Post by Bess on Jul 2, 2013 21:48:12 GMT
A favourite with my family 
I make it late June and July pretty much every year. Just thought I'd like to share although I bet many of you have it already - it tastes like summer to me.
The elderflowers I find in town don't taste quite as nice as the ones from my parent's farm did, but I've only ever had one really bad petrol-fumey batch... just don't pick by a motorway!
3/4 heads elderflowers in full bloom (picked pref in the sun, well dry with plenty of pollen on them. I use about 7/8 heads myself for extra flavour.)
1 gallon - 8pints cold water.
1 1/2 llbs sugar.
2 lemons
2tbspns white vinegar (but brown works fine)
I often make half this quantity per batch, it fits in my bowls easier; that's 4pts water, 12 oz sugar, 1 lemon, 1tbspn vinegar and 3/4 elderflower heads.
You juice the lemons, cut the peel into big chunks, and chuck it all in a big bowl together to steep with the flowers floating on top - stirring occasionally to make sure the sugar mixes in.
Give it 24 hours then strain through muslin (a fine sieve is OK but will leave a cloudier drink) into bottles, stick on a warm windowsill and leave it to go fizzy. This can happen within a couple of days in nice weather,
but we generally give it a week or so to get really fizzing. If you leave it long enough, the taste will get more and more alcohol. I use big old Cola bottles to make quantities of fizz in, seems to work fine, but it looks a lot prettier in nice glass ones - especially if you give it as gifts. That's mainly why I haven't included a photo of the drink
cola bottles aren't pretty.
I have a cordial recipe too, and syrup, which are nicer if you prefer your elderflowers as a drinks mixer or in sponge cakes or ice cream... if anyone would like them just say.
I make it late June and July pretty much every year. Just thought I'd like to share although I bet many of you have it already - it tastes like summer to me.The elderflowers I find in town don't taste quite as nice as the ones from my parent's farm did, but I've only ever had one really bad petrol-fumey batch... just don't pick by a motorway!
3/4 heads elderflowers in full bloom (picked pref in the sun, well dry with plenty of pollen on them. I use about 7/8 heads myself for extra flavour.)
1 gallon - 8pints cold water.
1 1/2 llbs sugar.
2 lemons
2tbspns white vinegar (but brown works fine)
I often make half this quantity per batch, it fits in my bowls easier; that's 4pts water, 12 oz sugar, 1 lemon, 1tbspn vinegar and 3/4 elderflower heads.
You juice the lemons, cut the peel into big chunks, and chuck it all in a big bowl together to steep with the flowers floating on top - stirring occasionally to make sure the sugar mixes in.
Give it 24 hours then strain through muslin (a fine sieve is OK but will leave a cloudier drink) into bottles, stick on a warm windowsill and leave it to go fizzy. This can happen within a couple of days in nice weather,
but we generally give it a week or so to get really fizzing. If you leave it long enough, the taste will get more and more alcohol. I use big old Cola bottles to make quantities of fizz in, seems to work fine, but it looks a lot prettier in nice glass ones - especially if you give it as gifts. That's mainly why I haven't included a photo of the drink
cola bottles aren't pretty. I have a cordial recipe too, and syrup, which are nicer if you prefer your elderflowers as a drinks mixer or in sponge cakes or ice cream... if anyone would like them just say.
