Easy Classic Elderflower Cordial Food

Elderflower cordial is fun to make if you have easy access to elderflower trees and the flowers which arrive in the early summer. The cordial will keep for 2-3 months in the fridge.

Provided by Mary Berry

Categories     Drinks and cocktails

Yield Makes about 3-4 litres

Number Of Ingredients 5

• Ingredients

This easy recipe for elderflower cordial produces a fragrant, aromatic, and refreshing drink that can be enjoyed as a beverage and in other recipes.

Provided by Elaine Lemm

Categories     Beverage

Time P2DT40m

Number Of Ingredients 6

• Ingredients

Nutrition Facts : Calories 135 kcal, Carbohydrate 35 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, Sodium 2 mg, Fat 0 g, ServingSize 6 cups (30 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g

Season: Late May to June. The sweetly scented, creamy-white flowers of the elder tree appear in abundance in hedgerows, scrublands, woodlands, and wastelands at the beginning of summer. The fresh flowers make a terrific aromatic cordial. They are best gathered just as the many tiny buds are beginning to open and some are still closed. Gather on a warm, dry day (never when wet), checking that the perfume is fresh and pleasing. Trees do differ, and you will soon get to know the good ones. Remember to leave some flowers to develop into berries for picking later in the year. This recipe is based on one from the River Cottage archives; it's sharp and lemony and makes a truly thirst-quenching drink. You can, however, adjust it to your liking by adding more or less sugar. The cordial will keep for several weeks as is. If you want to keep it for longer, either add some citric acid and sterilize the bottles after filling (see p. 125), or pour into plastic bottles and store in the freezer. Serve the cordial diluted with ice-cold sparkling or still water as a summer refresher-or mix with sparkling wine or Champagne for a classy get-together. Add a splash or two, undiluted, to fruit salads or anything with gooseberries-or dilute one part cordial to two parts water for fragrant ice lollies.

Yield makes about 8 cups

Number Of Ingredients 4

• Ingredients