The famous British novelist and journalist Sebastian Faulks once said, “If I could eat only one thing for the rest of my life, it would be rhubarb fool, which I would make with ginger and a hint of elderflower cordial”.
Now that the hedgerows are white with the delicately formed and scented flowers of the Elderflower this is the best time for picking them to make you own Elderflower cordial.
It’s as perfect and refreshing a drink as you could imagine for a flaming June evening and also an eminently useful ingredient for adding to desserts such as rhubarb fool to add a uniquely floral hint that nothing else can quite match.
Where and when to pick
The best time to pick Elderflowers is to wait until the blooms are full and creamy in colour, you can tell when they are ripe by their heady, sweet scent, which is particularly potent in the late evening.
Avoid picking any from beside a busy road as they will pick up pollution, (unless you desire a hint of diesel exhaust to your summer drinks that is!), also pick from higher up to avoid any contamination by dogs.
As with any foraging please don’t pick all the flowers, leave some for the insects and to develop into berries for later in the year.
This recipe is for around 2 litres and will take about 24 hours to be ready.
Ingredients
20 to 25 Elderflower blooms or heads
3 Lemons and 1 Orange, all unwaxed
1 kg of granulated sugar
1.5 litres of boiling water
(Optional but recommended) 1 teaspoon of citric acid
Method
First thoroughly shake the Elderflowers to get rid of any insects or detritus, then place them in a large Pyrex or similar bowl.
Next grate the zest from the Lemons and Oranges, saving about 125 to 150ml of juice, and thinly slice.
Place the zest and sliced citrus fruit into the bowl with the Elderflowers and cover with boiling water, then cover the bowl with a plate and leave for 24 hours to infuse.
After 24 hours strain the mixture through a muslin cloth (coffee filter paper will do the job just as well) into a saucepan and then add the Lemon and Orange juice, citric acid and sugar.
Bring this liquid to a simmer, stirring constantly all the time until all of the sugar has dissolved, then pour into sterilised bottles and seal.
For best results serve Elderflower cordial chilled, I always like to serve it with a premium sparkling water like San Pelegrino and nice clear ice-cubes made from boiled water so as to best appreciate it.
It’s very versatile though so you can make cocktails, G&Ts or whatever else you want with it, of course it can be used in classic recipes such as that for rhubarb fool too, whatever you use it for I hope you enjoy it, why not let us know your favourite uses and recipes?
Brown thatch and gardens blooming with lily and with rose,
And the cool shining river so pleasant where he flows,
Wide fields of oats and barley, and elderflower like foam,
And the sky gold with sunset, and the horses going home!
From Homeward by Cicely Fox Smith
A B-H
Northwest Nature and History 
A timely recipe. Thanks.
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