This morning I went out into nature with a basket on my arm. The nightingales were singing, the air heavy with the elder trees in bloom, the sun was out - the time had come to make Elderflower Cordial. This delicious, natural cordial can be enjoyed diluted with still or sparkling water, chinking with ice and a slice of lemon or as a wickedly delicious summer coctail with gin, ice, lemon and sparkling water.
So simple to make:
Ingredients:
60 heads of elderflowers
6 lemons
2.7 kilos granulated sugar
60g citric acid
Method:
Put 3 litres water in a large saucepan, add sugar and stir to dilute, bring to boil - add elderflowers, bring back to boil and immediately remove from heat
Thinly slice the lemons (I do this in my Magimix). Put in large bowl or jam pan. Add the citric acid and pour over the hot syrup with the lemons in it. Stir well and cover loosely.
Keep in a cool place for 5 days, stirring once a day
Strain into sterilized bottles and seal. Will keep for a couple of months in the fridge. I freeze some in plastic bottles to use throughout the year.
Serve with a squeeze of lemon, diluted to taste with still or sparkling water - or as a treat spring cocktail, add gin and tonic to taste. Always add a slice of lemon plus a sprig of fresh mint if you have it.
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