Elderflower Cordial Recipe | Cornish Hedgerow Summer in a Bottle

Elderflower Cordial — From Elowen's Kitchen

Elderflower season in Cornwall runs from late May through to mid-June depending on the year and how far west you are. The flowers should be fully open, cream-white and intensely fragrant — avoid any that have started to turn brown or smell musty. Pick from bushes away from roadsides. Morning is the best time, when the flowers are fresh and the sun hasn't baked off the fragrance.

This cordial keeps for up to 6 weeks in the fridge, or can be frozen in batches. Diluted 1:10 with sparkling water, it is one of the best drinks you can make. In food it works brilliantly with Cornish strawberries, in a gin and tonic, poured over ice cream or used to sweeten a salad dressing.

Ingredients (makes about 2 litres of cordial)

20-25 large elderflower heads, in full bloom 1.5kg white caster sugar 1.5 litres boiling water 2 unwaxed lemons, sliced 75g citric acid (available from pharmacies or online)

Method

Give the elderflower heads a gentle shake to remove any insects. Do not wash them — you'll wash away the pollen and fragrance. Pick off any large pieces of stalk but small stems attached to the flowers are fine.

Put the sugar in a large heatproof bowl or pan and pour over the boiling water. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Add the lemon slices and citric acid and stir again.

Add the elderflower heads, pushing them down into the syrup. Cover with a clean cloth and leave to infuse at room temperature for 24-48 hours. Longer infusion gives a stronger flavour — taste it after 24 hours and decide.

Strain through a muslin cloth or a fine-mesh sieve into a large jug. Squeeze the elderflowers gently to extract the last of the flavour. Pour into sterilised bottles or jars.

The cordial will keep for up to 6 weeks in the fridge. For longer storage, freeze in 500ml batches.

Elowen's Tips

Citric acid is the preservative here — don't leave it out. It also adds a brightness to the flavour that keeps it tasting fresh rather than floral-sweet.

For a more complex flavour, add the sliced zest of an orange alongside the lemons.

Once made, use it in: elderflower and Camel Valley Bacchus spritz, poured over Cornish strawberries with a sprig of mint, stirred into homemade lemonade, or as a drizzle for a Victoria sponge.

The best hedgerow foraging in Cornwall: the lanes around St Agnes and Perranporth, the Roseland Peninsula, and the countryside around Bodmin Moor. Always forage responsibly — take no more than a third of the flowers from any one plant.

For Drinks at Your Event?

Salt Wind Catering provides non-alcoholic drink options for our event catering packages. For summer events and garden parties across Cornwall, we can include Cornish-inspired drinks alongside our food. Call 01209 206255.