Elderflower Cordial

Sallygirl

Thriftlady's recipe for elderflower cordial says that it is to help it keep for longer. If you freeze the cordial, then you won't need it.

This is the post from her blog:


http://thequincetree65.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/elderflower-cordial.html

Dustykitten

Elderflowers seem very early this year in the south. I was hoing for a sunny day to go and pick mine.

I've always used the recipe method in post 1 of this thread and the coridal is good, thinking of trying the other method where you steep the flowers first, strain and then add the syrup, will save the stickiness of straining the actual coridal.

ruintooeasy

i'm a little worried i am going to pick the wrong thing. i'm 99% sure i've identified some elderflower, however i'm now worried it may be ground elder! any tips on how i differentiate between the two?

skogar

Apparently the reason chemists are no longer selling citric acid is that it's used by heroin users to mix the drug with before injecting it. Well that's what they told me in Boots when I asked why they didn't sell it.

The easiest place I've found for getting hold of citric acid for making cordials is the local homebrew shop. However citric acid is found in lemons so maybe adding a bit more lemon juice would help it keep better.

[Deleted User]

Ground elder is only 6" high and elder bushes go more than 10 feet into the air, you'll know elderflowers by the way the smell too. If you're not sure that the bush is elder, next time you're in the supermarket find the tea section and find a packet of herb tea containing elder flowers and sniff, the perfume is so recognisable you'll find it very easy to be certain you've got the right plant!

pandastyle_3

Now's the time to make it! :j:j:j

I just made two litres but may have to stop off after work tomorrow to pick some more and freeze it. So delicious and cheap to make.

Anyone else made some this year?

jfdi

My OH just made about 2.5 litres, some in fridge & rest in freezer.

We're thinking of blackcurrant & maybe raspberry too - ever tried them? (we have a lottie so plenty of produce!).

Honeythief

It's such good stuff! Every year I think I should make some, but end up missing the window of opportunity and buying it from the local market stall. It really is delicious, and very thirst-quenching on a hot day.

LutonGirl

I've not made cordial, but I am having a go at Elderflower Champagne. It's in the bottles now. I think I will try making the cordial this weekend. Elderflower in abundance round my way at the moment.

Si_Clist

The Lady Wife has made this year's elderflower cordial, and there's about 18 litres of elderflower champagne waiting drinking

Blackcurrant cordial will be next, then finally bramble ...