Elderflower cordial
- Prepare
- less than 30 mins
- Cook
- no cooking required
- Serve
- Makes 2 litres/3½ pints
Homemade elderflower cordial costs buttons compared with posh supermarket versions and it's really easy to make. Serve with sparkling water for a refreshing drink or sparkling wine for a delicious cocktail.
By Lotte Duncan
Ingredients
- 30 elderflower heads
- 1.7litres/3 pints boiling water
- 900g/2lb caster sugar
- 1 tsp citric acid (available from chemists)
- 2 unwaxed oranges, sliced
- 3 unwaxed lemons, sliced
Method
Gently rinse over the elderflowers to remove any dirt or little creatures.
Pour the boiling water over the flowers and the orange and lemon slices in a very large mixing bowl. Stir well and leave to cool. Cover with a tea towel and allow to steep overnight.
Strain through a fine sieve or a clean muslin cloth into a large pan. Add the citric acid and the sugar and bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
Transfer to warm, sterilised glass bottles through a funnel and seal (take care pouring the hot cordial into the bottles). Allow to cool completely. Once opened, the cordial will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
Recipe tips
The sealed bottles of cordial will keep for a few months if you get a good seal and have a clean syrup. It can go mouldy on the top, so it's best to use it up quickly.
You can freeze the cooled cordial in plastic bottles and it will last all year. You don't need to sterilize the bottles, but do wash them in hot soapy water and dry them thoroughly. Allow a good couple inches of space for the cordial to expand in the freezer.
Be sure to use food grade citric acid and not the cleaning/descaling product.
