Elderflower Cordial

Every June without fail, I spot the flowers of the Elder (Sambucus nigra) all around me and immediately get picking the fresh little flower heads to make some Elderflower Cordial. I am lucky to live in an area where there are so many bushes of elderflower; there is even a little in my garden. Elderflower cordial has historically been popular in North Western Europe for decades and recipes have even been found as far back as the Romans. Nowadays it is everywhere including the US, Germany, Austria, Romania and Hungary.

For those who haven't tasted it - it is a delicate floral cordial which you mix with water as a refreshing drink. You can of course, mix it with champagne or sparkling wine for an extra treat!!

Ingredients:

2.5kg sugar
1.5 litres water
2 lemons
20 elderflower heads
85g citric acid (available from chemists)

Method:

In your largest pot, gently heat the sugar and water together until the sugar is dissolved. Then turn up the heat to bring it to a boil. Then turn it off.

Fill a bowl, or the sink, with cold water and dip in each flower head, swishing it lightly to clean and remove any possible bugs. Add the flower heads to the sugar syrup along with the citric acid.

Pare the rind from the lemons and then slice thickly. Add the rind and the sliced lemons to the pot, giving it all a good stir. Pop a lid on the pot and leave to steep for 24 hours.

When the time is up, use a ladle to strain the mix through a clean tea towel. Then transfer to a jug and put into sterilised bottles.  

After steeping

Strain through clean tea towel