Such a simple drink to make, using only 5 ingredients. Elderflowers are synonymous with the start of the British summer and are in season for such a short spell of time, that it’s a shame to waste those fragrant blossoms when making cordial from them is such a simple thing to do.
You need to pick the elderflowers on a warm, dry day, allowing any dew to evaporate before picking. Make sure that you only pick heads that have just opened and are still the beautiful creamy colour, without any of the flowers starting to turn brown. Find a nice country lane or hedgerow, away from busy traffic routs that could taint and the delicate blossoms with chemicals.
- 1.5 litres water
- 2kg granulated sugar
- 2 Lemons
- 20 Elderflower heads
- 85g Citric acid
- Pick the heads and very gently shake any bugs free from them.
- In a large saucepan, add the water and the sugar. Gently heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Using a potato peeler, pare the lemon zest from the lemons and slice the lemons into ½cm thick rounds.
4. In a large bowl, add some cold, clean water and gently swish the elderflower heads to remove any remaining insects. VERY GENTLY shake the excess water off them.
5. Snip the elderflowers from the stalks (to leave too much stalk on them can leave a bitter taste).
6. Bring the water and sugar syrup to a boil and turn off the heat.
7. To the sugar syrup, add the elderflower heads, lemon zest, lemon rounds and citric acid. Stir well.
8. Place the lid onto the saucepan and leave, covered and undisturbed, for 24 hours.
9. Line a colander with two layers of muslin and drain the cordial through into a clean bowl.
10. Squeeze the muslin to extract all of that delicious cordial. Discard the lemons and elderflowers.
11. Pour the cordial into clean, sterilised Kilner bottles.
This will keep for up to about 6 weeks in the fridge. You can also freeze the cordial in ice cube trays/bags for use later.
To sterilise the bottles, you can either wash them and dry them, upside down in a warm oven, or wash them through your dishwasher cycle.
