Elderflower season is here!

[JeremyinCzechRep]

It is that time again... which is good as last week I finished my last bottle of elderflower syrup from last year - and it still tasted as good as it is did when I first made it. I think the key is to use plenty of sugar so that no bugs can survive inside. It is one of the most refreshing drinks I know, a little syrup, some fresh lemon juice and ice cold water. I also use it to sweeten mint tea. What do you do with yours?
If you'd like my recipe, have a look at http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/elderflower_syrup.htm

[becks77]

Not elderflower here yet still too cold, but we have 2x bottles of cordial left before starting again.

[red]

elderflowers are only in bud form here - still have one last bottle of cordial - we drink it as squash

Have ordered and received a kilo of citric acid though - in readiness!

[Millymollymandy]

I've still got several bottles worth left in the freezer too! I saw it flowering when we were in Spain but here just buds as we're so far behind this spring.

I'm getting an ice cream maker for my birthday so I've just had a thought that elderflower cordial sorbet might be very nice on a hot day! Anyone tried that? The ice cream maker is because I have so much soft fruit I thought I could put it to good use making nice healthy (ish ) sorbets and yoghurt ice creams rather than just unhealthy fattening regular ice cream.

[becks77]

Oh yes the elderflower sorbet was yummy, but didn't last long DD2 has a thing about elderflowers.
Right now I can't remember the recipe or where it came from....could it have been the ish bible?

[indy]

Just got buds now, has been so cold Had a frost this morning and its pinched all the azaleas

[RobHed]

No elderflowers in the Bristol area yet - unless you know different ?

[83rachel]

i cant see any in fife either

[RobHed]

i cant see any in fife either

Shall we pop some in the post to each other ?

[83rachel]

lol, you know i actually brought some the other day in the local home brew shop. im off forraging today in the hope i find some.

[JeremyinCzechRep]

Come over to the Czech Republic and you could pick it for free! :-)

[Chickenlady]

Was wondering today if I had missed them - they must be out by now! I used to find them when I was dog walking but no longer have a dog to walk so I will have to make a special trip out.

I always had to freeze my cordial inthe past as I could never get it to stay fresh no matter what hygiene steps I took. Always ended up with mould on the top! So maybe I need a new recipe (the last one was Hugh FW's). Anyone make elderflower champagne?

[JeremyinCzechRep]

I think using a lot of sugar is the answer (unless you have a load of space in your freezer). I use 5 kilos of sugar for 3 litres of syrup. Not much will survive at that sort of concentration. A friend of mine here in the Czech Republic told me it is not good to collect the flowers after rain - best to wait for 4 days - as they lose their aroma and take some time to get it back. That makes sense. I'm going picking tomorrow.
http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/elderflower_syrup.htm

[crowsashes]

elder flowers have just started to open down here in plymouth, wont be long for the rest of you now
ill be gathering mine soon as i get enough sugar

[Millymollymandy]

Made mine but sorry Andy and Dave I don't like your recipe! Too sweet and not enough flavour, or maybe it is the flowers or not putting citric acid in? Well next year I'll go back to the Sophie Grigson recipe and see what happens.