20+ Elderflower Recipes: cordial, liqueur, tea, jelly, cake + more! (2024)

FAQs

Is drinking elderflower cordial healthy? ›

Elderflower has antibacterial and antiviral properties and may also help alleviate some allergies and boost the functioning of the immune system. Topically, elderflower might help reduce pain and swelling in joints due to some forms of arthritis and is used to stop bleeding.

Elderflower has a woodsy and floral taste, and their sweetness comes out when elderflower is cooked. Photo courtesy of Shadi via Unsplash. Compared to elderflower, elderberry has a more intense taste: woodsy and floral, with a dark flavor that can be bitter and earthy when the fruit is consumed raw.

Contrary to the name, elderflower cordial does not contain alcohol. If the preparation has alcohol in it, it is typically referred to as an Elderflower Liqueur, like. St. Germain.

Elderflower cordial is fun to make if you have easy access to elderflower trees and the flowers which arrive in the early summer. The cordial will keep for 2-3 months in the fridge.

Elderflower is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in excessive amounts. Some parts of the elderflower plant contain a cyanide-producing chemical which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cooking removes this chemical. Not enough is known about the safety of applying elderflower directly to the skin.

Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Diabetes: There is a concern that elderflower might lower blood sugar levels. If taken with diabetes medications, it might make blood sugar levels go too low. If you have diabetes and use elderflower, be sure to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully.

This quarantees the easy mixability with sparkling wine/Champagne, or enjoyed chilled by itself!

St‑Germain is a French liqueur made with fresh elderflowers, hand-picked once a year in the late spring. To accomplish its exquisitely natural flavor, every bottle of St‑Germain contains up to 1,000 of the very best elderflower blossoms, resulting in a finely crafted, perfectly balanced and refined liqueur.

Elderflower liqueur is “very approachable and has a very distinctive flavor, very floral, honeysuckle,” says Harry Kaufman, founder of co*cktail Legion, which offers specialized tasting classes, events, and bartending boxes for the home mixologist.

As with all things Elderflower, I advise removing the thick stems from the flowers and as many of the little stems as you can be bothered to remove. The more stem left in whatever you're making, the greener the final result will be. And the greener it is, the more bitter it may become.

What does elderflower liqueur go well with? ›

Elderflower liqueurs are delicately flavoured, aromatic and floral; they mix brilliantly with pretty much every spirit, both white and brown, even combining well with the strong flavours of mezcal, peated whisky and pisco. Elderflower tends to mix better with light-coloured fruits such as pear, apple and white grapes.

Why use citric acid in elderflower cordial? The addition of citric acid simply prevents the cordial from fermenting and acts as a preservative. You can buy citric acid for cordial online in a number of sizes depending on how you choose to use this versatile product.

For those suffering with constipation, elderflower can help relieve the symptoms due to its diuretic and laxative properties.

If you are worried that your elderflower cordial has blown up or started to overfizz it is because it has started to ferment. I remember making some elderflower cordial once, bottling it and leaving it out of the fridge. A friend opened it and got covered in half fermenting elderflower wine.

Elderflowers have been known to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, good for helping to relieve symptoms of colds and flu, sinus infections and respiratory disturbances. This cordial is packed full of Vitamin C which helps boost the immune system.

You should be careful how much fruit juice, cordial and soft drinks you drink. They can make you put on weight and damage your teeth.

Elderberry is naturally high in vitamin C, the body's most abundant antioxidant, which not only helps reduce the risk of chronic disease, but may also be good for those with high blood pressure, and prevent iron deficiency anaemia.

Add a dash of cordial to your water A small amount of cordial in your water is a healthier alternative to drinking a sugar-sweetened soft drink or fruit juice. Diet cordials have less added sugar again.

Drinks such as elderflower, dandelion and nettle can cause over activity. Green tea can cause over activity as caffeine present and acts as a diuretic. TOMATOES – They are a citrus fruit which can irritate the bladder and can worsen with people who suffer with an overactive bladder.