Elderflower Cordial

Like all spring flowers, it will not last forever. The flowers are also available dried, however, which can extend the season indefinitely. Here we use the dried variety. 

A note here, for your wildcrafting safety; the dried flowers for this recipe are purchased from a reputable source in packaged form. These dried flowers come from black elderberry (sambuccus nigra or sambuccus mexicana) and NOT from the red elderberry (sambuccus racemosa), which is toxic. Please be sure of your identification and do not forage for wild foods unless you are an expert at plant identification.

Elderflower Cordial

This is a non-alcoholic drink, really a kind of simple syrup, that is meant to be added to cocktails or to sparkling water. Children love it, mixed with sparkling mineral water, on special occasions, and many adults do, too! It was a key ingredient in our recent experiments with Rhubarb Wine cocktails, and can also be paired beautifully with gin, tonic water, and water kefir, to name a few. Even just a tablespoon in a glass of plain ice water is a refreshing treat.

Directions

1. Make Simple Syrup

Make a simple syrup using a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water. For a 1 quart batch, we used 3 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar, boiled until the sugar was fully dissolved. 

2. Place Elderflowers in Jar w/ Citric Acid & Lemon 

Place the elderflowers in a quart jar. Add 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid, and the sliced lemon, if using.

3. Allow Syrup to Cool & Pour Over Flowers

Let the syrup cool, then pour it over the elderflower mixture.

4. Steep for 24-48 hours

Allow this to steep in the fridge for 24-48 hours; any longer may induce fermentation.

5. Strain

Strain the flowers and lemon from the syrup.

6. Bottle & Store!

Bottle in clamp top bottles, or in a clean quart jar.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

NOTE:This recipe may be made without the citric acid, but it will not keep for as long without the acid. Use within 1 week if making without citric acid.

Over to You

It’s part of our mission here at Mountain Feed to help you make delicious, sustainable, homemade food more often. Stop by and say hello on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Or, as always, you can do it the old fashioned way and come by the store to speak with one of our in-house experts.