Elderflower Cordial – Hand Written Instructions
After enjoying the elderflower champagne made earlier in the month and reading the appreciative comments it attracted I was reminded of another elderflower drink that is just as easy to make and a lot more stable – elderflower cordial.
Rummaging through my “brewing bag of tricks”which has been sadly neglected over the past couple of years I was delighted to find this hand written sheet, given to me by my Homebrew Guru, Richard Burns – Proprietor of Cheers Winemaking and Brewing Sutton, which gives the method used and lists ingredients for making elderflower cordial.
By mid June any remaining elderflowers were due to quickly disappear and a forecast of poor weather meant time was of the essence to gather the required number of elderflower heads and a furtive trip around the hedgerows of Bovey Tracey delivered the
For this recipe it suggests:
- 20 – 30 Elderflower Heads – (snip off heavy green stalks)
- 3 pints cold water
- 2 ½ to 3 lb sugar (depending on your taste)
- 50 grams Tartaric Acid
- 1 0r 2 lemons thinly sliced
Three steps to make elderflower cordial
- Mix all together in plastic bucket
- Leave 24 to 48 hours stirring now and then
- Strain into bottles
The cordial is ready to use immediately but will freeze in suitable containers.
What I love about this recipe is the vague quantities and the apologies for hand writing that is typical of Richard.
CHEERS!
Here’s a nice looking shandy that uses elderflower cordial.
And here is a video that sort of follows the method of making elderflower cordial above:
Thank You! I like drink a little
But this instruktion I don’t know.
Sorry my English
The picture of the recipe is really cool. A nice touch. Cheers
Elderflower drink! Nice. thanks for sharing
nice! I’ve never tried it, but it looks good!
Thanks for the elderflower champagne recipe. Definitely sounds like a drink I will have to try. This should be a crowd pleaser. Pop!
Elderflower cordial is the drink to make this year – many people have come unstuck making volatile elderflower champagne with bottles exploding making a right old mess.
If you dilute Elderflower cordial with dirt cheap fizzy water it’s practically the same – creating a refreshing elderflower fizzy drink
where can i get tartaric acid? please. Is there a more common household name? I am going to try to make the cordial this year as there appears to be tons of elderflowers this yr. thanks
Hi Annie
Tartaric acid is no longer sold by pharmacies (something to do with cooking some type of narcotic) however you can find it in homebrew shops (or online).
Having said that I used citric acid instead for the batch I made this year – tastes superb still.
Enjoy
I make Elderflower cordial with citric acid – I also add sliced lemon, lime and orange to the mix.
I’ve got cream of tartar in my cupboard. Is this like Tartaric Acid? How much would I use? Any help gratefully recieved.
Cheers
Just made a litre from a recipe in Sohie Grigson’s Country Kitchen. Very simular recipe. Delightful with cheap fizzy water !! Her tip for picking was wait till the tree has flowered for a couple of weeks before picking….improved flavour. From my experience they smell stronger on a sunny day so maybe better to pick then as someone on the champayne thread noted.
Cheers
not sure about that I’m afraid
I made a batch of elderflower cordial to this recipe and it turned out really well. Many thanks to both you and Richard.
Not only is it great with fizzy water, but it is awesome in a G&T.
.-= Dug´s last blog ..Gin & tonic with mint =-.
The Elderflower tea was used as an blood purifier, and as a tonic or ointment to fade freckles or skin blemishes. Even now also modern skin tonics contains elderflower. This cordial looks very healthy, and i am definitely going to try this. Thanks for the listing.