Have you spotted the elderflower in the hedgerows?
Elderflower is this beautiful but delicate, star-shaped flower that blooms from early summer. It also has a really unique sweet and floral flavour that's great in drinks and in your baking.
You can even use it to make your own cordial.
It's also packed with anti-inflammatory properties too!
How do you harvest elderflower
Harvest your elderflower, on a dry, sunny day to ensure the flowers are at their most fragrant and flavourful.
Use scissors to carefully sever the stalks, taking care to keep the flower heads upright to preserve the precious pollen that contributes significantly to their unique aroma and taste.
Gently place the flower heads in a bag, avoiding crushing or shaking them. Once home, thoroughly inspect and remove any insects without washing the flowers, as washing can strip away the delicate pollen. Before using the elderflowers in your recipes, trim off as much of the stalk as possible to ensure only the most aromatic parts are included.
Elderflower Cordial
Ingredients
15 heads of elderflower
500g caster sugar
4 tablespoons of honey
2 lemons
Method
1. Wash the elderflower well, picking off any bugs.
2. Place the sugar and honey in a large saucepan with 1 litre of water. Gently bring to the boil, until all the sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat.
3. Finely grate in the lemon zest and add the elderflower upside down, making sure the flowers are completely submerged.
4. Now add in the juice from one of the lemons. Slice the other lemon and put it into the pan.
5. Put the lid on and leave it to infuse for 24 hours.
6. Then strain your cordial. Use a muslin over a jug, or a tea towel over a bowl. Then pour into sterilised bottles.
Drink diluted with water or something fizzy!
Elderflower drizzle cake
Ingredients
For the loaf cake base
175g softened butter, plus extra for greasing
175g golden caster sugar
3 eggs
140g self-raising flour
85g ground almonds
½ tsp baking powder
100ml milk
For the elderflower drizzle
4 tbsp elderflower cordial
4 tbsp white or golden granulated sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/gas 3.
2. Grease and line a 2lb/900g loaf tin with greaseproof paper.
3. Make your cake batter by beating together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add your eggs with a tsp of the flour. Once combined, add the rest of the flour, almonds, baking powder and milk. Beat until smooth.
5. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 45-50 minutes. Check the cake is ready by putting in a skewer. It should come out clean.
6. Put the cake onto a baking tray and prick it all over with a skewer.
7. To make youre drizzle, use your cordial and extra sugar and pour the mixture over the cake. Allow it to cool in the tin before carefully lifting it out to slice. Dust with icing sugar to serve.
If you don't have time to get out and forage for elderflower, you can still enjoy that floral citrusy flavour by ordering a batch of our Moocha Kombucha Elderflower & Lemon.
Why not Subscribe and Save and get 15% off a box of 20 Organic Elderflower & Lemon flavour Kombucha.
Your order will be dispatched on the 1st of every month, ensuring a steady supply of your favourite kombucha.
In 2023, our Elderflower & Lemon flavour earned its stars in the Great Taste Awards, coupled with a prestigious Silver in the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards.
