Elderflower Cordial

THIRZAH

Has anyone else had difficulty in getting citric acid?

I make lemon cordial -it's great in the summer and also good in the winter if you have a cold.

I went to the local chemist today to get some. First the assistant asked me what I wanted it for ,then, when she went to get it from behind the counter the pharmicist asked me if I was sure I was going to use it for cordial!

I know drug addicts use it but I'm a middle aged, very conservatively dressed woman and if I was going to use it for illegal purposes I wouldn't be likely to tell them .

apprentice_tycoon

I had made some elderflower cordial before this thread started, I used Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's recipe, he uses tartaric acid in his recipe to preserve it, he says that if it's not used you can keep it for a short while in the fridge.

I decide to freeze my cordial, ice cube trays are the logical container but when I ran out of them I used small tupperware tubs that would be enough for a few days use.
So if the citric acid in Teds recipe is to preserve it then maybe freezing is the way round it

Ted_Hutchinson

I think the acid, either citric/tartaric is there as a preservative and to increase the tartness taste to counteract the sugar though both sugar and acid will also help with preservation.

I like the ice cube idea.

Have you seen the ice cube bags? It a quilted thin freezer bag which when filled created pockets of ice cubes. You just have to fill and seal. Freeze. Then when you use them you just pull off as many pockets and squeeze out the ice cube. I think I got mine from ALDI's but it may have been Tesco.

I'm sure it would work as well for the cordial and a couple of cordial cubes topped up with cold water and a slug of gin sounds fine. But your going to have to wait for the cube to melt before you can taste the elderflower.

By the way I've decided I prefer the lemon version to the orange one but I suppose it's a matter of choice. Still time to make another batch.

Trying2Save_3

:T I finally found a few flower heads, I think I was too late as most seem to be turning to berries! Anyway made a quarter of the quantity in your recipe and I must say its absolutely delicious. Thank you for the reminder and the recipe.

newbiemum05

Ted : Can you tell me how long you can store the cordial if made to the recipe and not frozen (although the ice cube bags are a brilliant idea !!)

P.S: I'm new to this thread and very excited to try new home recipes - I made some Jam last year and now I'm converted !!

Thanks again as have been asking around for this recipe for months !

newbiemum05

THIRZAH wrote:

I make lemon cordial -it's great in the summer and also good in the winter if you have a cold.

Any chance you could post the recipe for this ???

:T

Ted_Hutchinson

newbiemum05 wrote:

Ted : Can you tell me how long you can store the cordial if made to the recipe and not frozen (although the ice cube bags are a brilliant idea

We made too much last year and are just finishing last years. So if kept in a cool dark place (where it won't get forgotten) it will keep a whole year. Probably longer but there's no point really in keeping it as is doesn't improve with age.

saverstacey

Since tasting elderflower cordial last year, I have been waiting to make my own. When do I go looking for elderflowers, or have I missed them already?

Can anyone give me a recipe for elderflower cordial or wine (the fizzy champagne type one) please?

Thanks in advance for any help

Pink.

Hi saverstacey,

It's not too late to pick elderflowers, I think they're best picked in late May or Early June. We have an older thread on making elderflower cordial so I've merged your thread with it to keep all the suggestions together.

Pink

Penelope_Penguin

Elderflowers aren't out yet, but it is the time to get ready. I made cordial from a recipe from Thriftlady last year and it was a great hit. Thanks for the reminder, I'll be saving some screw-top bottles.

Penny. x