Elderflower cordial is really easy to make as long as you can find elderflowers! Its subtle taste is perfect for spring or summer drinks. Sip it with plain water, sparkling water… Use it as a cocktail base with prosecco, vodka, white wine… or beer!
You can also use this cordial to prepare desserts. Let your imagination run wild!
Elderflower cordial
Ingredients
- Fifteen corymbs of elderflowers
- 2 lemons organic
- 900 g sugar
- 2 l water
Instructions
- Use scissors to pick the flowers, making sure they are fully open and white. Avoid flowers that are infested with insects.
- Gently shake the elder corymbs to remove the insects, then check that there are none left, otherwise remove them by hand.
- Cut the green stems as much as possible (you can also remove the flowers from the stem with your fingers or with a fork or knife, but it takes longer) and arrange the flowers in a large salad bowl.
- Boil the water and pour it over the flowers. Then add the sugar, and mix with a wooden spoon so that it dissolves well.
- Finally add the lemons, previously washed and thinly sliced.
- Cover and place in a cool place (in your cellar or in the fridge if you don't have a cool place) and leave it to infuse for 3 to 4 days. Mix once or twice a day.
- After 3 to 4 days of infusion, filter the liquid in a saucepan using a cheesecloth.
- Squeeze the flowers to recover the liquid.
- Bring the liquid to the boil, then turn off the heat and leave it to cool for a few minutes, covering the pan with a lid.
- If you want, you can add citric acid for better conservation (not obligatory – for 2 litres of water, add 40 grams).
- Pour the syrup through a funnel into previously washed and sterilised glass bottles. Close the bottles immediately and leave to cool.
- Store your bottles in a cool place (ideally in the cellar) and in the fridge once opened.
Notes
Elderflowers used in this recipe are the flowers of the tree known as black elderberry. The flowers are white with yellow stamens. You can harvest them between May and June. The Black Elderberry is a tree that grows over 3 m high and easily reaches 8 m or more as an adult.
In case of doubt, refrain!!
You can replace the elderflowers with acacia flowers or other edible flowers of your choice.
You can also add orange in the preparation, or spices to flavor the syrup (cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla…).
You can put less lemon if you want a less lemony taste.