The scent of elderflowers is floral, aromatic, enticing and unforgettable. Distinctively British, elderflower cordial is like summer in a glass. As you take each sip, the somewhat-tangy, lightly-botanical, sweetly-floral flavours transport you to a picturesque English country garden, with bluebells and roses, lavender and sunshine.
We first tasted this at a café in a little side street near Kew Gardens and have refined the recipe a few times to capture just the right flavour we remember so fondly.
This cordial is refreshing all year round, served with generous helpings of ice and splashes of still or sparkling mineral water.
Elderflower Cordial
Ingredients
- 25 to 30 large heads of elderflowers shaken and cleaned
- 1 kg granulated sugar
- 750 ml of almost simmering water not boiling
- 25 g citric acid
- 2 lemons thickly sliced
Instructions
- Cut off just the slim elderflower stems that hold the blossoms (no thick stems)
- Add the blossoms to a large bowl, together with the lemon slices, citric acid and sugar
- Pour over the heated water and stir gently but well until the sugar dissolves
- Leave covered to steep overnight
- The sugar should be completely dissolved and the mixture syrupy, with the flavour of the elderflowers infused into the syrup
- Strain the contents of the bowl into a clean bowl through a fine muslin cloth
- Decant and store in sterilised bottles in a dark cupboard or the fridge
- Once open, store in the fridge
- Dilute to your taste with water or sparkling water, (normally 1 part cordial to 4 parts water) – it’s ready to drink and will keep for several months
Notes
Strong, durable and rustproof, this stainless steel canner can hold up to 8 jars and comes with a firm and comfortable canning jar lifter to move between countertop and stove easily and safely.
These flip top glass bottles with built-in stoppers let you store cordials, beverages, oils and anything else you'd like to keep airtight and leak-free. The clamp closure preserves the contents to keep them as fresh as the day they were bottled, making it the perfect storage solution for wines, cordials and condiments.
Belvoir Elderflower Cordial is made from hand-picked elderflowers, real pressed lemon juice and spring water. Tastes delicate, scented and deliciously refreshing.
