Elderflower Champagne... Best Recipe??

Gigervamp

MrsCrafty wrote: »

I wonder if the yeast is at a higher content when the sun is shining and this is why they say pick them in sunshine. <<scuttles off to find out>>

That's what I wondered. Hubby and I picked the flowers in the evening after a warm sunny day.

ANNEGEDDES

thanks guys right im off to rob my neighbours recycling box for pop bottles (we dont really drink it) unless its alcohol!!

Optimisticpair

Gigervamp wrote: »

Fizzy pop bottles are perfect for elderflower champagne and as I mentioned earlier, mine was potent stuff in the alcohol department!
I wonder if he was making cordial rather than champagne (can't watch the video ATM).

I used plastic bottles and didn't need yeast.
He was making the champagne version and said it is not alcoholic. His recipe is a loosely stuffed carrier bag of flowers, 16 litres cold water, juice of 10 lemons and 3kg sugar. Bottled and stored in a cool dark place.

I'm waiting for a couple of sunny days as I'm guessing that is necessary to get flower-heads with plenty of yeast.

thunderchild

Stupid question time.

I dont have a fermentation bucket or the cash to get one but I am dying to give this a go. Anyone have a food safe alternative I can use?

elliecarr

Wow, this sounds amazing! I'd LOVE to give this a try. Thing is, I am definitely not a botanist - I live in Sheffield, so are the flowers out now? Or have I missed my opportunity? How long will they be out for? Sorry for all the questions... Thanks!

SallyForth_2

Is it very sweet to taste? I wouldn't mind trying this, but I would prefer the taste to be on the dry side if possible.

SmlSave

Hi thunderchild any large container will do! We used a normal bucket after giving it a good clean and sterilising it with the baby stuff. We then popped it in the shed with a clean towel on top to stop bugs getting in.

After a week in the bucket it's now in pop bottles and we're having to let some gas out every day so they don't explode.

It tastes devine! but very sweet SallyForth. Perhsps you could try it with less sugar?

Seakay

I think that if you used less sugar and/or more yeast then more of said sugar would be converted to alcohol. I think that the amount of sugar used in the video means that you are left with a lot of sugar in the finished drink because it has not been converted by the small amount of natural yeast - hence very sweet and low alcohol.

Chimera

Oooo.. it's definitely doing something, it's bubbling and everything is on top, looking like it's fermenting jolly good

tru

YAY! :T

Sorry but I can't wait for you to taste it