What to do with elderberries?

LJM

arnt elderberries what alys fowler and friend used to make a champayne with on edible garden

RAS

LJM wrote: »

arnt elderberries what alys fowler and friend used to make a champayne with on edible garden

Elderflowers make champers. Elderberries make wine. hic!!!

LJM

RAS wrote: »

Elderflowers make champers. Elderberries make wine. hic!!!

hehe im not much of a drinker lol

dandy-candy

The Elder tree that is in my garden is absolutely heaving with berries this year. I never use them and usually the pigeons gobble them all up but this year I intend to beat then to it! Any suggestions what to make with the berries? - preferably not wine because we aren't big drinkers. They aren't black yet so I have plenty of time for suggestions to roll in! Thank you

Trinny

Hi there

Your question may be answered by the foraging thread - its on here somewhere (can't do links) otherwise i would look in the "preservers year" thread as there are lots of ideas there too.

One important thing to ask is - are you absolutely sure they are elderberries. We have had questions about elderberries before and it was obvious that the person had mistaken elderberries for something else. Not meaning to sound patronising - i am sure you know what you are looking for - but as berries can be dangerous, its always safer to make sure you have positively idenfied the elder tree and its flowers/fruit.:)

Best wishes and happy foraging

Trin

dandy-candy

Trinny wrote: »

Hi there

Your question may be answered by the foraging thread - its on here somewhere (can't do links) otherwise i would look in the "preservers year" thread as there are lots of ideas there too.

One important thing to ask is - are you absolutely sure they are elderberries. We have had questions about elderberries before and it was obvious that the person had mistaken elderberries for something else. Not meaning to sound patronising - i am sure you know what you are looking for - but as berries can be dangerous, its always safer to make sure you have positively idenfied the elder tree and its flowers/fruit.:)

Best wishes and happy foraging

Trin

Thanks for the concern - i'm sure they are A friend of mine who was a mad home brewing enthusiast used to come over every year to pinch all the flowers for Elderflower champagne but she moved to Devon last year.

Gigervamp

I used some in a mixed fruit jam last year, along with blackberries and apples.

You can also make cordial which is supposed to be a good tonic in the winter.

zippychick

Hi Dandy Candy

Thankfully, we have a whole previous thread - what to do with elderberries . Have a butchers, and I'll merge this later for you

thanks:j
Zip

gailey_2

Think mine nearly ready here when do they normally come out.

Apart from wine what else can you make with them.

Im guessing cordial maybe cant think of anything else.

Is elderberry wine nice or does it need months to mature as fancy trying to make some for xmas presents.

RAS

Elderberry wine needs to be kept for a while, can be quite tannic.

Elderberry cordial is the best cough medicine around IMO. Somehtign very similiar is sold (kosher) at around £12 a bottle in health food shops as a couch mixture.

i was first given it for a fierce hacking cough by a friend's dad, who had been given it by a mate ....

I made all the difference to me and I was able to sleep at night.

if you have kids, you want this in the cupboard.

Also hunt up pontiac sauce, a sort of elderbery ketchup.