It's that time of year where long summer nights prevail and friendly gatherings take place. That means, drinks are in order! Elderflower is in season until the end of July and as I was riding my bike I thought it was about time I pick some and make my own cordial. What a sight it is to see the frothy, sweet white blossoms along almost every hedgerow near my home. A bit of afternoon nostalgia when picking them seemed to go a long way. My boyfriend and I went to a hamlet in Dartmoor called North Bovey to hunt for fresh elderflower lurking among the hedges.
We picked about 65 heads which is enough for 4 or more wine bottles full. Here is our recipe for 2 bottles:
Ingredients:
1k sugar
1.5 litres boiling water
4 medium lemons, washed
30 large Elderflower heads
55g citric acid (available from a chemist)
1.5 litres boiling water
4 medium lemons, washed
30 large Elderflower heads
55g citric acid (available from a chemist)
Method:
1. Put the sugar into a pan and pour on the hot water, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Leave to cool.
2. Meanwhile, grate the rind of the lemons with a fine grater, then cut the lemons into slices.
3. Shake off the flower heads to remove any insects and swish them in cool water. Strain until semi-dry.
4. Push the flowers down into the warm sugar syrup and add the citric acid. Stir. Then, place the lemons and rind into the pan and stir.
5. Cover with a lid and leave in a cool place to steep for 24 hours.
6. Strain through muslin into a clean pan, then use a funnel to fill up a sterilized bottle with cordial.
7. Store in a cool, dark place for a couple of weeks. You can also freeze small plastic bottles to keep for longer.
Enjoy!
