ThirstyforKnowledge

An encyclopedia of drinks — mixed, poured, brewed and whisked

No. 105 Soft drinks

Elderflower cordial

Elderflower heads steeped in lemony sugar syrup for 24 hours, then strained and bottled. Dilute to serve.

Homemade elderflower cordial in a row of swing-top bottles
Homemade elderflower cordial Photo: Jim Champion from Southampton, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0

Recipe card

ml oz

Makes 20 servings · about 40 min to make

Ingredients

Ounces are US fluid ounces (29.57 ml), rounded.

Method

  1. Heat the water and sugar gently, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Bring just to the boil, then take off the heat.
  2. Grate in the lemon zest, slice the lemons and add them with the citric acid.
  3. Add the elderflower heads, stir, cover and leave to infuse for 24 hours.
  4. Strain through a sieve lined with muslin into sterilised bottles and refrigerate.
  5. To serve, dilute about one part cordial to five or six parts still or sparkling water.
Glass
Sterilised bottles
Technique
Heated
Difficulty
Takes practice

Printable recipe card

About the Elderflower cordial

Our house recipe for early summer, when elder is in flower. Pick fresh, fully open flower heads away from busy roads, shake off any insects and use only the flowers, not the leaves or stalks.

Citric acid (sold for home brewing and preserving) helps it keep. Store in sterilised bottles in the fridge and use within a few weeks, or freeze in plastic bottles.

Background

Elderflower cordial is made largely from a sugar and water solution with the flowers of the European elder. It has a Victorian heritage in north-western Europe, and versions of the recipe can be traced to Roman times.

Tags: family seasonal foraged

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — Elderflower cordial

Checked when this entry was written. Links open the original source in a new tab.

More from the soft drinks shelf