Elderflower

Early summer is when the Elderflower (Sambucus nigra) comes into it own. This is when this it is full of it beautiful and fragrant flowers. Elderflower, and in particular Elderflower cordial has historically been popular in North Western Europe where it has a strong Victorian heritage, however versions of an elderflower cordial recipe can be traced back to Roman times and nowadays it can be found in almost all of the former Roman Empire territory, predominant in Central Europe, especially in Germany, Austria and Romania where people have acquired a special taste for it and still make it in the traditional way.



Janny in the gardens at Hagal Farm
on the hunt for Elderflowers



Elderflowers are in season from the end of May to late June. The flowers form in large clusters 10–25 cm in diameter, where the individual flowers are creamy white with five petals, 5–6 mm in diameter. Elderberry flowers should never be eaten raw as, like the trees' berries, they contain a mildly poisonous alkaloid, which is destroyed during the cooking process.

Here on Hagal Farm we do not just admire these lovely flowers, we also put them to good use. Here are a few recipes and ideas for you to try out for yourself.

First Janny will demonstrate how to make Elderflower Champagne.

Elderflower Champagne

For every 2 litres of water:

4 large flower heads

200 gr sugar or honey or Xylo Brit

50ml good quality wine or cider vinegar

Juice of ½ lemon

Optional some lemon peel of half the lemon

First cut the flowers off of the stalks into a large container

Add the water,

Poor COLD water of the flowers (hot water will kill the natural yeast which is needed to make your ‘bubbles’!!)

Add the sugar ( you can also use honey or Xylo Brit if you prefer)

Add the lemon

Add the vinegar

Stir till sugar is dissolved  then cover and leave 24 hrs
Stir occasionally, then after 24 hrs strain liquid and put in clean bottles which can withstand the pressure (old fizzy drink bottles are fine)

Leave the sealed bottles stand for 2-3 weeks (if using plastic bottles you can check pressure by squeezing it!)

When it is ready cool it it the fridge, then pop it open and enjoy.

Some other recipes to try out.

Elder Flower Cordial

1 ltr measure of elderflowers

1 kg Sugar

10 mg citric acid

Poor boiling water over the flowers

Soak flowers in water for 24 hours.

Strain.

Boil the liquid.

Add the sugar and boil for 5 minutes.

Add citric acid.

Boil for another 5 minutes.

Pour in sterilized bottles.

Seal with cork or cap.

Elderflower Wine

Fill ½ ltr measure with elderflower

150gr (1.5 kg) sugar

250gr raisins

3 lemons

Teaspoon Thannine acid (or a cup of very strong tea)

1 gallon (4.5 ltr) water

Wine yeast

Cut flowers from stalks and press slightly to the ½ ltr measure of a measuring jug.

Boil water and pour over the flowers.

Add the sugar, ground raisins and juice of lemons (don’t add the yeast yet!)

Make the wine yeastMake the starter of the wine yeast by using a bit of lukewarm water, sugar and the wine yeast mixed together, when the yeast is active, add it to the wine (make sure the the wine is sufficiently cooled, as too warm will kill the yeast).

Cover with cloth (be sure to cover properly as fruit flies will turn your wine into vinegar!)

Stir at least once a day.

After 5 days strain out the solids and put the liquid into a gallon bottle with an airlock.

Leave sit for about two months (when air lock stops bubbling.)

Your wine is now ready to drink. You may want to transfer the wine into smaller bottles. 

Elderflower Pancakes

6oz flour (3oz maize flour, 3oz spelt flour)

Good pinch of salt (1/2 teaspoon)

2 eggs + 1 egg  yolk

¾ pints milk/soya milk

Bit of oil

Elderflowers

Mix the flour with the salt then mix in the eggs milk and oil.

Holding the elderflowers by the stalk, dip the flowers in the batter and place (stalk sticking up) in a medium hot frying pan (too hot and the flowers will burn and batter will be raw in the middle)

Serve with a drizzle of elderflower cordial.

That it easy peasy!

So get out there and start picking those Elderflowers before it’s too late, and try out some of these recipes. Enjoy!!