Homemade Tasty Elderflower and Lemon Cordial

Homemade Tasty Elderflower and Lemon cordial is a family favourite, I mean is there a better beverage than a chilled glass of fragrant Elderflower with fizzy water! Our family has become hooked to the cordial making tradition, venturing out to find the tiny white flowers and seasonal scent of Elderflowers and gathering a bunch to bring home. Oh, and it is freezer friendly, so we make enough to last the whole summer!

What are Elderflowers?

• Elderflowers are from the Elder tree and grow abundantly in the UK. They can usually be found in woods, or along roadside hedges. They appear as little white flowers in late May. Their distinctive aroma helps to identify them, and the floral heads are visible, waiting to be picked off the tree and made into sweet scented cordial! The perfect drink for summer!

When we first decided that Elderflower cordial would be fun to make, I was pretty sure it would be a long tricky process, however seeing the process others followed, helped forge this annual recipe we love so dearly. Elderflower cordial is a must for you because it serves as a great non-alcoholic beverage option, perfect for having family and friends over! Additionally, storing bottles means you are sorted for gift ideas!

Finding and Picking Elderflowers

• It is important to identify that what you are picking are Elderflowers. There are many useful resources online to aid with this, however, here are some of the key indicators we look for when picking our batch:
  • Where is it growing? Elderflowers are often found in woods, along roadside hedges or railway embankments, our local park situated near a station and stream is full of Elderflowers.
  • Flowers- The beautiful white flowers are how many identify Elderflowers. They are flat topped clusters of white or cream flowers. You want to pick these to make the cordial!
  • When is it growing? Elderflowers start to appear in late May/early June. This is when you will be picking them!

It may be useful to bring with you a pair of sharp scissors to snip off the flowers and a bag or container to carry them in. For each batch of cordial you will need 20-25 heads of Elderflowers, which appear as separate floral bunches.

How Easy is Homemade Tasty Elderflower and Lemon Cordial to make?

• The Homemade Elderflower and Lemon Cordial is quick and easy to make, so give it a try!

How long does it take to make the Cordial?

• While the preparation of the Elderflower syrup takes 10 minutes or so, it needs to sit for 24hrs to get a rich sweet flavour, before it is ready to drain and bottle!

Storage

Homemade, Tasty Elderflower and Lemon cordial can be kept in the fridge for up to six weeks; we use sterilised glass bottles which are perfect for giving cordial as gifts! You can also reuse old clean plastic bottles.

To Freeze: It can also be frozen for a year, making it perfect to whip out whenever you are hosting an event. Ice cube trays provide an easy way to freeze the cordial; once frozen transfer into freezer bags and label (Note: the cordial defrosts quickly- we have had a few sticky surfaces!). We sometimes use plastic bottles to store in the freezer as well, which makes sense if you want to defrost a larger amount!

What items are needed to make the Cordial?

You need a preserving saucepan or super large saucepan, measuring scales, basic utensils, bowls, a sift, a measuring jug and a tea towel or muslin cloth (If you are a mum, you probably like me, still have a large stash of muslin cloths and they work perfectly for this cordial!).

Clean and keep used plastic bottles to store the Cordial, especially if freezing. Basic Ice cube trays are also a wonderful way to store smaller amounts in the freezer. Glass bottles are perfect for refrigerating cordial or gifting to others.

Ingredient List:

• 2 ½ Kg of Granulated Sugar

• 2 lemons

• 20-25 Elderflower heads- Pick the Elderflowers just before making the cordial, so they are fresh!

• 85g Citric Acid – You can purchase Citric Acid from chemists or if you use it as a preservative often you can buy a large bag and use all year round!

Recipe:

• Measure and put the sugar into a preserving saucepan (or the largest saucepan you have).
• Add to the saucepan 1.5 litres of water and heat gently, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolve.
• Use a peeler to pare the zest of both the lemons and then use a knife to slice them.
• Once all the sugar has dissolved, turn up the heat to bring the syrup to boiling and then turn off the heat.
• Fill up a bowl with cold water (a clean washing up bowl works well!!) and use scissors to chop the steams off each Elderflower head, before adding the floral heads to the bowl.
• Swish the heads around in the water to wash off any dirt and then place to one side, shaking off any excess water.
• Once all the Elderflowers are washed, place them into the saucepan of syrup, along with the sliced lemons, zest and citric acid.
• Stir well, before covering the saucepan with a tea towel or muslin and leave for 24hrs.
• After 24hrs, place a sift over a large bowl and line the sift with a muslin cloth (Note; a tea towel also works, however I find the thinner material of a muslin makes it quicker to drain the liquid!).
• Use a ladle to transfer the syrup into the lined sift and allow the it to drain through into the bowl. You may need to give the muslin cloth a squeeze periodically to drain all the syrup! Once all the liquid has drained into the bowls, discard of the lemon/Elderflowers in the muslin.
• Refrigerate the cordial in bowls, transfer to bottles or freeze in ice cube trays or plastic bottles.
• Now sit back, relax in the sunshine with family and friends and enjoy a chilled glass of elderflower! Cheers!

Our Family Serves:

If you love this Homemade Tasty Elderflower and Lemon Cordial recipe as much as we do, then check out the other ways we enjoy the cordial! There are some lovely recipes, which can appeal to all the family:

• Elderflower Prosecco Cocktail– If you want to add a little alcohol to the Elderflower for an evening do, then check out this bubbly recipe!
• Elderflower and Lemon Yoghurt Cake– A wonderful, summery cake recipe!
• Raspberry and Almond Ricotta Cake with Elderflower Drizzle– Tasty Elderflower Cordial makes the perfect drizzle for any cake! This cake is wonderfully complimented by the sweet fragrant cordial!

Frequently Asked Questions:

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do, and your family enjoys the adventure of picking and making the Cordial!