Our fields and paths are studded at the moment with creamy white elderflower bushes. In our gardens we consider elder as a nuisance, but out and about it is pretty and fragrant. I once made elderflower wine, but it wasn't a total success: it fermented in the wine cellar and all the bottles exploded!
This year I shall be making elderflower cordial. We love this diluted in water as a refreshing summer afternoon drink. It's surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients for elderflower syrup
100 elderflower heads - very well washed!
5 kg sugar
8 lemons (cut in wedges or rounds)
8 limes (cut in wedges)
5 l boiling water
150 g citric acid
5 kg sugar
8 lemons (cut in wedges or rounds)
8 limes (cut in wedges)
5 l boiling water
150 g citric acid
Place the elderflower heads, lemons and limes and sugar into a large earthenware bowl, cover with boiling water. Leave to cool, then cover loosely and let infuse for 3 days.
On the third day, remove the elderflower and citrus fruits, drain through a fine-meshed sieve or a filter. Put into a large pot, bring to a boil, then add the citric acid and simmer for 10 minutes. Fill into hot, sterilised bottles and keep in the fridge. To sterilise bottles simply place them in a warm oven for about 10 minutes.
Delicious diluted with water
Spectacular with a sparkling white wine.
Tchin tchin !
Posts
That's a first for me. I never knew you could make wine or a drink with these flowers. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious! Wish I could pop over for a sip!
ReplyDeleteMy grandma used to have an elderflower tree, the dried flowers are boiled in water to ease and alleviate serious cough, she was the only one in town that had that kind of tree and people used to go ask her for some flowers for cough remedies. I didn't know about the wine, it must be good. Thank you for sharing your recipe, will have to try it!
ReplyDeleteXXXX Ido
ciao, Grazie per la ricetta .Penso che i fiori di sanbuco sono dei veri e propri merletti,peccato ma non riesco a trovare, nei vivai qui da me, questa pianta dalle tante benefiche proprietà.
ReplyDeleteUn abbraccio Ornella
Bonjour Sharon,
ReplyDeleteMa maman faisait toujours la limonade avec ses fleurs quand j'étais un petit garçon :-)
Merci pour la recette.
A bientôt
Jérôme
P.S. comment allez vous?
ohh how lovely - I have often heard of this lovely flower, not had the pleasure to drink elderberry cordial. I am sure it is delicious.
ReplyDeleteLast year, we took the berries off our Elderflower, with the intention of making wine. We didn't... a wasted opportunity... so this year I plan on making the cordial (a favourite of mine)... I almost feel it is a shame to snip the flowers off though.
ReplyDeleteLx
you make anything sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteCIN CIN to you dear Sharon!
ReplyDeleteHow are you?
Ever tried fried elderflowers as a sweet or for breakfast?!! Just delicious!
Hugs,
Fra
Bonjour Sharon,
ReplyDeleteMerci pour cette recette avec la fleur de sureau.
J'aurai une question, associé avec du crément ou du champagne c'est le premier jus que l'on obtient que l'on doit mettre dans le pétillant? Ou on doit faire macérer les fleurs dans le pétillant?
Merci pour votre réponse