June is the month of the elderflower here. We've been patiently waiting for the flowers to open and be fresh and healthy, before they go over and we wait patiently again for the elderberries that follow. The weather of the last few days has been perfect for picking elder flowers. We are lucky to have loads of elder trees around here which we found last year.
So as usual, off my little family trooped and gathered enough heads to loosely fill 2 carrier bags. Classy or what?
No one else ever comes here for any foraging, not a soul in sight.
Back home we shook off any bugs and put them in a large saucepan with the zest of 2 oranges and 4 lemons then poured just boiled water over them until covered.
I left the saucepan overnight with a fly cover on to keep it clean whilst it cooled. Then I strained it whilst I sterilised the bottles in the usual way of washing in hot soapy water and drying in the slow cooker.
For every 500ml of liquid we added 350g sugar, a teaspoon citric acid and 50ml of lemon juice. I simmered it at 90c before cooling and straining it again once cool enough. We made enough for 4 litres of cordial.
Now interestingly, the cordial colour was nothing like last years. It looked almost black in the pan and I think that's because I used a pan and not a bucket. However if you make it and it looks dark and awful, stick with it as it came good in the end.
I water bathed those which I will keep to Christmas gifts.
They turned out great and it tastes delicious!
The rhubarb wine is now in Demi johns bubbling away so once I decant it into bottles I will do the post about it.
I wonder why it's gone so dark? I didn't boil mine .I don't suppose it matters as long as flavour is good.
ReplyDeleteExactly - taste is everything and looks can come in time :D
DeleteNice one Tracey. Sometimes the elderflowers are darker and they can be what they call black which is a very dark pink colour both types made good elderflower cordial. Though and you can make ice cream or sorbet from the syrup as well during deepest darkest winter. glad to see you have got to grips with the o=hot water bottle bathing. Take care, Pattypan xx
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting - I'm going to make another batch so who knows what colour it'll be. For the hot water bathing I am going to use a trivet next time as I don't have the steriliser like you :)
DeleteTracy picked mine up at a car boot for about £3 it was not brand new. xx
DeleteThis is on my to do.list but not sure it's going g to happen this year. Not much elderflower on my hedges due to them being cut this winter. I don't cut them every year for that reason (and I'm tight).
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely stuff though, makes great ice lollies.
Oooh ice lollies - thank you Kev!
DeleteI love elderflower cordial. yum
ReplyDeleteMe too! I was apprehensive but oh my, delicious!
DeleteOh well done chic and great to be prepared for the C word! I've never tried elderflowers. I think we get some down the cycle path but not sure. Jon doesn't like elderflower and I would have to try the boys with it before I went to the effort. Looking forward to seeing how the wine comes out.
ReplyDeleteIt's fairly easy, especially if you plan to drink it straight away then you don't need the citric acid either. I was unsure before hand but love it now I have actually tried it lol x
DeleteIt's lovely that everyone is involved. Liking the sound pf the rhubarb wine xx
ReplyDeleteThank you and yes me too, can't wait to try it!
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