How To Make Elderflower Cordial

[GardenFaery]

First, collect about 30 elderflower heads before they have flowered for too long to harvest them at their sweetest




pour 2lb or 900g of caster sugar into a large bowl or casserole dish

Then, pour 3 pints of boiling water over the sugar and leave to cool.

Next, add 50g or 2oz of citric acid (this enables you to keep cordial in fridge for 3-4months)

After that, add 2 sliced, unwaxed oranges and 3 sliced unwaxed lemons

Then add the flowers

Leave to steep in a cool place for 24 hours, stirring occasionally



Strain through some muslin and transfer to sterilised bottles.
(you can wash bottles in clear water and put in oven to sterilise)

Cork with sterilised wine corks and a corker or alternatively use ceramic top or screw top bottles. Dry bottles and add labels

Stored in fridge or cool cellar/place for up to 4 months

Enjoy with sparkling or still water, roughly 1 to 6 parts diluted and a slice or lemon, lime or orange

[Alison]

I have a fairly similar recipe but don't put and orange in, just lemon zest and juice. Also have only ever stored in the fridge after I've opened a bottle and have kept them for about a year in the past without any mould forming - find that they high sugar content means that it keeps well. I also find that if you let it steep for a couple of days longer the flavour is stronger and better - found this by accident by not having time to do it after 24 hours one year

[GardenFaery]

Oh that's good to know Alison - maybe they mean it will store in fridge after opening, for up to 4 months? even better!