Home-Made Elderflower Cordial

Elderflower cordial has a strong Victorian heritage but some say it dates back to the Roman times. Elderflower trees can be easily found within Europe, north-west Africa and south-West Asia.

You have probably brushed by elderflower trees down country lanes or even on roadsides. The plant is easily identified by its lush cream flowers and with a strong floral grapey fragrance. Summer is said to start when the flowers start to bloom. The flowers come into bloom mid-May to mid-June, so now it’s possibly your last chance to get picking!

Elderflower cordial is refreshingly thirst-quenching. The cordial can now be found on a large scale within supermarkets. Or you may have seen it on the shelves as a fizzy pop.

But why not have a go at making it?

Ingredients for Elderflower Cordial:

2.5 kg of sugar (granulated or caster)

2 unwaxed lemons, peeled and sliced

20 freshly picked elderflower heads, stalks trimmed

85g citric acid (from chemists or purchased on-line)

Method:

1. Place the elderflower heads in cold water, shake off to remove any unwanted dirt/insects

2. In a large pan place the sugar with 1.5 litres of water. Gently heat without boiling so the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar has dissolved bring to a boil, then turn off the heat

3. Pare the zest from the lemons and slice the lemons into rounds

4. Place the zest, lemon rounds, citric acid and elderflower heads into the syrup. Cover the pan with a lid and let the mixture infuse for 24 hours

5. Line a colander with a clean tea towel, then sit it over a large bowl or pan. Ladle in the syrup – let it drip slowly through. Discard the bits left in the towel. Use a funnel and a ladle to fill sterilised bottles (run glass bottles through the dishwasher, or wash well with soapy water. Rinse, then leave to dry in a low oven). The cordial is ready to drink straight away and will keep in the fridge for up to 6 weeks. Or freeze it in plastic containers or ice cube trays and defrost as needed.

Note: The recipe above makes 4L of Elderflower Cordial but it can easily be doubled or halved.

Tips: A secret in making good elderflower cordial is to pick the flowers that are creamy-white in colour (not brown). Pick the flowers on a warm sunny day. And make sure to use the flowers straight away.

Uses: Elderflower cordial can be diluted with still or sparkling water which is perfect for children. For adults it can be diluted in sparkling white wine or used in cocktails. Also, be adventurous and see what other sweet treats you can make with the cordial.

Elderflower Cordial Is The Drink Of The Season!