Elderflower Cordial

• Fight colds and flu
• Support healthy immune system
• Sinus infections
• Bronchitis
• Reduce cold duration
• Can manage diabetes
• May help to reduce the risk of chronic disease
• Improve exercise performance
• Rheumatoid arthritis
  
• Promote mental health
• Act as a natural diuretic
• Reduce inflammation
• Support skin health

I usually wait for the flower heads to turn into berries and harvest those. But if you have an abundance of elder flowers on your tree, you can instead make delicious Elderflower Cordial. 

Only harvest the fresh flowers, not any that have turned brown, and harvest after the dew has
dried and before the heat of the sun in midday.

Elderflower Cordial Recipe

• 10-12 heads of freshly picked elderflowers
• 570ml of rain water
• juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 500gm raw sugar

Remove the stalks from the flower head and place in a pot with water, lemon zest and juice. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, then simmer gently for 30 minutes.

You can also take the pot off the heat, add a lid and leave to sit overnight, before moving on to the next step.

Strain then return the liquid to the pot. Add the sugar and simmer until sugar dissolves. Turn up the heat and gently boil until the liquid thickens a little.

Pour into sterilised bottles. Store in the fridge, OR add a dash of citric acid to the final step, which will help extend the life of the cordial.

You can take 2 teaspoons in water every 2-3 hours during illness. Or take 2 tspns once a day as a preventative remedy.

Half that for children 7-12, quarter dose for children 3-6 and 1ml for children under 3.

We like to add a squeeze of lemon to it and on a hot summers day, some ice cubes and mint.

Yum!

Elderberry Plants can be found here ♥