How to: Make Elderflower Cordial
Enjoy a Taste of Summer this year with sponsorship winner David’s easy to make elderflower cordial.
What you will need:
40 x Elderflower heads
1kg Granulated Sugar
1.2L Water
2 x Unwaxed Lemons, pared and sliced
75g Citric acid
When and where to pick your flowers
It is that time of year again when the elderflowers are appearing in the hedgerows. I love to make the most of their bountiful supply of these amazing flowers by turning them into my own homemade elderflower cordial.
For the best flavour, they are best picked on a dry day when the blooms are creamy white and you can see the pollen. Make sure to carefully brush off the bees and other pollinators who will be competing with you. I also avoid picking any flowers that have gone brown or are along roadsides.
Recipe
- Gently wash the elderflowers before lifting and shaking gently to remove any excess water.
- Place elderflowers in a large bowl along with the sliced lemons and pared zest.
- Add the sugar and water to a pan and heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and then turn off the heat.
- Stir in the citric acid before pouring over the elderflower and lemon mixture in the bowl.
- Cover with a cloth and leave for 24 hours at room temperature to infuse.
- The next day, strain through muslin cloth before pouring into sterilised bottles.
It will keep the fridge for up to 6 weeks, or it can even be frozen in an ice cube tray to use as and when needed. Personally, we love it diluted with sparkling water and ice.
Gardening has provided a source of exercise, relaxation, interest and enjoyment for me after my Grandpa taught me to graft apple trees. Having partly retired from careers in medicine we can now spend more time improving it sufficiently to open for charity with the National Garden Scheme. Six greenhouses, vegetables, fruit, borders, trees and a wildlife garden keep us occupied.
When and where to pick your flowers
It is that time of year again when the elderflowers are appearing in the hedgerows. I love to make the most of their bountiful supply of these amazing flowers by turning them into my own homemade elderflower cordial.
For the best flavour, they are best picked on a dry day when the blooms are creamy white and you can see the pollen. Make sure to carefully brush off the bees and other pollinators who will be competing with you. I also avoid picking any flowers that have gone brown or are along roadsides.
Recipe
- Gently wash the elderflowers before lifting and shaking gently to remove any excess water.
- Place elderflowers in a large bowl along with the sliced lemons and pared zest.
- Add the sugar and water to a pan and heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and then turn off the heat.
- Stir in the citric acid before pouring over the elderflower and lemon mixture in the bowl.
- Cover with a cloth and leave for 24 hours at room temperature to infuse.
- The next day, strain through muslin cloth before pouring into sterilised bottles.
It will keep the fridge for up to 6 weeks, or it can even be frozen in an ice cube tray to use as and when needed. Personally, we love it diluted with sparkling water and ice.
Gardening has provided a source of exercise, relaxation, interest and enjoyment for me after my Grandpa taught me to graft apple trees. Having partly retired from careers in medicine we can now spend more time improving it sufficiently to open for charity with the National Garden Scheme. Six greenhouses, vegetables, fruit, borders, trees and a wildlife garden keep us occupied.
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