Elderflowers are an indispensable ingredient in many natural remedy toolkits for cold and flu support, allergy relief, skincare benefits and much more. Not to mention they make for an elegant and refreshing beverage!
This St. Germain cocktail is easy and perfect for brunch or celebrations, served in champagne flutes as an enjoyable alternative to mimosas and bellinis.
How to Make Elderflower Cordial
Elderflowers (Sambucus nigra) can be found growing on hedgerow trees in temperate regions worldwide. These delicate, fragrant blooms boast a light floral flavor that lends itself perfectly to many culinary recipes – one such recipe we particularly enjoy using elderflowers for is making simple syrup that pairs wonderfully with sparkling water and cocktails alike! You can quickly and easily produce this simple syrup at home using either direct infusion or cold steeping techniques.
Starting the cordial making process involves finding and harvesting healthy elderberry plants in your garden or gathering their flower heads from a healthy and well-groomed bush, being mindful not to harvest on a day with no rain or wind and carefully selecting edible flowers; only their small white flowers with yellowish-green stems should be eaten, though leaves of the plant aren’t. It is also important to differentiate these blossoms from Sambucus racemosa trees as its blossoms have strong pine needle aroma and have more similarities to spruce trees than elderflower flowers do.
Once you’ve collected your flowers, wash them under clean running water to rid yourself of dirt or bugs and quickly transfer them into a jar, pressing out any excess liquid as this will help release more of their delicious nectar. Doing this immediately helps your flowers release even more liquid which would otherwise remain trapped within their petals; don’t miss out on enjoying all their flavorful juice!
Next, prepare the ingredients for infusion. This can be accomplished by heating together sugar and water in a saucepan until all of the sugar has completely dissolved, then pour it over the elderflowers in your jar until room-temperature. Finally, add lemon slices for enhanced flavors as well as to prevent browning of petals – funnel into clean bottles for storage in the fridge for 3-4 months.
Use this syrup like any flavored syrup: in drinks, baking and cooking applications and to create homemade sodas. Mix it with sparkling water or spirits for an invigorating beverage or cocktail; drizzle it over pancakes or ice cream as an alternative to plain vinegar in salad dressings and marinate meats with it – or even use its antiseptic properties as medicine in helping relieve symptoms associated with colds and flus.
Elderflower Saft
Elderflowers infused in alcohol produce an exquisite floral liqueur. Ideal for pairing with spirits such as gin, champagne and vodka as well as serving as a refreshing, non-alcoholic summer refresher drink, this floral delight pairs beautifully.
Elderflowers (Sambucus nigra) make for an irresistibly delicious beverage and are an effective natural remedy that can alleviate symptoms associated with colds, allergies and sinus infections. Containing anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants which provide relief to sore throats, coughs and runny noses as well as tannins with astringent properties to dry up runny noses quickly while simultaneously decreasing irritation caused by “red nose syndrome.” Elderflower syrup is also an effective treatment against sinus congestion which helps relieve blocked, sneezy feeling that we all experience.
If you prefer not foraging elderflowers yourself, they can easily be purchased at most supermarkets and liquor stores. For the best results, look for fresh blossoms with deep blue-purple hues free from brown spots – harvesting window is usually from late spring through early summer; once open or brown flowers have lost their aroma and flavor. Elderflower foraging can be enjoyed as an activity by all members of your family; kids love it!
Homemade elderflower syrup makes an irresistibly refreshing iced tea! The floral flavor will soothe away heat on a scorching summer’s day. Make sure to use only filtered water when making tea as unfiltered tap water could contain chlorine or heavy metals which may taint its taste.
Elderflower saft has long been used in cocktails, making use of its delicate fruity taste to complement many ingredients such as gin, vodka, champagne, whiskey and rum. It even works great as a mixer with bitters such as Angostura and Absinthe for an unparalleled botanical highball experience! Popular examples include Cherub’s Cup with Strawberry-St. Germain Vodka and Muddled Basil; Pot of Gold uses cucumber, mint and either lemonade or club soda for an incredible botanical highball experience; Cherub’s Cup cocktail made use of strawberry-St Germain Vodka combined with Strawberry St. Germain Voda to make one delicious cocktail experience; Pot of Gold uses cucumber mint as ingredients combined with either lemonade or club soda for an unforgettable botanical highball highball experience!
Elderflower Syrup
One bottle of elderflower cordial can cost $25 at your local natural foods store, but you can make your own at a fraction of that cost by making simple syrup at home. Useful in sweetening iced tea, cocktails and other beverages, this syrup may also soothe irritated eyes by soaking cotton pads in it and applying them over your closed eyes for soothing relief – especially during pollen-heavy spring and summer seasons!
Elderflower’s refreshing citrus notes pair perfectly with beverages made with brewed grains, making them the ideal addition to an icy cold tea beverage. Elderflower can also be included as part of fruity cocktails for an unexpected twist in flavor or even made into an iconic liqueur!
Elderflowers have long been revered for their health benefits and used in country folk remedies for centuries. Packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support immune function and inflammation reduction while simultaneously encouraging metabolism healthy metabolism, elderflowers also contain antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties to ward off infections and infection.
Elderflowers have long been thought of as protectors against bad weather, often appearing before storms. Elderflowers are also a staple in herbal medicine and their flowers can be used in various remedies; sipping on hot tea infused with elderflower can soothe sore throats while helping ease cold symptoms like coughing and congestion, soothing tired, irritated eyes or even helping relieve migraine symptoms.
Make homemade elderflower tea easily by steeping one tablespoon of dried or fresh elderflowers in boiling water for 10 minutes, strain the flowers and enjoy! If desired, sweeten with honey or lemon juice for extra flavor if desired, while increasing the amount of flower to create a stronger and more potent brew.
Elderflower Liqueur
Elderflowers have long been an integral component of natural remedies, from cold and flu support, allergies and rashes, stress relief and immune boosting to skincare benefits and honey-like flavor, used in syrups, cordials and liqueurs – even pairing perfectly with dark berries and citrus fruits to create seasonal cocktails like this one! Now is an opportune time for making these an integral part of our natural remedy toolkits.
Prosecco adds a refreshing fizz, while lemon and rosemary temper its sweetness with their tart tanginess. To prepare, muddle some fresh strawberries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker with one ounce each of creme de violette and lavender simple syrup before adding two ounces of Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum, 3/4 oz elderflower liqueur, ice and shaking until double-strained into chilled glass before garnishing with strawberry slices for visual appeal.
Make your own elderflower cordial for an authentic yet low-alcohol experience: infuse flowers for several hours in water before straining and mixing equal parts sugar to form a concentrated syrup that can serve as an alternative to soda or as an ingredient for drinks.
Elderflower’s delicate floral fragrance pairs beautifully with other flowers and flavors, such as heather. Try mixing elderflower into your next gin-based cocktail or light blended Scotch that features floral aromas like heather. At bars, one popular Elderflower cocktail that incorporates this ingredient is Cousin Rosemary which includes elderflower vodka grapefruit with an additional rosemary sprig for extra herbal complexity.
Kaufman recommends starting out small when using elderflower, such as 1/4 to 1 teaspoon to test how well its flavors combine with your ingredients. Add it to light gin or tequila; create spritz with tonic water; use in sparkling wine like pinot gris; or combine with lemon and cucumber to create refreshing cocktails!
