Ygerna Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I've copied Kates recipe here (I hope you don't mind Kate). Can I check? Does the Champagne really only use 4 large Elderflower heads? I have an elder tree in my Garden Elderflower Champagne 675g caster sugar 4.5 litres water 2 tbsp white wine vinegar finely pared rind and strained juice 1 lemon 4 large elderflower heads, flowers snipped from stems Pour the caster sugar into a large bowl or pan and add the water. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the vinegar, lemon rind, juice and elderflowers. Cover and leave to stand for 48 hours. Strain through scalded muslin or a jelly bag and pour into clean screw top PLASTIC bottles and leave to stand for 3 weeks by which time it will have become wonderfully fizzy. Chill before serving. PLEASE DON'T USE GLASS BOTTLES AS IT CAN BECOME QUITE EXPLOSIVE!! Elderflower Cordial 1kg caster sugar 850ml boiling water 45g citric acid 15 large elderflower heads, flowers snipped from stems 2 lemons, sliced Put the caster sugar into a large bowl and add the boiling water. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the citric acid and add the elderflowers and sliced lemons. Cover the bowl and leave to stand for 5 days, stirring daily. Put a sieve, lined with a piece of double thickness muslin into a large bowl and scald with boiling water and leave to drain. Strain the cordial through the muslin lined sieve into the bowl then pour into clean bottles. Store in the fridge where it will keep for up to a year. Serve diluted with either chilled still or sparkling water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Hi Ygerna, Yes, just 4 large umbels (the flower heads) are needed for champagne. I always get muddled up and go home with 4 and expect to make cordial so have to dash out again for more . If you can only get small flower heads, just add a few more. It doesn't need to be terribly precise. Lucky you having a tree in your garden! LSH pulls out elder seedlings everytime he finds one in our garden so I have to go hedgerow raiding instead. Enjoy the champagne! It is a really lovely, refreshing summer drink . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I don't even know what an elder tree or elderflowers look like & where I'd find them. Can someone show a picture & point me in the right direction? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 An elder flower umbel, not far off opening. Mine was hacked to bits by someone who thought they were being helpful. It's just about recovering, maybe someone else will be able to post a far off picture of a full grown elder, to give you an idea of size and shape. It is a large tree/shrub. This is a Cut Leaf Black Elder. This is pink and the leaves are the wrong shape, but it gives an idea of what the flower looks like. My chickens and Eglu in the background! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share Posted May 28, 2009 Lots of photos ... http://images.google.com/images?q=Elderflowers+photo&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=oQQfSoCLOsagjAeMr422DQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted May 29, 2009 Author Share Posted May 29, 2009 I will have to make my Champagne next week: can't find the citric acid. I've made ginger beer instead (used this recipe http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/drinks/old-fashioned-ginger-beer-recipe_p_1.html). Read a top tip on which elderflowers to use. When you pick them, try to get them from the side facing the sun, and sniff them. They should smell fragrantly sweet. If they smell mildly of cat pee, dont use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 I got my citric acid on ebay & it came the next day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 I get my citric acid from a local independently run health food shop who sell it by the bag. I always have loads in as I make lemonade every week too which needs it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 Could you post the lemonade recipie???pleeeese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted May 29, 2009 Author Share Posted May 29, 2009 Could you post the lemonade recipie???pleeeese WSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 I've bumped this topic for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 I have started my cordial today. The utility room smells lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 We made the old fashioned lemonade ysterday with the addition of some cranberries to make it into 'pink' lemonade. Its lovley. Thankyou Kate for the recipie. I had to mail order my citric acid as none of our chemists have it and our Wilkinsons had run out. Hopefully it will arrive today. I have got 3 bags of elderflower heads in the freezer. Found a few bushes on the field round the corner and keep going and having a pick. Justine (Poet) gave me a bottle of her elderflower cordial last year and it was really, really good Cant wait to make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Any uses for the berries anyone? I once made a chtney or jam it wasnt that good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) Any uses for the berries anyone? I once made a chtney or jam it wasnt that good My Pop used to make Elderflower wine, Edit to say that this should read : My Pop used to make ElderBERRY wine Edited June 5, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I make elderberry jelly or mix it with blackberries to make a bramble type jam. Started my second batch of cordial yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I make a super Hedgerow jelly with Elderberries - its just divine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Thank you Sarah, Hedgerow was the word I was looking for! Bramble jam is apples and blackberries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I must start mine soon!! Last year my mum made bottles and bottles of the stuff and it lasted us nearly the whole year! Wanting to do hampers as christmas presents this year but want everything in them to be home made, i may add cordial to the list of goodies if we make that much this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Any uses for the berries anyone? I once made a chtney or jam it wasnt that good Last year I used the berries for the first time. I've got a couple of demijohns with Elderberry wine, made a few jars of Elderberry Jam and jelly and then froze a few tubs and use them occasionally and make an apple and elderberry crumble. Nicola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Wanting to do hampers as christmas presents this year but want everything in them to be home made, i may add cordial to the list of goodies if we make that much this year. I added Elderflower cordial to my hampers and it went down well MH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Yesterday i found a bottle of elderberry gin (an experiment) dated .... wait for it 1994 It has survived 3 house moves It smelt dodgey so tipped it down drain as it will kill any spiders either that or give em a hangover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Got my cordial in brewing away. Made a batch x6 of the posted recipie and have got some umbells in the freezer for later use. Champane next I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 I've made cordial and champagne today. Slightly worried about Poet's post about her Champagne going mouldy, hopefully someone can explain why its happened. Quick question-where do you store the cordial and champagne for the 5 days/48hours that they need to be stored for? Also when they are both bottled do they both need to be kept in the fridge? Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Good questions. I wondered that. I have my cordial in a brewing bucket, covered with cling film then with my jam pan lid on top. Is that really all that goes into the champagne? It dosent seem like there is much in it to the quantity of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
