In the UK we’re lucky enough to have an abundance of beautiful native Elder Trees growing throughout our gardens and countrysides. The white clouds of sweet-scented blossoms start to open at the beginning of summer and are best harvested when they’re just starting to bloom. The rest of the flowers left on the tree will transform into elderberries which can be harvested later on in the year.
Elderflower produces a unique flavour that’s both fragrant and refreshing. Our Elderflower Cordial Recipe is easy to make yourself at home and can be paired with a wide variety of drinks to add flavour. Mix it with sparkling water and ice to create a refreshing presse or mix it with prosecco for a sweet, fragrant kick.
How to Make Elderflower Cordial
What you’ll need
- 1.5L water
- 2.5kg caster sugar
- 2 organic unwaxed lemons
- 20 freshly picked elderflower heads (stalks, greenery and bugs removed)
- 85g citric acid
- 1 sterilised bottle
For the freshest flavour, pick the blooms just as they’ve started to open. Leave it any later and you may end up with aromas not too dissimilar to cat pee (which we can safely assume is not the vibe you’re going for).
Once you’ve harvested the blooms that you need, give the bunches a good shake to remove any obvious bits of debris and insects. Next, give them a rinse and start removing the small flowers from the stems. Your aim is to get rid of any greenery that will leave a bitter-tasting cordial.
Method
- Find a large saucepan (the larger the better). Add 1.5L water and 2.5kg sugar. Gently heat, stirring occasionally, and make sure it never boils. Continue until all the sugar has dissolved.
- Zest the unwaxed lemons using a potato peeler, then slice the remaining lemons into rounds.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, bring the syrup to a rolling boil, then turn off the heat and leave to cool.
- Add the elderflower blooms to the syrup along with the lemon rounds, lemon zest and citric acid. Cover and leave to infuse for 24 hours.
- Strain the mixture into a jug using a clean tea towel or muslin cloth, removing the lemon and elderflower. Because it’s syrupy, it can help to ladle it onto the cloth and let it drip through slowly. Discard what’s left in the cloth.
- Bottle your elderflower cordial by pouring the strained liquid into a sterilised bottle. Seal, label, and you’re ready to go.
- Enjoy!
How to sterilise the bottle: Wash with hot soapy water, rinse, then (while still wet) place in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Your fresh batch of cordial can be enjoyed straight away or stored for up to 6 weeks in a cool dark place. For longer storage, freeze it in ice cube trays and defrost as needed.
Not only can this cordial recipe be enjoyed by you — why not make a batch for friends and family? Pop it into a decorative bottle, add a nice label, and it’s a lovely gift for birthdays and other special occasions.
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