Every hedgerow and wood side seems to be heaving with Elderflower at the moment – and now is the time to pick some blooms and make some wild Elderflower cordial Elderflower fritters, or your own Elderflower wine. While we’re on the subject of drink, elderflower cordial also combines with gin for a delicious summer cocktail.
The white blooms are best picked when the sun is shining as each tiny flower is highly scented. Here is a previous post on how to make Elderflower Cordial
To make Elderflower Sparkling Wine, you will need to wait two weeks, but it’s delcious. You will need the following ingredients:
- 8 large elderflower heads
- 2 gallons water
- 2½lbs sugar
- 4 lemons
- 4tbsp mild white wine vinegar
First disolve the sugar in the 2 gallons of boing water, leave to cool and add the elderflower heads, juice of two lemons, the vinegar and the other two lemons sliced. Cover with a cloth and leave for 24 hours. Strain with a muslin, squeezing all the liquid from the flowers. Store in screw-top bottles for two weeks and then drink.
If you are tempted by a cocktail, then Elderflower provides a refreshing, delicious hit of summer to a martini.
Elderflower Martini Recipe – serves 2
- 30ml Dry Vermouth
- 14 Ice cubes
- 50ml Gin
- 25ml Lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 50ml Elderflower cordial
Method:
Pour the vermouth into a cocktail shaker with half the ice. Shake and divide between two martini glasses. Swirl around the glasses to coat them and pour away. Now refill the shaker with the remaining ice and add the gin, lime juice and elderflower cordial. Shake hard and immediately strain into the vermouth-coated glasses. Serve with some green olives and be prepared to make and shake some more.