Elderflower cordial time again Here’s how to make approx 2.5L or cordial - enough to make approx 10L of diluted drink.
You need: - 30 elderflower heads - 70g citric acid - 1.5kg regular white granulated sugar - 3 lemons and 1 orange with the rind removed and he fruit sliced
Head out and collect 30 elderflower heads. Make sure there are no brown flowers, you want plump creamy scented flowers ideally picked in the morning and in the sunshine. Whilst no scientific proof exists, my friend Rob reckons cordial made with flowers picked in the afternoon has a feint whiff of cat-pee about it.
Also - try not to pick flowers next to a road - head out into the fields to they are fresh and not carrying car fumes.
Get home and dissolve the sugar and citric acid in a pan with the 1.5L of water by gently heating and stirring.
Next shake each elderflower head over the sink to remove insects then strip away as many of the little flowers as you can from the green stems. Nothing too precise - just grab them and pull away in clumps.
Add the flowers to a really big tub, stock pot or bowl (ideally sterile) then the fruit rind and slices.
Now pour over the liquid once it has cooled to luke warm temperature and give a good stir.
Cover and leave for approx 12 hours or overnight - stirring as and when you remember but ideally every couple of hours.
Strain through muslin several times then syphon into clean and sterile bottles
Dilute to 1part cordial to 4 parts water or else add to prosecco, or even gin and sodas.
Yum Yum
