- Degree of difficulty:Medium
3 cups elderflower flowers removed from the stalks (about 25 heads)
2 kg white sugar
1.3 litres water
2 unwaxed, washed lemons
75g citric acid
Place the sugar and most of the water into a large saucepan.
Reserve a couple of tablespoons of water and use it to mix the citric acid to a paste.
Heat the sugar and water and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved and then allow the mixture to boil.
Remove from the heat.
Add a ladle of the hot syrup to the citric acid paste and stir until dissolved.
Mix the dissolved citric acid into the syrup.
Place the flowers into a large non reactive basin.
Use a sharp small knife to remove strips of the zest from the lemons.
Be careful to avoid the white pith.
Peel the pith from the lemons using a knife- I find a see-saw action works well- and then slice the peeled fruit.
Add the zest and slices to the elderflowers.
Pour the hot syrup over the flowers and let stand, covered, in a cool place for 24 hours.
After 24 hours strain the cordial through muslin or a clean, well used cloth.
Fill sterilized bottles with the syrup and store in the refrigerator.
Add plain or sparkling cold water or chilled soda water.