There is something delightfully exuberant about elderflowers. Firstly, they are everywhere, elder trees can get a foothold in the unlikeliest of places, they thrive in rural and urban environments, in gardens, parks, fields, wastegrounds, I defy you not to be able to find one within a short walk of your home (if you live in Northen Europe!) From late May until the end of June they are covered in large, showy flowerheads, made up of hundreds of tiny white flowers, and they smell divine. On a sunny day this can carry quite a way, an intoxicating call to dive in and embrace the summer.
There’s lots you can do with elderflowers; I like to make delcious fizzy champagne on the 1 June and drink it at midsummer 3 weeks later, with elderflower fritters cooked over a fire. I’ve lost count of how many children have been won around to wild food by an elderflower fritter! But simplest of all is elderflower cordial, which you can keep in the fridge to make a quick, refreshing drink throughout the summer. Some recipes use a LOT of sugar, this is quite tasty of course, but not strictly necessary. Here’s an easy recipe that doesn’t use too much:
Homemade Elderflower Cordial
Ingredients:
15 – 20 heads of elderflower
500g caster sugar
4 tbsps quality runny honey
2 unwaxed lemons
1. Check the elderflowers for bugs! To ensure it’s vegetarian…
2. Place the sugar in a large saucepan with 1 litre of water. Gently bring to the boil, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat.
3. Add the honey, and finely grate in the lemon zest. Add the elderflowers upside down making sure all the flowers are completely submerged.
4. Squeeze in the juice from one of the lemons, then slice the other lemon and add it to the pan too.
Pop the lid on and leave to one side to infuse for 24 hours.
5. When you are ready to strain your cordial, line a fine seive with a muslin over a large bowl and pour through the cordial.
6 Store in sterlised bottles or jars (clean with hot soapy water, then pop in the oven at 120C for 20mins) and drink within 6 weeks. Or put in plastic bottles in the freezer.
Dilute 1:4 with water, sparkling water is extra delicious.
