I have wanted to make Elderflower cordial for the longest time. I absolutely love it and due to the high price of the commercially produced stuff it's something of an infrequent treat when I've got pennies to spare. Come to think of it, I've absolutely no idea why it's taken me so long to get round to making it? One of life's mysteries, but most likely connected to my incredible Lazy Gene and uber-strong Procrastination Tendencies. I very often have Big Thoughts about doing all sorts of productive, creative things, but the following through with action just doesn't always happen. Oh, and the other thing is that I am quite allergic to elderflowers, or rather the vast amount of dusty pollen they contain. Cath Kidston tissues at the ready for this venture.
This year I noticed a real abundance of elderberry trees/bushes in my neighbourhood throughout June, they seemed to be everywhere I looked and were smothered in flowers. A few weeks ago I had been chatting to a friend about wanting to make elderflower cordial, and she gave me a brief run down of the recipe as she remembered it. Twenty Five flower heads she said. Plus lots of sugar and some lemons. Sounded simple enough, and I figured that twenty five flowers would be fairly easy to harvest.
Not sure what prompted me finally to go forth and Make It Happen, maybe I wanted to do something so very Summery to combat the un-summery weather. Maybe I was just plain bored one damp, overcast Sunday morning. Bored and thirsty perhaps?
Despite the ridiculously unseasonal weather, I really enjoyed my early morning picking trip to the park. I find elderflowers incredibly pretty, they really are beautiful when you study them in close-up.
As anticipated, I had soon gathered twenty five pollen-filled flower heads into my basket. It didn't take long at all and I wished that it had lasted longer. It was definitely the bestest bit of the whole Cordial-making experience (although consuming the finished product is pretty darn good). I felt so pleased with my efforts as I tramped back up the soggy hill with my hedgerow booty swinging in my basket. How wholesome and productive to venture out and gather natures harvest to do fantabulous homemade things with!
Ahhh, long summer grasses, swaying gently in the breeze......you would never believe from this photo how cold it actually was on that first day of July). Freeeeeeeeezing it was.
Just had to share these roses with you, I pass them on my short walks to and from the park and have fallen in love with them over and over again this summer. I so wish that they were mine! Need to purchase and plant roses at number 24. It's a Must-do. Is rose-planting an Autumn pursuit? Any rose-lovers/growers out there, please do pass me some rosy-growing info!
Right then, pull my thoughts away from gorgeous, delightful, fragrant, smoochy pink roses and back to the sneezy, creamy white elderflowers. I loved the look of them inside my strawberry oilcloth lined basket. So pretty.
If you read any recipe for making elderflower cordial, it will always tell you to wash the flowers in water first to get rid of any critters. I didn't actually do this (plain forgot), but I did give the flowers a good shake and an inspection as I pulled them one by one out of the basket. I was completely mesmerized by this spider that crawled out, it is the exact colour of the alchemilla that's frothing away in my front garden. It's the first time I have ever encountered a lime green spider, it was a lovely little critter indeed.
I have to tell you that there are a gazillion-bobillion recipes in the world for elderflower cordial and they seem to vary wildly. Although the main ingredients (flowers, sugar, water, citrus fruit) are pretty much the same in each recipe, the quantities and proportions were staggeringly different. I flicked through about a dozen variations on the internet and perused a few in my books, eventually settling on this one by Sarah Raven.
Sarah's recipe has rather more citrus in than other recipes (2 lemons, 2 oranges and 2 limes, although I left out the limes cos of not having any in at the time). I love citrus flavours though, and I also loved her no-nonsense method.
One other ingredient she also uses (that I miraculously did have in) was citric acid. From what I know of this ingredient, it's a natural product that's mainly used in wine making to act as a preservative. It might possibly also give a little extra fizz-kick to cordials, although that's just a guess. It's perfectly possible to make elderflower cordial without it, but I think it does make it taste better. You can buy it easily online, even Amazon
So this is Sarah's easy-peasy method :: water and sugar in pan, bring to boil. Add in flowers, bring back to boil. Remove from heat, throw in sliced fruit, stir and leave for a few days. Easy or what?
I left my concoction to infuse for 3 days for maximum flavour to develop. Then I strained it through a muslin bag into a big jug and poured it into two empty 1 litre soda bottles.
The Little People were suitably impressed with my efforts and couldn't wait to sample it. The cordial is quite strong and needs to be diluted with water :: we made it first with normal tap water, then later with some bubbly soda water.
It really is delicious. Delicate, refreshing and oh-so-summery. I just wish I'd made more of it now, but there's always next year.
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Hi Lucy, re roses; we were recommended David Austen Roses, they have fab old fashioned scent and gorgeous full blooms, so much better than anything impulse bought from the garden centre. http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/Advanced.asp you can order bare root roses now to plant in November so they get established in time for the following summer we have Gertrude Jeckell it is fab, my daugter makes perfume from the petals http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=4254 honestly they are the best roses, they have thorns but they are worth it.
Pm me for a link to photos of my garden and the roses. I knew nothing about gardening a few years ago but with the help of the roses my garden looks great, you don't notice the weeds when there are fabulous roses ......
Steph
Posted by: Stephanie | July 14, 2012 at 10:29 PM
A few years ago i made Elderflower champagne and just like SOL said a few bottles did explode - but if you used plastic bottles you would be fine. tasted delish by the way - was alcoholic :)
Posted by: lesley | July 14, 2012 at 07:13 PM
I too love the fla our of elderflower. Our local Aldi store sells elderflower and apple juice in 1 litre cartons for just over 60p, my cupboards stocked up to last me through till the end of summer.....at the rate we're gng with the rain that might be November! Yours looks deliciousness
Just wanted to mention I saw some HUGE crochetdermy lions recently, have blogged a post showing pics of the stunning creation. Thought you might like to see.
http://juliesstitchingjournal.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted by: Julie | July 14, 2012 at 07:07 PM
When you run out and can't make any more because the flowers have gone, IKEA do one that isn't badly priced and tastes ok!
Posted by: Kathryn Holmes | July 14, 2012 at 06:06 PM
Scrumptious elderflowery cordial ... Yum! I love your blog, Lucy ... I look forward to checking it every weekend ... It's so beautifully written and illustrated ....such a joy.....Thank you! I live in the north of England too ... Near Blackpool! ... Autumn is definitely a good time to plant roses ... try David Austen roses ... They're always superb and they deliver by post! Vikki :-)
Posted by: Vikki Cook | July 14, 2012 at 03:21 PM
What a good thing you did not Wash the elderflowers! Here in Denmark, we say that you Wash all the good things and tastes out. It is enough to let the animals crawl/be shaken out. By the way, you can use the remains, I mean the flowers and citrus fruits to make a kind of jam. Just boil it with some more sugar, maybe add a little water and let boil very slowly for almost half an hour. Then put it in a ( mixer)
of some kind, and then you have a kind of spread which tastes delicious!
Your blog is SO inspiring!
Posted by: Karen Sillemann | July 14, 2012 at 03:09 PM
Cucumber spiders are beautiful, we have one that lives on our patio. She's called Mavis and we are anxious for the baby spiders to hatch. In German they are called "Kürbisspinne" (pumpkin spider). Weird, isn't it?
I am a bit miffed for I didn't do elderflower cordial this year and now it's all gone! I meant to, but apparently my procrastination gene is even stronger than yours, Lucy. BUT I am making lemon balm cordial at the moment, which is just as yummy. Well done you, anyway!
Posted by: Tina | July 14, 2012 at 02:36 PM
I make it more concentrated than that, less citrus, no citric acid. Then I freeze it in ice cube trays. 3/4 cubes in a glass, top up with fizzy water!
Posted by: Spinningfishwife | July 14, 2012 at 10:05 AM
We made this a couple of weeks back (here: http://lacehearts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/what-were-we-making.html). My pictures, as always, were nowhere near as fabulous as yours. Collecting and making was fun, and the smell was fabulous. But I just cannot put my hand up and say I enjoy the taste. I think it's one of those acquired tastes, and so I doubt we'll make again. I love your post about it here.
Posted by: Lace hearts | July 14, 2012 at 09:56 AM
I do so enjoy reading your blog!! Our cordial recipe doesn't involve heating the flowers etc, we usually try to make enough to last all year! - but haven't got around to it this year yet. Container grown roses can be planted at any time, and the advantage of planting them - or at least getting them when they are in flower is that you can check its exactly the right perfumey one you want.
Christine
Posted by: Christine Tratt | July 14, 2012 at 09:15 AM
I've just recently stumbled across your blog by means of finding it referred to in a post made by Little Cotton Rabbits.
May I just say how very much I adore the way you phrase and describe things. There's this undeniable happy, fizzy (to borrow a word from you) quality to each post that just delights and captivates me.
No matter the weather, you always manage to add a little ray of sunshine to my day.
Much love from South Africa.
Posted by: Sharonlee Holder | July 14, 2012 at 06:54 AM
It looks delish!!
Posted by: Donna | July 14, 2012 at 06:53 AM
Lucy...
I wonder if you could use a dried elderflower? and once made could you freeze a stronger version of the flavor to be diluted later (like in ice cube trays)?
Posted by: Sheryl | July 14, 2012 at 04:13 AM
Forgot to add that I bought 3 climbing roses last year from Poundland (of all places!) and I am not much of a gardener but this year I have dozens of gorgeous tumbling roses all over my back wall and fences-£3 spent in total! xx
Posted by: quirky-vintage | July 14, 2012 at 12:44 AM
Ooh I've always wanted to have a go at making elderflower cordial-the nicest ones cost about £3-£4 and it's a luxury I can't afford anymore! I'm not a country girl though and I'm always scared I'll pick something else that looks like elderflower-lol. I can't wait to see the finishd ripple. I've just learnt how to ripple from your fantastic tutorial and I'm ADDICTED!!!!! xx
Posted by: quirky-vintage | July 14, 2012 at 12:38 AM
That looks really good! I've never had it, may just have to give it a try!!
Hugz Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Ruff | July 13, 2012 at 08:59 PM
I have also wanted to make it for a long time, but it's too late now. I must do it next year !
Posted by: Sonia Petitpoint | July 13, 2012 at 08:13 PM
Elderflower champagne next year; though I'm told that sometimes it goes 'pfft', sometimes it is perfect and sometimes it explodes. Yikes.
I have the recipe if you are brave.
Jamie Oliver piled a plate with red berries and poured a little elderflower cordial over them all as a sweet dressing. I'm going to try that very soon.
Posted by: SOL | July 13, 2012 at 07:50 PM
I like hearty old roses. I planted "coral dawn" climbing rose a few years ago and it has totally obiterated my ugly garden shed. It is full of blossoms and birds. Our weather in Chilliwack, BC is very like the British Isles. My Queen Elizabeth roses are as old as me (almost 50) and grow 8-10 feet high. There are lots of new fancy hybrids, but I am happy with mine.
Posted by: LoriAngela | July 13, 2012 at 07:28 PM
Hello Lucy, I made elderflower cordial last week and put 60, yes 60 flower heads in the bucket.
(a big orange one from B&Q 99p!!) with 50 gms citric acid 2 lemons, 3lb sugar, 3 litres boiling water. Leave for 48 hours strain into plastic bottles. Freeze them and defrost as needed.Utterly delicious with tonic water. Anyone who can't go to France with Lucy, Maybe we could meet up at the KNITTING & STITCHING show at Alexandra Palace on Saturday 13th October. Just a thought. XXXXXX
Posted by: Susan Matuszewska | July 13, 2012 at 06:09 PM
I've always wanted to make this! :)
Posted by: idiosyncratic eye | July 13, 2012 at 06:00 PM
Your cordial looked divine. I'm sure it tasted good. Makes me want to make the cordial recipe I have. Love your blog as always.
Posted by: Taylor | July 13, 2012 at 04:05 PM
I have never used the elderberry flowers but I do gather the berries every year and make a juice/honey mixture for immune boosters. I think I would like to try the cordial.
Lucy, may I ask a request of you? Would you mind sometime doing a post on yarn. I am fairly new to crocheting and I am overwhelmed by yarn! There are so many choices and frankly, expense!! I made your flower blooming pillow with acrylic and it is a frizzy mess. Do you have favorites - brands, content, sizes? Do you have suggestions on how to make crocheting affordable?
Emily, Pacific Northwest, USA
Posted by: Emily Kelly | July 13, 2012 at 03:02 PM
Glad you caught the spider! It's such a pretty color.
Posted by: Julie2 | July 13, 2012 at 02:38 PM
This isn't about Elderflower Cordial...which does look lovely!...but about a Japanese artist I read about in WWD (Women's Wear Daily) today. She's all about polka dots (among other things) and an interesting collaboration with Louis Vuitton. With your love of color...and polka dotties...thought you might like to "google" Yayoi Kusama and the Louis Vuitton collaboration. It's not cutsey crochet...but very interesting! Susan from NY and CT
Posted by: Susan Eaton | July 13, 2012 at 02:12 PM