How To Harvest Elderflowers - Tips For Picking Elderflowers

Take blooms during a cool part of the day and keep harvested flowers out of the sun. Simply clasp your fingers at the base of the flower cluster and pull. This will avoid much of the stem. However, if picking elderflowers for fritters, snip the umbel off with enough stem to hang onto when dipping into batter.

When can you pick elderflower?

Elderflowers are ready around late May to mid-June. They're best picked when the buds are freshly open on a warm, dry, sunny day, well away from traffic fumes.

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.

How do you use fresh elderflower?

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

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!

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.

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 heads?

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.

What does elderflower pair with?

What elderflower goes with. Elderflower is a traditional summer flavour, and goes best with traditional summer fruits such as strawberries and raspberries. Martin Wishart uses an elderflower jelly to set a selection of summer berries, and Simon Hulstone makes an elderflower crème to go with his strawberry dessert.

How do you 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.

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.

What do you 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!)

What are Elderflowers good for?

Elderflower is used for swollen sinuses (sinusitis), colds, influenza (flu), swine flu, bronchitis, diabetes, and constipation. It is also used to increase urine production (as a diuretic), to increase sweating (as a diaphoretic), and to stop bleeding.

What do Elderflowers look like?

Elderflowers are the last of the great tree flower displays of the year. ... In June, the elder is at its finest, its leaves almost lost beneath the white of its flowers. The petals are small and clustered, but form an umbel that is broad and soporifically scented, like a dollop of perfume-infused, inflorescent ice-cream.

Can you pick Elderflowers?

Depending upon where you live, elderflowers are at their peak in late spring to early summer. In most regions, mid-June seems to be the best time for picking. If left to their own devices, the flowers will turn into delicious dark purple berries around August, which must be cooked to remove cyanidin glycoside.

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 do you preserve elderflower cordial?

How long you can store your cordial:

With no acids or tablets - 3-4 weeks in the fridge. Freeze in plastic bottles for longer storage.
With the citric or tartaric acid it will keep for 3-4 months in the fridge.
With the Camden tablets, elderflower cordial keeps almost indefinitely in a cool, dark place.

What is the difference between elderberry and elderflower?

The Elderberry is a small bush, peppered with delicate white flowers (i.e. elderflower) that flourishes widely in countries such as the United Kingdom and France, spreading in hedgerows across many of its fields. ... Elderflower on the other hand, is as one might expect, more floral and lighter to taste.

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.

What does elderberry look like in the wild?

Elderberry can be identified by the characteristics on the leaves, which are oblong and have 'sawtooth' sharply serrated edges. They are arranged in opposite pairs with 5 to 7 leaves on each stem. The veins of the leaf are most prominent as they leave the lighter green midrib.

Is Presse an alcoholic?

This is the most amazingly refreshing non alcoholic drink - the best elderflower I have ever tasted and DO recommend it!

Do I need citric acid for elderflower cordial?

This elderflower cordial is made without citric acid. It is free from all allergens but does contain a lot of sugar.