There are plenty of
different recipes for cordial based on the flower of the Elder tree (
Sambucus Nigra), I used a nice basic one as this is the first time I've made any.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9R28t3wLCBgwrUAkXzbfM03rXy0cjVqnb8AOIcMEiYqwGki2oLZP9s0kXWlbzwtUTwlYzejgYhlUcxPwQv8zjYZi668P2ITe9N6r6L1P2YlQwESfewnAJrrN8KPhCTPCC6HyiDx3Nc4/s400/IMGP0015.JPG)
My ingredients are:-approx. 30 large flower heads (shaken to remove bugs), a kilo bag of sugar, 3
unwaxed lemons, approx 50g of food grade Citric Acid (available from chemist's but I got mine from
ebay-
didn't cost much) and 3 pints of boiling water.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_BCayD_a-qRmvf0fW2n-51iJotujRQSTN7nypS_IGCn0gyDcuB6s2l4YKxfyuyoFZRvqon6-lYkduFlbO9G9uSj5wCEE73R_q8agli1st2rJHy_uYpLcjHmESm7i3goFf5gIUeVnkKg/s400/IMGP0016.JPG)
Dissolve the sugar in the boiling water in a large bowl or pan; finely grate the rind of the lemons and add , along with the citric acid, to the syrup; thickly slice the rest of the lemons and throw them in; finally add the flower heads (snip as much of the stalks off behind the flowers as possible) ; cover and leave to
steap for 48 hours.
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After 48hrs fish out the solids and strain through some muslin or laundered cloth into sterilized bottles. Apparently it keeps for a good month if stored cool or can be frozen in plastic bottles.
I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it tastes after initially sniffing the flowers with low expectations. I have read it goes well with Sloe Gin so I think I'll give it a try.
Cheers John