect and pollinator species, be responsible foragers people! We also recommend heading out and picking the flowers mid morning on warmer sunnier days to get the most fragrant flowers. Picking elderflowers in the wet can make them go off quicker and also have a funky smell.
*Note - smell each floret before you pick them so you can choose the freshest most floral flower heads for your cordial and avoid that funk!*
If you haven't tried elderflower cordial before, it is a lovely sweet cordial with floral and citrus tones. Perfect for diluting with water or something a little fizzy. All in all, a very pleasant but acquired summery drink!
This is a recipe for Elderflower Cordial that we have tried and had some success with. So give it a go!
Elderflower Cordial Recipe
Ingredients:
350g Sugar (Granulated or Caster)
2-3 Lemon Peel and Juice
500ml Water
20-30 Elderflower heads - preferably picked mid morning on a hot summers day for the best flower heads (high pollen equals great flavour).
Ratio
500ml Water : 350g Sugar : 50ml Lemon Juice
Method:
1.) Once collected, shake off the bugs and remove as much stem as possible - using a fork as a comb is great for this! Place the flowers in a heat proof (shock proof) container and set aside.
2.) In a separate pan, add the sugar and water and heat gently to create a syrup. Keep the pan on a simmer, stirring occasionally, until all of the sugar has dissolved and the volume of liquid reduces by approximately a quarter.
3.) Take the syrup mixture of the heat and allow to cool slightly - a syrup that is too hot will boil and discolour your flowers, adding a undesirable taste to your cordial.
4.) Meanwhile, add your lemon peel and juice to the flowers (you can always just slice your lemons and squeeze them as you drop them in the bowl for a quick easy method with sweeter results!).
5.) Pour your cooling syrup over your flower/lemon mix and stir. Once cool, cover your container to prevent contamination and allow to steep for 48 hours (stirring at least twice a day).
6.) After 48 hours, strain the mixture through a muslin cloth or a clean tea towel, keeping the liquid and discarding the flowers/peels.
7.) Pour the liquid into a pan, heating the cordial until a gentle boil. Ensuring that you stir occasionally to prevent the sugars burning. Once at boiling temperatures, your syrup is now ready to be poured into sterilised jars.
If you have too much cordial, you can always freeze it in small batches in airtight containers. And don’t forget to dilute the cordial with water to how you like it!
The mixture should keep up to 3 weeks in the fridge, or longer in the freezer. Once opened consume within a week.
*Note - Or if like me, you hate wastage, just check the jars for signs of contamination before discarding - the see, smell, taste rules!*
Serving suggestions:
Elderflower Spritz - a floral, yet fruity option to add to white wine or a fizz (sparkling water or tonic for an alcohol free alternative). A splash of your cordial as a replacement for syrup in cocktails/mocktails is also a wonderful idea!
Elderflower Icing - use your stunning cordial as a replacement for water in icing recipes to add a subtle floral taste to go along with some fresh elderflowers for a natural artistic cake decorating flair.
Elderflower Delight - definitely one for the sweet tooth! Create your own elderflower flavoured jellies to enjoy your cordial in a new way.
Or just enjoy it for what it is, a lovely cordial! Dilute with water, over ice, and enjoy!
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