Servings: Makes 1.5 litres

Level of difficulty: Easy

Preparation Time: 20 minutes, , plus overnight infusing

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

20 heads of elderflower

1.8kg granulated sugar, or caster sugar

1.2 litres water

2 unwaxed lemon

75g citric acid

Method

1. Shake the elderflowers to expel any lingering insects, and then place in a large bowl.

2. Put the sugar into a pan with the water and bring up to the boil, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved.

3. While the sugar syrup is heating, pare the zest of the lemons off in wide strips and toss into the bowl with the elderflowers. Slice the lemons, discard the ends, and add the slices to the bowl. Pour over the boiling syrup, and then stir in the citric acid. Cover with a cloth and then leave at room temperature for 24 hours.

4. Next day, strain the cordial through a sieve lined with muslin (or a new j-cloth rinsed out in boiling water), and pour into thoroughly cleaned glass or plastic bottles. Screw on the lids and pop into the cupboard ready to use.

 

Cook’s Notes: To serve Elderflower Cordial: Dilute the elderflower cordial to taste with fizzy water, and serve over ice with a slice or two of lemon, or a sprig of mint floating on top.

For something a touch more sprightly, add a shot of gin or vodka and a lemon slice, or add it to white wine and sparkling water to make an elderflower spritzer.

 

Ingredients

2 dozen sprigs of elderflower

Juice and zest of one lemon

600g granulated sugar

2 tbs white wine vinegar

4.5 litres of spring water

Method

Put the elderflowers in a large bowl or basin and add the lemon juice and zest. Sprinkle the sugar on top and add the

vinegar. Cover with the spring water and leave the solution to stand in a cool place for at least 24 hours. After that time remove the flowers and pour the liquid through a sieve into bottles. Leave to stand for about two weeks before drinking. But check the bottles after 10 days.

 

There is a lot of folklore surrounding the elder as it has always prospered near to human habitation and has been widely regarded as a medicine chest all on its own. The flowers, which tend to smell of cat’s pee when drying, are used to make cordials and teas, and are useful in the treatment of fevers and colds. They will bring on a fever by inducing sweat, and are anti-catarrhal - and useful for treating sinus conditions - by reducing the amount of oedema in mucus membranes of nasal passages and the bronchi.. A classic tea for treating a cold is peppermint, yarrow, and elderflower, mixed together in equal portions. It is quite effective, although it can make you sleepy.

 

The berries, which must be picked when ripe (unripe ones are most unpleasant and contain trace amounts of cyanide) are reputedly anti-viral. A syrup made in the autumn should keep throughout the winter, and a daily spoonful will provide a healthy dose of vitamin C and other immune boosting compounds.

 

Mrs Grieve’s ‘A Modern Herbal” is a mine of interesting information on the Elder, with many traditional recipes. Find it here.

 

The leaves can be made into an ointment for bruises, sprains and chillblains.

Handy Household Hints:

Pick a few handfulls of the flowers every year and keep them, dried, in a sealed container to drink as a tea whenever you feel a cold coming on.