Cube mk2 and WIR

[Chucky Mama]

Yes CC, I have bottled some up thanks. It is amazing how quickly it comes into bloom. I minute nothing and the next the hedgerows are full of it. It doesn't half have some pollen though. I sneezed like mad when I picked mine and got covered in the stuff

[Alis girls]

I despair - having made a lot of champers this yr and it has fizz (yaaahy) I decided to have some yesterday as its so hot. OH has taken to stripping (paint off the door not his clothes - he would be an elderly Chippendale - hes got the legs - maghogany coilour after hols ) but I digress. So served it chilled with a slice of lemon. ES who is 16 and has a sharp tongue for one so young - says " why is there a bottle of dirty water in the fridge" at this point I will add - its not dirty at all and is in a sterilised milk carton (been thro dishwasher) - explained patiently thro gritted teeth that it was Elderflower champers. ES then said he'd spotted bottles of stuff in spare fridge and thought I was going senile. At this point I wonder if it is worth being an ageing hippy with 4 feathery fiends who lay lovely eggs in the garden and the effort trying to grow organic veg which is at the mercy of the British weather. My back which isnt good after yrs of nursing and a recent fall on holiday is killing me this am - and yes I was on allotment yesterday - albeit kneeling to save my poor old back. Is it worth the effort or the excitment of a homegrown courgette when I could buy one up the road. I will now go and listen to the Archers whilst peeeling apples off the allotment and blackeberries . All sitting of course as back is sore.

Am I alone in my pain? Thanks for reading - fed up in NW London

[Charlottechicken]

Anyone doing elderflower champers this year?

 

Picked loads of flowers on Saturday morning, have just bottled 20 litres

 

Mum is doing the cordial, so has a few days to go

[bluekarin]

Planning to do cordial this time. Just need to remember to buy the citric acid

[Lavenders_Blue]

I'll make cordial this year too. I've been keeping my eye on the elder bushes for a couple of weeks and I reckon we're about ready to start picking!

[newcountrygirl]

I have made cordial this week too.

[rabbitfluff]

Could you use lemon juice instead of the citric acid at a push? And how much would you use? I'm really struggling to get hold of it this year. The brew shop have sold out as have Wilkos and the chemist just looked at me strange when I asked.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I use the River Cottage recipe which has citric acid listed as an optional ingredient - I leave it out.

[Alis girls]

Champers in fridge - only one lot - might do another if can find flowers still.

[counturchickens]

We made a couple of batches, and it is lovely, much nicer than last years, maybe down to the weather!

[helena]

Just wondering whether my book has a misprint. It says use 8 LTRs boiling water yet yields 4.5 litres, I've left it to steep in the brewing bucket for 24 hours as per recipe but I have far more than 4.5 LTRs, am I doing something wrong? 

[redhotchick]

Hi Helena, I've googled a few Elderflower Champagne recipes.  The yield seems to correlate to the amount of liquid pretty much on a one to one ratio, so something does seem to be off with your quantities.