Dried Elderflower Recipes

[mrdinkle]

Howdy all.

I successfully made a batch of Elderflower Champagne and was gearing up to make a load of cordial as I love the stuff. However, due to circumstances beyond my control I have been unable to concentrate on my hobbies!

Can I make cordial (or wine) from dried Elderflowers (the Young's ones) and if so does anyone know the correct quantities to use?

I have searched the interweb extensively and have found nothing useful.

Thanks you.

[SarzWix]

It mentions a weight and how many flower-heads it's equal to in a C.J.J Berry recipe for elderflower wine, but I can't find the book! If someone else has their's handy....?
I'll keep looking for it

[mrdinkle]

Ahhhh, I have a tatty old copy of 'first steps in winemaking' - I will try and find it!

Thanks

[Snadger]

I made elderflower cordial but alas not enough! Even the bottles i put in the freezer have been used up!
Can you buy dried elderflowers? If so I'll deffo make some more!

[mrdinkle]

Yes you can get them in 50g Young's bags. Hence the research to find what quantities are required.

I am really into the cordial too!

[Snadger]

Cancel the last question! Just been on google and eBay where there's loads!

[SarzWix]

Have you found it MrDinkle? I can't imagine where ours has gone, I only used it the other day

[mrdinkle]

ok. According to CJJ berry:

3/4 pint elderflowers fresh = 1/2 oz dry.

[mrdinkle]

(1/2) ounce = 14.1747616 grams

[mrdinkle]

All the recipes I have found say X heads. Balls. How do you convert x heads to pints?

[SarzWix]

Erm.... Is his ¾ pint without stalks, or with...?

I'd just guess at about a level dessert spoonful to a head.

[mrdinkle]

Yes this is quite difficult to fathom. 15g of dried flowers is enough for 6 bottles of wine.

Cordial will need a larger quantity, just not sure how much - I mean what is 30 large fresh heads in dried money?!

[mrdinkle]

I found this:

Elderflower cordial on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This makes out that 50g dried will make 500ml cordial. So does this mean it is cheaper to buy ready made cordial?

[Snadger]

One thing I DO know about elderflowers is that if you get the quantity wrong it can finish up smelling of cat pee!!!!!!!

[Hilary B]

All the recipes I have found say X heads. Balls. How do you convert x heads to pints?

I actually tested this one. I got a pint of 'just flowers' from 24 heads.