Elder trees are in bloom folks so get out there and pick some flowers, you don’t need too many to make a bottle or two cordial. I have just realized that there are two massive trees on the allotment site. There used to be more plots on this area and it is now completely wild with a big sort of meadow bit and lilac, plum and apple trees and all sorts of wild things growing around it. The sweet-scented flowers appear in masses in June – July in hedgerows, around wasteland or the edges of woodland. The best time to pick the flowers when the first buds start to open, but don’t worry you can pick them when they are in full bloom or even when they are finishing, you just might have to compromise on the taste but still you can make a nice drink.
Elderflower Cordial
0.5 kg of sugar
juice of 2 lemon
30-40 elderflowers
Pour 1.5 litres of boiling water over the sugar in a large sauce pan, stir well so the sugar dissolves dunk in the elderflowers and leave it overnight to infuse. Strain the liquid through a piece of muslin or just a fine sieve. And there you have your very own cordial, could not get easier than that. This will keep for about a week in the fridge. This is only a rough guide you can add orange and lemon zest too, or more or less sugar or flowers. And if you want to store it for longer after you strained the liquid boil it gently for a few minutes adding a tablespoon of citric acid and pour it into sterilized bottles. Try it with ice cold sparkling water and a slice of lemon…
