Which elderflower cordial recipe do you use?

[Millymollymandy]

I've just been doing a forum search and I've found two postings giving the recipe by Sophie Grigson and then looked at the Ish recipe, which are both so different I am completely confused - one is soaked for 5 days and one is overnight.

Those of you who have tried making this over the years, if you were happy with the results, please can you tell me which recipe you used.

I need to make a decision fast......


(boy has there been a lot of discussion on this subject over the years - I had to wade thru 7 pages worth of hits!)

[Helsbells]

I use the ish bible....delicious!

[red]

http://www.colouritgreen.co.uk/elderflowercordial.htm

I rthink my recipe might have started with SGs.., not sure tho

[Millymollymandy]

Red it was you who posted the SG one, but you've changed the amount of citric acid (you use a bit less). Can I ask why?

[red]

Red it was you who posted the SG one, but you've changed the amount of citric acid (you use a bit less). Can I ask why?

im guessing.. cos thats the quanities it is sold in

i went to the chemist this week to get some... 'what do you want it for' - suspicious looks... cordial says I. so anyone wanting to cut anything dodgy with citric acid only have to say cordial.... its not a difficult system to overcome!

[Millymollymandy]

Bum - I've just looked at the packet I bought and it's 50g too! Honestly I thought I'd only be using a few teaspoons and that it would last for a few years or I'd have bought more (Superdrug in Taunton - no questions asked at all!).

[red]

do you have trouble getting it out there?

I imagine the recipe would work fine without it, but would not keep so well. but I always freeze surplus anyway.
if not I could send you some.

[Millymollymandy]

I never tried to get it here but from the comments on various threads by Absinthe Fairy you get really interrogated here as to why you want it, and as the French don't understand using the flowers to make a drink it could be hard to get that across....

I think the recipe in the Ish Bible doesn't use any at all, so I will experiment this year with your recipe and then next year without any C acid, and see what happens! If it doesn't work well without it I'll ask someone to either bring it over or take you up on your kind offer!

[dave45]

I understand that it is completely legal to buy and sell citric acid, but that it happens to be an ingredient in some illicit drug-making process. Hence some decision has been made to sell only small quantities and interrogate/disbelieve you when you say you want it for homebrew purposes. ISTR that in the good old days, Boots used to sell it by the kilo. When they had a homebrew department. I think I saw some in a large size in our local Asian supermarket/emporium...

[Green Aura]

I buy it by the 25kg for making bath bombs etc. It's definitely cosmetic grade but would it be suitable for edible purposes? If so you can get it really easily, mail order from any soap making supplies website.

I could even spare a little myself if it comes to it

[newdawn]

It's a funny old world having moved recently and having not yet un-packed my books I found this site whilst googling Elderflower cordial recipes.

I have always used citric acid in mine also have frozen it so as to have a supply throughout the year.

[JeremyinCzechRep]

My own! http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/elderflower_syrup.htm I have just one bottle left from last year but it has kept well. My mum makes the same thing with less sugar but she has to drink it within a few weeks or it goes off.

[Millymollymandy]

Well I used the Sophie-Grigson-adapted-by-Red recipe and it is delish! How really easy and quick it is and no having to wait for it to mature or anything before you can drink it! Why haven't I done this before!!!

[eccentric_emma]

I'm going to try the Ish bible recipe this week. I'll let everyone know how it goes, although I have to find some bottles first!