How to make Elderflower and Lime Cordial

This is an amazingly refreshing summer drink, especially when mixed with a bit of fizzy water – and the main ingredient is FREE! Elderflowers come out at the start of summer and turn into elderberries in the autumn. The flowers are tiny, delicate pretty little white things attached to spindly green twigs and the hedgerows are simply bursting with them!

Elderflower cordial is perfect to avoid or treat a summer cold, this drink is vitamin C-rich as the limes have a high vitamin C content and elderflowers are anticatarrhal. The drink is soothing on the throat and its zingy flavour will lift your spirits whenever you feel unwell.

Try this deliciously refreshing elderflower and lime cordial recipe for a summer pick-up.

Cordial Kit
A Big very clean bucket
A big saucepan
Two clean tea towels
Sieve
Enough bottles to store 5 litres of cordial

For the Elderflower cordial

2 carrier bags stuffed with fresh elderflower heads (or about 50 flower heads)
3 – 4 limes, sliced
3.5 kg sugar
200 grams citric acid or asorbic acid (vitamin C powder)
5ml/1 tsp cream of tartar
3 litres of boiling water

Wash and pick over the elderflowers thoroughly, discarding any that are past their best or show any signs of mould. Put the flowers into a large bucket with the sliced limes. Add the sugar, citric acid and cream of tartar. Cover and set aside for a few hours then pour in the boiling water and leave to stand for a further 24 hours. Strain the syrup into sterilized bottles and seal the contents with corks for a traditional look or glass bottles with lids. To serve, dilute with about twice as much still or add sparkling mineral water.

It will keep refrigerated for 2 – 3 months