Elderflower Cordial

I know it's not really very technical but I think making Elderflower cordial is one of my favourite things to do. We use a recipe my mother has had for years and it turns out yummy every time. I try and make as many batches as possible in the short time the flowers are out and it's best to make this at the end of sunny day when the flowers are most fragrant. I find that this recipe usually makes 1.5litres of cordial and I like to use cordial bottles from Lakeland but you can just as well use well washed wine bottles.

My sister and husband collecting the Elderflower

ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL


25 heads of Elderflower
40g citric acid
1 kg caster or granulated sugar
2 pints boiling water
1 lemon, sliced

Citric Acid 500g Pack is available online - I got mine from Amazon this year - you used to be able to get it from pharmacies. I'm not sure if that's still the case. You will need a large mixing bowls, your bottles, a sieve and a muslin or cloth to strain the cordial through.

1. Put the Elderflower heads in a large mixing bowl and add the sliced lemon, citric acid and sugar.

Elderflower, lemons, sugar and citric acid

2. Pour over the boiling water and stir.

3. Once it's cooled cover with clingfilm and stir whenever you remember for the next three days.

Coridial after three days

4. When you are ready to bottle the cordial then sterilize the bottles (I pour boiling water in and tip out), and strain the cordial into a measuring jug through the sieve lined with muslin.

5. Tip the cordial into the bottles - if you have a steady hand then you won't need it but I use a funnel for this. I can't bear to waste a drop!

Finished Cordial

I find that every bottle lasts differently but in a dark cupboard this should keep for sometime - we usually get through ours pretty quick. Shop bought is all very well but there's nothing quite like homemade.