Elder Flower Cordial Recipe

Elder Flower cordial tastes like summer in a glass and can also act as the core ingredient for cocktails, fruit fools, jellies & mousses. Sure, you could easily pick up a bottle from your local supermarket, or you could make your own! What could be more satisfying? And the good news is that it’s actually not too difficult, doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and now is the right time to do it.

Just need to locate some elder flowers and harvest the flowers, they are ready right around now and can often be found in and around parks and on verges. If you don’t have one growing in your garden but you’d like to plant one they grow in most soils and positions and we sell a lovely variety ‘Sambucus Nigra Black Lace’ that has dark purple foliage and makes a rose coloured cordial. 'Buy Now'

15 large elderflower heads

900g caster sugar

2 large unwaxed lemons, sliced

2.4 litres boiling water

50g citric acid (available from chemists)

Harvest around 15 heads of flowers and shake off any dirt or unwanted insects! Place sugar in a large mixing bowl with the lemon slices, citric acid and boiling water, then stir until the sugar has dissolved. Then add the elder flower heads, cover and leave in a cool place for 24 hrs, stirring occasionally.

Next strain the mixture through muslin into a large clean bowl then transfer to sterilised bottles. Seal and store in a cool dark place.

Your cordial is now ready to be added to gin and tonic, sparkling water or wine ! Or turned into an irresistible desert!