what to do with elderflowers

Elderflower is delicious mixed into cakes, tarts, trifles and jams. It pairs particularly well with tart fruits such as rhubarb and gooseberries.

What can I do with dried Elderflowers?

Uses for Dried Elderflowers

Make Elderberry Syrup to add to sparkling water, cocktails or as a substitute for sugar.
Try making Elderflower Cordial to add a sweetness and light floral touch to your drink.
And who wouldn't want to try their hand at making Elderflower Wine?
Make Elderflower Jelly for pudding (pretty and tasty!)

How do you preserve Elderflowers?

Storing Elderflowers

You can use the blooms fresh or preserve them for later use. To save them, hang the umbels upside down or lay them on a screen for several days until they are dry. The flowers should retain much of their creamy color. Once dried, you can rub off the little blooms with your hands.

How do you process elderflower?

Remove flowers from most of stems (especially the large ones), wash by quickly submerging in cold water, and drain. Place the flower heads in a large bowl together with the lemon zest. Bring water to the boil and pour over the elderflowers and citrus zest. Cover and leave overnight to infuse.

Can I freeze Elderflowers?

Recipe Tips

Look for elderflower heads from about the end of May. They can be frozen if liked: freeze about 25 heads in a bag and add to the hot sugar syrup straight from the freezer - this will stop them turning brown once defrosted.

How do I dry Elderflowers?

To preserve the elderflowers beyond their season and to make tea whenever I'm craving it, I like to dry them. Drying elderflowers couldn't be easier. Just spread the blooms out on paper or kitchen towels und leave to dry in a warm, dry and shady spot until they are crispy dry. Store them in an airtight container.

Are Elderflowers edible?

The flowers and berries are the only edible part of the plant. They are mildly toxic and have an unpleasant taste when raw. ... The fragrant flowers are most famous for making elderflower champagne and cordial – perfect summer drinks. Drink elderflower cordial chilled, diluted with water or add to sparking or dry wine.

How long do Elderflowers last once picked?

8 Top Tips for Making Elderflower Cordial

A sweet, lemony, elderflower-scented cordial makes a refreshing drink in summer, and it also adds a superb touch to many different recipes. A cordial can last for up to a year when it's preserved properly.

Should you wash Elderflowers?

You'll want about 25 heads.

The pollen in the tiny elderflower blossoms is what makes the cordial so delicious and fragrant, which is why you don't want to lose any of it. ... Do not wash the elderflowers before doing this!

Is elderflower drink good for you?

As a supplement, elderflower also has diuretic and laxative properties, and is helpful in relieving constipation. Elderflower has antibacterial and antiviral properties, and may also alleviate allergies and boost the immune system.

How do you get rid of elderflower stalks?

Pick through elderflower heads, and remove any brown flowers or bits. Remove the flowers from their stalks. This is easily done, by gripping the stalk between your thumb and forefinger, and pushing them down to the flowers. They will pop off with very little pressure.

How can you tell elderflower?

One of the most distinctive things about elderflowers is the smell: floral, creamy and 'Summery'. Quite often you can smell the scent as you get closer towards the plants. Elderflowers should not smell like wee, musty or damp. If they do, find fresher smelling blooms.

How do you clean elderflower?

Fill a washing up bowl with cold water. Give the flowers a gentle swish around to loosen any dirt or bugs. Lift flowers out, gently shake and transfer to the syrup along with the lemons, zest and citric acid, then stir well. Cover the pan and leave to infuse for 24 hrs.

Why has my elderflower cordial gone brown?

The flowers might turn brown once they get in touch with the warm water, but this won't affect the flavor of the cordial. Leave to cool to room temperature, then cover tightly with plastic wrap.

Do you need citric acid in elderflower cordial?

If you are super quick and very lucky, you may just get the end of the elderflower season.

Can you freeze elderflower champagne?

Drinks. Elderflower Champagne and Cordial are classics but give the liqueur, wine, cider and herbal tea a go. You can also freeze Elderflowers in ice cubes to cool your favourite tipple!

What is elderflower tea?

Elderflowers (also called European elder) come from a small tree, which is native to specific areas in Europe. It has strong antioxidant properties and antiviral effect, which makes elderflower tea quite popular for fighting cold, flu and their symptoms. ...

How do you make elderflower tea?

To make elderflower tea, put 1 tablespoon dried elderflowers in a cup and fill up with boiling water. Let steep for 7 to 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey to taste.

When should elder flowers be harvested?

The flowers of the elderberry tree should be harvested once the entire cluster has opened. Simply snip off the entire cluster of blooms. The berries will be ready to harvest when they are a rich, dark purple/black. They should also be slightly soft.

Is pink elderflower poisonous?

They contain a cyanide-inducing glycoside. Eating a sufficient quantity of these cyanide-inducing glycosides can cause a toxic buildup of cyanide in the body and make you quite ill. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even coma.

Can you pick Elderflowers in the rain?

If you decide to go and pick a few choose a lovely sunny day – elderflowers picked on a damp or rainy day will taste bitter and in some cases will develop a mould if you're using them to make champagne.

Are elderflowers and elderberries from the same plant?

Elderberry and elderflower both come from the same plant and have many of the same nutritional benefits, but they don't have the same compounds and are not used in the same ways.