Elderflower concoctions!

[Jeanied]

Hang on - just a thought *poddles off to find Granny's book...

[Jeanied]

Her book has a recipe for Elderflower Syrup.
A quart of elderflowers (2 pint measure)- collected in full blossom on a dry day - shake florets into preserving pan. Just cover with water, simmer for 30 minutes making good any water boiled away, then squeeze out the juice and return it to the pan. Add 3/4 lb of sugar for each pint of liquid and simmer again for 10 minutes, skimming if necessary. Allow to cool and bottle.

[mrsironside]

Mrs I's recipe is below -

20 elderflower heads in full blossom (nice & creamy!)
2 sliced limes
few slices of cucumber (about 5 1cm thick slices)
2 tsp of citric acid
1.5 kg (3.5 lbs) of sugar
1.2 ltr (2.5 pints) boiling water

place elderflower heads, sugar, lime, cucumber and citric acid in a large bowl.
pour over the water and dissolve sugar.
leave to steep in the fridge for a min 48 hours / max 5 days stirring once a day
When ready to bottle strain through muslin & decant into bottles.

Obviously if i tell you this recipe i will have to kill you

[zazen999]

Yup - best keep it to yourself Mrs I. I've seen now't.

*gets notebook and licks pencil.

[Jillyreeves]

Thank you for sharing :-)

[wollyanna]

Can't wait to try this version but any ideas why the cucumber !! Thanks for sharing the recipe anyway even on pain of death

[chris]

I've always wanted to make elderflower champange... don't have any elder flower near us around here though

We buy that rocks (I think?) organic elderflower cordial, and maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan that's so nice!

[Two_Sheds]

I made a couple of batches of elderberry cordial last year....one batch turned out a light coffee colour

Elderberry is dark in colour. Did you mean elderflower? I don't make anything with the flowers, because I want to make port with the berries in the autumn

[lisab]

Hi all,
sounds fantastic. I made elderberry wine last year and i've just finished a bottle as I can't wait 9 months for it to mature! - its amazing - it really does taste like port. Tried a similar recipe with blackberries last year too - except it was fizzy! Strange!

[Mac]

Hey all, can someone post the Elderberry wine/port recipe too as I missed everything last year as was too late getting my home brew kit ordered! We're a bit behind you southerners up here as our Elder trees are only just starting to come into leaf! Plenty of time to get organised!

[Jeanied]

Hi Mac - here is the thread with Elderberry wine and port recipes in - you may find something to suit you!
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ine_38389.html

[wollyanna]

Just realised I put elderberry instead of elderflower . Think I might try having a go at the elder/port this year as well

[Mac]

Thanks Jeanied - YUM!.....we get both red and black elders up here so both the flower and berry seasons last quite long...does anyone know if there is much of a difference when you use either for wines or cordials?

[Jeanied]

Mac I haven't come across red elder but a quick google search on 'red elder edible' has turned up a warning that it is poisonous. Just go for the black sambucus to be on the safe side!

[Mac]

Must have just read the same thing! It says the flowers are ok to be used, but not the berries...guess it'll be a quicker berry season than flower one.....