Elderflower cordial.

How do you make it, Sago? Whenever we passed elderflowers, my mum would tell me that her granny used to make delicious elderflower “champagne”.

I buy my elderflower cordial. It's quite expensive and I'm sure not as nice as home made.

Elderflower fritters are delicious - also gooseberry and Elderflower pies/crumble.

I wonder if the younger generations forage as I can remember doing as a child in the 50's? My Granny made sloe gin and I can remember picking the berries with her. We would sit at her kitchen table and she would top and tail the berries with a small pair of scissors then I would prick the berries all over with a large needle.
I love elderflower cordial. I might just have a go at this. Thank you.

I am an elderflower fan too but usually buy the cordial and use it sparingly as it is expensive.
Will look out for them if they str now in season snd see about maybe making some myself

I have a lovely gluten free recipe for an Elderflower sponge cake. Delicious and easy to make. Perfect for this weather.

glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2021/09/08/gluten-free-lemon-and-elderflower-cake-recipe/

I used to like elderberry cordial, but tastes change and am now put off by the tomcat scent it gives off.

I used to make it, but do not haave the access to elderflower now.

Moth62

How do you make it, Sago? Whenever we passed elderflowers, my mum would tell me that her granny used to make delicious elderflower “champagne”.

I layered 4 sliced lemons in a stainless steel bowl, added 25 flower heads facing down, sprinkled on 50gm citric acid and added syrup made from 1kg sugar dissolved in 1500gms water.
Leave covered for a minimum of 10 hours, strain and bottle.
It’s very concentrated, dilute with sparkling water.

Oreo

I used to like elderberry cordial, but tastes change and am now put off by the tomcat scent it gives off.

I had a tip from a forager that different elder bushes produce flowers with different fragrances. I sniff a few and select the most floral. It is true that some smell much nicer than others.

I use the same recipe as Sago

Homemade Elderflower Cordial - River Cottage share.google/0NXk8EcgxnhGkrHGh
This is the recipe I use. It keeps for up to a year in a cool shed, but after opening, Keep in fridge. I'm watching local trees, including one in garden, but not quite enough flowers yet.

I don’t know where any elder flowers grow
I never did any foraging as a child apart from blackberry picking I expect it’s whether you have a town or country childhood really

I used to forage, sloes, blackberries, wild garlic and sweet chestnuts, my daughter still does, she’s found damsons too.

Where would I buy citric acid, please?

I remember Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall making elderflower champagne. The recipe might still be available online somewhere. It seemed a very acceptable drink.

A few years ago a friend sent me a hamper from Bettys Tea Rooms.
Among many lovely items it contained a delicious elderflower cake.
As it's now the season I will check if they still make it.

Moth62

Where would I buy citric acid, please?

I bought some from the whole food chain The Grape Tree, but that was a while ago now.

Just be sure to buy food grade, not the readily available coarser grade used for cleaning.

Sarnia

I wonder if the younger generations forage as I can remember doing as a child in the 50's? My Granny made sloe gin and I can remember picking the berries with her. We would sit at her kitchen table and she would top and tail the berries with a small pair of scissors then I would prick the berries all over with a large needle.
I love elderflower cordial. I might just have a go at this. Thank you.

Yes I regularly meet people round here foraging sloes, elderflower, elderberries & off course, blackberrying.

Elders grow like weeds around here. I have a few that need digging up in the garden. They obviously like chalky soil.

But I love elderflower cordial. To me it is a summer drink.

Whitewavemark2

Elders grow like weeds around here. I have a few that need digging up in the garden. They obviously like chalky soil.

But I love elderflower cordial. To me it is a summer drink.

Sounds like you are talking about ground elder in your garden. Entirely different family to the elder shrub or tree which you use the flowers from to make elderflower cordial.

I made elderflower cordial for many years and only stopped a few years ago because the amount of sugar needed is horrifying. It is delicious though! I used to add juice of fresh grapefruit to my recipe and picked all the elderflowers from our horse field. I sometimes buy a bottle of cordial but none of them are as good as mine or so my family and visitors tell me.

Citric acid is often available in pharmacies.

A lot of sugar, but no different from home-made lemonade. It's diluted a lot before drinking and probably better than all tge artificial sweeteners in bought soft drinks.

Elders do grow like weeds in some areas it seems to me.