Meanwhile, sterilize as many glass bottles and a funnel (see tips in the recipe above to learn how to do that). I am certain that people think I am crazy since I spent my whole bike ride through the lanes of Devon to take a prescription into the pharmacy, with said big grin. Note: If fresh elder flowers are no longer in season, you can use 15 to 20 g (0.5 to 0.7 oz) elder flowers instead, or to taste. Elderflower cordial is a soft drink made largely from a refined sugar and water solution and uses the flowers of the European elder ( Sambucus nigra L.). Historically, the cordial was popular in Northwestern Europe where it has a Victorian heritage. However, versions of an elderflower cordial recipe can be traced to Roman times. In the 21st century, it is consumed in many countries of Europe where people still make it in the traditional way. In some countries, the drink can be found as an aromatic syrup, sold as a concentrated squash that is mixed with still or sparkling water. Elderflower pressé is a premixed form of this. One big problem remains…if you’ve quit the white stuff, super-market bottles of elderflower cordial are laced with sugar!

Note: If you don't want to reduce the liquid, see the tips in the recipe above. My pots have capacity marks inside so it's easy to get exactly the amount I need. Coconut blossom nectar (made from crystalised coconut blossom flowers, will add a slight coconut flavour to your elderflower cordial) It can be diluted with still or sparkling water (the latter makes elderflower presse) or even added to wine or champagne. Alternatively it can be mixed with sparkling water and gin for elderflower gin. Bring to a boil over a high heat, and then reduce to medium-low. Keep in the water for about 10 minutes, making sure everything is fully submerged. Carefully remove the sterilized jars one at a time (careful, they will be hot!) and place on a clean kitchen towel to dry. If you plan to use the syrup within 2 weeks and store it in the fridge, you won't need to sterilize it. Can I Use Dried Elderflowers?The flowers should smell blossomy and sweet - watch out for a slightly unpleasant aroma the flowers might develop in the afternoon, or when they are past their best.

But citric acid does have quite an important role in the preserving the cordial (as it stops it from fermenting) and making it last at least 4 times longer than if you don’t use it. During May and early June you’ll find elderflowers growing across the UK. They grow on trees, generally in hedgerows and are a beautiful white flower with a strong perfume. Well, who couldn’t grin on a day like today?! The sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze, the sky defies beauty in its brilliant blueness and I spotted the first elderflowers of the season. This is especially true for brown or very dark sugars, which will completely overpower the elderflower flavour, but you will be fine with ‘white’ versions of alternative sugars. Step two – Make a sugar syrup by mixing the water and sugar in a saucepan and heating until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the citric acid. Stir well to dissolve.Strain the flower-infused liquid through muslin or tea towel, gently squeezing it to extract all the juice. Measure the amount of juice. Is there anything more refreshing than an ice-cold glass of elderflower cordial with soda water on a sunny day? To make this sweet, fragrant syrup at home is actually very easy, you just need to know where to find it in bloom. In the northern hemisphere, elderflowers are in season from the end of May to the beginning of June [1] or later and grow in most of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. They grow in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, though they primarily prefer sunny locations. The elder's hermaphrodite flowers are borne in large corymbs, 10–25cm in diameter, where the individual flowers are white with five petals, 5–6mm in diameter, and pollinated by flies. The cream-coloured flowerheads are honey-scented blossoms that are crisp and somewhat juicy, with a highly aromatic smell and flavour. The leaves are bitter-smelling. [1] [2] This will of course change the flavour of the cordial, but if you balance the elderflowers with the lemon, you will still end up with a pleasant flavour. Milk is one of the best drinks to have after sport. It’s hydrating and a good source of calcium, protein and carbohydrate. Choose skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.

To make your cordial sugar free, you have few options here. If you try to reduce sugar in your diet, simply half the sugar amount or omit it all together. Step eight – Fill the bottles with the elderflower cordial. Keep in the fridge for four weeks, or if using plastic bottles fill leaving a little space at the top, seal and freeze. Where Can I Buy Citric Acid?

Disclaimer

Place the rind, juice and left over lemon & lime halves in a really large bowl (like – the largest you have!) and tip the stevia-water liquid on top. You can usually buy citric acid in a health shops, specialist food shops, pharmacies or places where they sell stuff for making wine or beer. It usually comes in small container and costs no more than a few pounds (or dollars). It’s a scruffy-looking, multi-stemmed affair, scarcely tall enough to count as a proper tree, but rather too lanky for a shrub.Depending on where in the UK you live, the elderflower season runs from late May until early July. The parent plant, elder, or ‘Sambucus nigra’ is common everywhere except the far north of Scotland, frequenting hedgerows, waste ground and woodland fringes. You can’t really get this bit wrong, the flavour is so subtle that you can’t really over-do it…can you?! The mature wood is hard and suitable for carving, but younger stems have soft pith at the centre, which can easily be pushed out. In simpler times, children fashioned them into peashooters and whistles. They were also blown through to aid fire lighting. INSPIRATIONAL IDEAS

It is really simple to make elderflower cordial but if you’ve been looking around for recipes you might have found that most contain citric acid? Gently shake them to make sure you get any insects or bugs and leave them for an hour on a tray (if there are any more bugs, they will crawl away) Pour into sterilised glass bottles and store in the fridge – best consumed within a couple of weeks.The perfect summertime drink with still or sparkling water (the latter for elderflower pressé) and/or a dash of gin. Alternatively, added to wine or champagne. This recipe doesn’t require citric acid. The story behind the recipe Use straight away or keep for a few weeks in the fridge or somewhere cold. Troubleshooting the elderflower cordial How long does the elderflower cordial last?