Elderflowers?

daz501

when brewing, does it matter if the bucket or container has scratches inside? I once heard that any scratches in the plastic can cause infection in the liquid when brewing

misskool

daz501 wrote: »

when brewing, does it matter if the bucket or container has scratches inside? I once heard that any scratches in the plastic can cause infection in the liquid when brewing

If you clean and sanitise your bucket (just use Milton or any other baby cold sterilising liquid) before you start the brewing you kill off any bugs.

Work with common sense, keep everything clean

babyblooz

Hubby has just got into wine making (his latest red was bloomin gorgeous) and he is wanting to make some elderflower champagne. I know where they are because I made elderberry syrup with them last year and fancy making the champagne now. Come next winter we will be making elderberry wine. I remember my grandad making it when I was a little girl and it was STRONG. He once let me have a little sip to keep out the cold one frosty morning and since then I understood the ready brek glo adverts, wooohooo, it certainly warmed me up.

The elderberry syrup sits quite happily in the fridge and my late mum in law said it helped to keep her chest clear as it seems to loosen the mucous and helped her to get rid of it more easily. It looks really strong but doesnt really taste of anything so it is easy to add it to a glass of lemonade but it does stain so you need to be careful when you are using it. Apart from the cost of the sugar it's free so why not? It is nature's bounty after all.

Angelfeathers

Thanks for all the helpful tips on this thread!

I went elderflower-picking yesterday and, having not really read up about the amounts required for cordial/champagne, came home with a whole carrier bag full! I think I shall have to put some of the flowers in the freezer to use later (since someone so helpfully said this was okay)!

I am so excited. I love elderflower cordial and I love champagne so am really looking forward to trying a mixture of the two!

gardenroute

Saw this article, plus comments below - might be useful

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jun/01/how-to-make-elderflower-champagne

Angelfeathers

Turns out I had almost 200 flower heads!!! So I've started off one lot of champagne and one lot of cordial and frozen the rest in bags - there's enough for four more batches of each in there!!!!!

daz501

how long does it keep for once bottled? do you need to add a preservative?

sam.4000

Thank you for all the posts, a good read. I have located some elderflowers and have been making wine for years but have never used elderflowers. I think I might have a go at elderflower champagne.

sam.4000

daz501 wrote: »

how long does it keep for once bottled? do you need to add a preservative?

If you go onto post 30 something page 2 someone has posted a recipe for elderflower champagne and it says you can keep it for up to 2 years.

oldtractor

its lovely stuff but can be a tad explosive.