Charlottechicken Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Well, just noticed my elder in the garden is in flower, so I think I will have to go out picking elderflowers for champagne soon. Anyone else noticed the blooms? Seems earlier this year, I'm pretty sure it was almost July last year before I got brewing! Here is the recipe I use, for anyone new to it. It is from a thread posted by a forum member, Mrs Frugal, who doesn't get on here much anymore, but whose recipe I always found worked! Elderflower champagne recipe 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!! I use plastic bottles that have previously contained a fizzy drink (actually 1 litre tonic or soda water bottles as we don't drink much fizzy pop). I have tried to use cordial bottles but find that the lids are not so tight fitting. I have used glass bottles in the past, Schloer ones, which can withstand fizz. However, due to the fact that there is no give in glass, three years ago the lid blew off one and the whole contents of a bottle sprayed up the wall of the downstairs loo (where I keep my brewing bottles) in a fountain of foam I've been using this recipe since I joined the forum and love it. When you decant the mixture into bottles it is NOT fizzy. The pollen on the flowers contains a form of yeast and will hopefully create the fizz in the three weeks standing time. Another tip, don't wash the flowers, you need the pollen. Also, after time there will be sediment in the bottles, this is OK. I've actually just opened a bottle I made last year, and it was wonderfully fizzy and tasty. Anyone else on elderflower alert? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Our elderflower is coming out, I usually make cordial from the berries later in the year but think I might have to give this a go. Thanks for posting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Every year I see the elderdlowers and think "I must make some elderflower cordial or champagne". And every year, bu the time I "get round to it", I've missed it. I'm going to do it this year. Thank you for the promp, and the recipe. 4 elderflower heads doesn't seem like a lot of elderflowers to me? And when it says "flowers snipped from the stems", does it mean no stems at all, not even the little ones that lead to the flowers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Have actually bought my citric acid this year I want to make cordial instead of the fizz, which I have made and is beautiful, but the fear of exploding bottles (even thought I used plastic, they still swelled up massively) and having to remember to open the lid ever so often to prevent this from happening. And I think putting a bit of the cordial into fizz will be just as lovely, and will last much longer Must pick some when out dog walking later as there is masses of the stuff along it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 4 elderflower heads doesn't seem like a lot of elderflowers to me? And when it says "flowers snipped from the stems", does it mean no stems at all, not even the little ones that lead to the flowers? I think the recipe refers to those dinner plate sized heads you get on some bushes (well, more like about 8 inches across) If I find any of those full of pollen then I will use four, but generally I end up with 12 much smaller heads, which seem to be the more common size round here. If they are full of pollen then they should work. It doesn't hurt to put an extra one in for luck I just snip the main stems off, right above where the flowers start, in one go, no faffing. Seems to work OK, never had any odd tastes! HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 4 elderflower heads doesn't seem like a lot of elderflowers to me? And when it says "flowers snipped from the stems", does it mean no stems at all, not even the little ones that lead to the flowers? I think the recipe refers to those dinner plate sized heads you get on some bushes (well, more like about 8 inches across) If I find any of those full of pollen then I will use four, but generally I end up with 12 much smaller heads, which seem to be the more common size round here. If they are full of pollen then they should work. It doesn't hurt to put an extra one in for luck I just snip the main stems off, right above where the flowers start, in one go, no faffing. Seems to work OK, never had any odd tastes! HTH OK, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Mine had mould last yr and tasted and I had put bottles thro dishwasher. Not sure I can be bothered but kids often ask when are u making that fizzy stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Does the water have to be hot to dissolve the sugar, or is this all a cold mix? No starter or citric acid need to get it to fizz? It all sounds very easy - apart from avoiding exploding bottles ! My elder currently has only one head of open flowers, the rest are still green pin-heads, but I'm sure they'll be out soon and I'd love to give this a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share Posted June 9, 2014 I use cold water, it soon dissolves. Just checked mine and it is starting to fizz in the bottles, thank goodness! I've been checking it every day since decanting the first lot last Tuesday, and this is the first time there's actually anything happening, woohoo! Picked more flowers yesterday morning and will decant that into bottles tomorrow afternoon. I've still got one of last years bottles left. Drank one the other day too and it is beautifully fizzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I now feel I am depriving the boys of something they enjoy - so will make some this weekend - I blame you lot for this - Omlet efect strikes again!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 I take it this is alcoholic? May try it as I pass an Elder tree on my way to work on my cycle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 15, 2014 Author Share Posted June 15, 2014 I believe it is alcoholic, I think I've read it's no more than 2.5%. Second batch done now and fizzing well. I've got 20 litres on the go so plenty of bottles to check every day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 My elder is now in full flower, so I'm going to give this and cordial a go. Have just discovered you can freeze elderflowers, so if the flowers start to go over quicker than I can use them, I can pop some in the freezer for later. I'll make sure I leave the tree plenty for next year (there's lots I won't be able to reach) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I assumed when freezing the cordial, it would be frozen solid. But it doesn't! So I have decanted all mine into plastic bottles and keeping it in there. Nice and cold added to soda water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 A quick question - how long do you leave this to fizz before drinking it? Mine is now fizzing, but I don't want to go for it too soon if I should be leaving it a while. Made cordial as well as the fizz and that is lovely . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I seem to remember drinking mine for my brother and sisters birthday which is 1st July. I made it towards to later half of the flowering season, so probably younger than yours is now. I would say try a bottle, if you have a spare one, just for quality control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Mine's only about four weeks old, as my elder came into flower later. I have had a bit of a slurp, just to see how it was going on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
