Elderflower cordial
Elderflower cordial is delicious and a lovely way to enjoy the medicinal benefits of the flowers
Elder, Sambucus nigra, is such a wonderful herb. We get the airy creamy flowers in spring and the berries in autumn. I've been having a hankering for elderberry cordial and I spotted a tree with a flower on it. Joy! So I went to pick some of the earliest ones. I will make lots of cordial and also dry some for teas and things like lotions and soaps.
At this time of year, elderflower is a lovely herb to use as it has an affinity with the allergy response and may spport the body when someone has seasonal allergies. The doctrine of signatures gives weight to its affinity with the lungs - the tree has hollow stems (like the broncial tubes) and the flowers may resemble the lungs. Over winter the flowers may support the lungs and immune system when someone comes down with the ills and chills. It blends well with equal parts yarrow and peppermint to make YEP tea. Delicious!
The elder is a native of Europe and self sows readily as the birds love the berries. In the times of the Druids it was a sacred herb. It was considered important as it provided shelter, firewood, medicine and food.
Harvesting from the trees should be away from busy traffic or sprayed areas. Always ask permission if you are entering someone's property. I harvested from the side of a quiet country road with cows watching me with great interest! Most people will thank you for harvesting the flowers as this means less elder seedlings. Make sure you harvest the creamy blossoms. If they smell rank (like cat wee) they are past their best.
Elderflower cordial
20 heads of elderflower
1.8kg sugar
1.2L water
2 unwaxed lemons
75g citric or tartaric acid
Shake the flowers to remove insects. Place in a large bowl. Bring sugar and water to the boil in a large saucepan. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Pare the lemon zest from the lemons in wide strips. Add to the bowl with the elderflowers. Slice lemons, discarding ends. Add lemon slices to the bowl. Pour the boiling syrup over the elderflower mixture. Add citric acid. Cover with a cloth and leave to infuse overnight.
Strain through muslin and bottle in sterilized glass bottles.
We find this lasts all year in the fridge and a few months in a cupboard. We're planning to freeze some this year as the cordial is something we enjoy now and again. To use - with water or alcohol in a drink, as a chicken marinade, to add flavour to crumbles or with vanilla icecream, in sorbet or in vinaigrette.
