Elderflower Cordial
no alcohol
An elegant drink foraged food & herbal medicinal immune support tonic.
I learned this recipe amongst the hedgerows of the English countryside on my very first private chef job.
I made gallons upon gallons of it, and we served it at every tea, garden party, dinner party and luncheon as the drink you have when your not having a drink.
I have adjusted my recipe and method slightly over the years – I prefer to make it with raw honey these days and in large mason jars as it’s easier to put in the fridge. The recipe gives quantity options because we all have different tastes, adjust to your taste.
- Servesmakes 6-7 cups
- Cooks in infuse 2-3 days
- Prep time 20 mins
- Herbal Medicinal
Herbal Medicinal Recipes have healing food ingredients with medicinal properties. Culinary & medical plants have properties that benefit our health.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C rich foods help support a healthy immune system. Vitamin C is necessary for cellular tissue growth, development and repair.
- Anti Bacterial
Recipes have foods, herbs & spices with antibacterial properties. These plants have compounds that fight infections are healing, preventative & antibiotic.
- Immune Support
Recipes have ingredients that support our immune system and help our bodies to fight bacterial and viral infections. Foods high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals support our immune functions. Food and herbs with anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties help our bodies fight infection and support our immune response.
- Antiviral
Recipes have foods, herbs & spices with antiviral properties. Antiviral herbs have compounds that fight viral infections and boost our immune system. Antiviral foods and herbs examples ginger, garlic, oregano, thyme, mint, cinnamon, clove, echinacea, elderberry.
Ingredients
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Method
Elderflower Cordial – no alcohol
TRIM big stems off the heads of your dry and aromatic elderflowers.
MASON JAR ½ gallon | 64 oz | 8 cups ADD 6 cups hot water, sugar or honey, lemon juice, citric acid – stir/whisk until dissolved. TASTE add more sugar | honey, if you like more sweetness and lemon juice if you like a little more tang.
ADD elderflowers, mix & press & submerge repeating until the flowers a saturated and submerged just under the liquid. Top off the jar with a little more water, so the water level is almost at the jar rim.
LID ON and lightly turn the jar a few times to be sure everything is well mixed. INFUSE in the fridge for 2 – 3 days.
STRAIN through a sieve, squeezing the flowers really well, so you don’t waste any of the liquid gold. Discard the flowers and bottle the syrup in a clean glass bottle, store in the fridge what you will drink in 2 weeks and freeze the rest. I make big batches during the brief flowering season and have been freezing this recipe for decades.
Elderflower Spritzer
A few ice cubes
2-3 shots of elderflower syrup
Top with sparkling water
Elderflower Cocktail ideas
A few ice cubes
1 shot vodka or gin
3-4 shots elderflower syrup
Top with sparkling water
Chef tips + Ingredient Swaps + Ideas
FORAGING – know your plant ID & choose fresh, fragrant flowers, not in a high pollution area.
LEAVE ⅓ of the elderflowers for the pollinators.
SKIP citric acid if you don’t have any adding extra lemon – fridge shelf time will be reduced.
LETTER WEEKLY 