Foraging season!! I have been watching closely to see the elderflowers bloom. And then..they seem to be everywhere! Everywhere that I can’t reach! Over the last week or so they have really flowered and if you follow me on Instagram you will have seen on my daily dog walks that I have found some beautiful elderflower trees in my local forest.
I had a couple of questions about the difference between elderflower, which grows on a tree, and cow’s parsley, which grows from the ground. Once you work out the difference you’ll never mix them up again!
I made some syrup last year but tried a slightly different recipe this year. I have loved it! I have used it with water with our tea and with lemonade as a bit of a treat. For a bit of an adult treat, mix it with some gin or a glass of Prosecco – the perfect way to enjoy the the late evenings of early summer!
I decided this year to use it as a teacher gift as we have so many this year! I made the mixture and bought these bottles from Ikea at £1 per bottle…I love how they have turned out and am ready to make a new batch.
The recipe is:
// 30 small flower heads
// 2 kg caster sugar
// 2 lemons
//50g citric acid
// Put the sugar and 1.5l of water into a saucepan and gently heat until the sugar has dissolved. When completely dissolved bring the syrup mixture to the boil and the turn off the heat. Leave to cool.
// Cut the lemons into slices.
// Rinse and clean the elderflower heads, cut off the longer stems and any leaves.
// Add the rinsed elderflowers, lemons and citric acid into the syrup mix. Leave for 24 hours.
// Strain the mix through a muslin and, using a funnel, pour into a sterilised bottle. Keep the cordial in the fridge for up to 6 weeks.
You can also freeze the mixture if you have made excess.
Enjoy all those summer drinks you make with your cordial! I have made little labels to attach to each bottle for my girl’s teachers. If you have any leftover flower heads you can always make a beautiful wreath for your doorway!!
Happy foraging you guys!
xx
Looks amazing Janice ? The photographs are so beautiful. X
Aw thank you Kirsty! Its tasty too 😉 x