Elderflower cordial makes a delightful addition to drinks and desserts — like this Elderflower Lemon Cake we shared earlier this week. Though it can be store-bought, we think the muscat-flavored syrup is even better (not to mention less expensive!) when made at home from foraged blossoms. If you have elder trees in your area, keep an eye out for the flowers, which should be blooming between now and June.
Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) trees grow throughout Europe and North America, typically in sunny locations. When foraging, pick flower heads that are fully open with sweet smelling white blossoms (yellow or brown ones can have the musky odor of cat urine) and shake off any insects. Once you get home, do another insect inspection and separate the flowers from the stems using your fingers or the tines of a fork.
Making a cordial is relatively easy and involves steeping the flowers plus lemons (some people also add oranges) and citric acid (used as a preservative) in a syrup of sugar and water. Different recipes call for leaving the mixture to sit for one to five days; we usually go for about two. Strain the infused syrup into sterilized jars or bottles. For more detailed instructions, check out these recipes:
• Elderflower cordial from Sophie Grigson
• Elderflower cordial, "champagne" and wine from Country Life
Stir the delicately flavored cordial into fizzy water for a uniquely refreshing drink or try one of these recipes:
• Elderflower Cordial Cocktail
• Blackberry Elderflower Spritzer with Mint
• Orange and Elderflower Spritzer
• Elderflower Sherbet
• Sorbet Fizz Float
• Elderflower Lemon Cake
Even if it contains citric acid, we still like to store the cordial in the refrigerator, where it should last for at least a month – or in the freezer for up to a year.
And then get ready to harvest elderberries later in the summer!
Related: Recipe To Try: Elderflower Fritters
(Images: Emily Ho)
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Can this be done with dried elderflowers?
As much as I love foraging and other forms of living off the land, I have to point out that in some parts of California, elderberries are protected and shouldn't be tampered with. This is because they are the sole habitat of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, a threatened species. More info: http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/documents/velb_conservation.pdf
I wish I could figure out where to find Elderflowers here in Santa Barbara.
@caseoftornados I've never used dried ones myself but have seen some mention of it online. I'd try a small batch first and see how it works!
@CaliforniaHoliday Thanks for sharing that. A good reminder to always be mindful of how foraging might affect the ecosystem. With elderflowers, I tend to take only a couple of heads off any one tree in order to leave enough for bugs and later berries!
If you want elderberries later in the season, however, you must leave some of the flowers on the bushes.
Just, y'know, noting.
I have seen people get a little overzealous with the cordialmaking and then, later on, cranky because their elderberry bushes somehow never fruited.
Most of the elderberries here in the states have poisonous leaves and it is questionable wither or not it is a good idea to use the flowers for the same reason because it could be easy to get some of the leaves in with the flowers.When wild foraging one should weigh the risks carefully.
My mum used to do this when we lived in Europe!!! (definite lack of elderflowers in Australia!!!) I loooooove this!