Elderflower & Rose Cordial
I have always loved Elderflowers - the smell, the way they look and the drinks, both cordial and champagne! I think it goes way back in my history, my Nanny used to regularly make Elderflower Champagne and I remember feeling so grown up and special when I was allowed to sip some.
Beautiful flowers!
This year I tried something different from my normal recipe and its so good I just have to share it with you! As I was returning from my elderflower picking trip I passed this beautiful, Old English style rose in an old abandoned garden. It smelled absolutely gorgeous and got to thinking I wonder how it would be to add some to the mix. I picked a few “just opened’ rose heads and got to work.
The first job on returning home was to brew up the water and sugar to make the syrup in which the flowers and lemons are soaked. Normally the recipe says to leave it for 2 - 3 days but I got distracted and left it for 5! Im so glad I did the flavour is intense and the colour of the cordial has really picked up some of the pink from the rose petals. The lemons did not come from my tree sadly, it got badly damaged in the frost this winter and I thought I had lost it, however its coming back but has no lemons on it. My lovely friend Sao came to the rescue and I got lots of lovely juicy lemons from her tree.
Once the syrup is cooled it’s time to add the citric acid, chopped lemons, elderflower heads and rose petals. The mixture is then stirred and added to a covered barrel to steep slowly in a cool place, stir twice a day.
To follow my recipe please visit the recipe page on my website
After tasting by mixing it with crushed ice and sparkling water bottle, label and store in a cool, dark place. Once opened keep in the fridge and use within a week or so. The unopened bottles will last for at least a year so you will still be able to have a sweet, floral taste of summer even in the deepest of winter…… Luxury!
PS…… This cordial would be fantastic mixed with Gin!! We plan to try it soon. Also it can be used to flavour all sorts of lovely summer dishes - Strawberries & Cream drizzled with cordial, use it to mix a floral glacé icing for any summer cake and use it to make a delicious ice cream or sorbet. Let me know what you use yours for.