Last weekend was midsummer. We were lucky enough to have a few days of warm, sunny weather, and I finally made the home made elderflower cordial I had always been meaning to make, but had never quite got round to.
After reading, and saving endless recipes, I took the plunge. I have three elder trees in my garden, so access to the flowers shouldn’t have been difficult, but frustratingly, a spell of very warm weather in May, followed by cold, damp weather in early June had resulted in many of the flowers rotting off before they fully opened.
Finally, the longest day arrived bright and warm, the flowers opened, and I seized my chance. I settled on using a recipe I found at Vegan on Board, because it looked simple, and needed fewer flowers than most of the others. I know I could have just halved all the ingredients from the other recipes, but hey, I’m lazy at heart.
Elderflower Cordial
The website gives step by step instructions, as well as helpful images, but if you are lazy, here is what I did.
Ingredients:
15 large elderflower heads
2 sliced lemons
¼ cup citric acid
2.5l water
5 cups granulated sugar
Shake the elderflowers to remove any insects, then add elderflowers, lemon slices and citric acid to a pot and add the water. Bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and leave to cool completely. It took quite a long time to cool, so I ended up leaving it overnight and coming back in the morning.
When the liquid is cold, strain through a muslin cloth into a clean pot. You can squeeze the muslin to get the liquid out.
Add the sugar and bring to the bring to boil again, stirring frequently, and then simmer for about 5 minutes.
While it is still warm, fill pre sterilised, warm jam jars. Seal and label. The cordial should be diluted with water before drinking. It will last for quite a long time if kept in the fridge.
I don’t know why I put it off for so long, because it was easy, and the end result delicious.
Strawberry & Rose Cordial
While I was waiting for the elderflower liquid to cool, I made a small amount of strawberry and rose cordial. I had some smallish strawberries, and the roses were flowering…..and I could, so I did.
I really like this cordial. It’s my summer time version of rosehip cordial, which I make in autumn, and drink all through the winter. Both are great with gin, on ice cream, diluted with sparkling water and I like them both as a hot drink as well.
Ingredients:
150g strawberries
75g sugar
¼ cup rose petals (or 1tbsp dried petals)
100ml water
Squeeze of lemon juice
Cut the strawberries into small pieces and add to a pot with the sugar, petals and lemon juice. Allow the mixture to rest for an hour, as this brings out the flavour of the roses and the strawberries.
After an hour, add the water and sugar to the pot, and bring slowly to the boil. Simmer for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat and allow to cool until you can handle it. Don’t over boil, as you want a syrup, not a jam!
While it is still warm, pour the cordial through a clean sieve into pre sterilised, warm jam jars. Seal and label. The cordial should be diluted before drinking.
This will keep for quite a long time – I have kept it for a month – if stored in the fridge, but with a small amount, you will use it quickly.
Of, course, I forgot to take some pictures while I was making the strawberry and rose cordial. Both cordials are delicious served with a slice of lemon, ice and a sprig of mint. Enjoy!
Jam jars.
To sterilise your jars – wash the jars and lids in hot soapy water, then rinse and place on a baking tray in a low oven to dry and keep the jars warm. You don’t want to crack a cold jar with hot liquid!
If you are using ladles or sieves, then remember to sterilise them as well. You can use the boiling water and drying in an oven method, or I have also sterilised lots of things using Milton cold water sterilising tablets, and it works just as well.
Mainly Witterings 