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just before the thunderstorm came.. batch of elderflower champagne on the go!

last year i'm convinced i saw LOADS around here. now this year, haven't spotted any. i swear i must've imagined all the elderflowers i saw last year...(and stupidly didn't pick as i wasn't really living anywhere)

should be out here in a week or two then - cordial is more my line

Oooh I must go and check my trees! I'm going to make cordial this year too, never have done before!

Ours aren't ready either yet .. its been a tad colder this year than last.... I got a Black Elder and it just coming into flower

Elderflowers? I think they'll be a few weeks yet...

we only found 4 heads.. most are not out yet. but 4 is enough to make a batch of champagne

I made cordial last year too.. and it was great. plan to make lots this year

Yeah, looking forward to making some elderflower cordial here too. Although just realised that all my bottles are in use with various other concoctions... (rhubarb schnapps & quince vodka mostly) We have moved from East Anglia to the Midlands and I have no idea when to expect the elderflowers round here - haven't seen anything yet. Also not sure where the best places are - I had my patches all worked out in Cambridge.

I made elderflower champagne once & it REALLY didn't work. Anyone have a foolproof method that they can vouch for? Would like to have another go when the flowers finally appear.

I've been making this onefor years. Its not boozy tho.. its about as alcoholic as bread.. we treat it as a soft drink.

red wrote:I've been making this onefor years. Its not boozy tho.. its about as alcoholic as bread.. we treat it as a soft drink.

Ahhh thanks! That sounds very do-able & delicious. I am sure that we can stick a bit of gin in it if it isn't alcoholic enough...

I have a couple of flower heads just coming into flower. I'm also a bit worried about how big my bush/tree has got - and I hacked it back a lot in winter! but it's now grown out over the stream is is swamping a tree on next door's side.... I don't think it was even there when we bought the house less than 4 years ago!

I can't wait for the elderflower to come out. I've been scanning the trees on my various regular beats but haven't seen anything yet. We're about to walk into town (don't do it very often as we do the unforgivable live in one place and work and send kids to school somewhere else, long story to do with renting!) so I have a bag at the ready just in case!

Here's something you can be doing while you wait:

Elder bud pickle -
Collect enough elder buds to fill a small le parfait or kilner jar. Snip them off their stems down to small 'florets' and wash thoroughly. Put into a saucepan with 1 tp Mace, 1 tsp peppercorns, 1 tsp seasalt and the pared and shredded rind of a lemon try to avoid the bitter pith. Top up with the vinegar of your choice (which you will have already measured off into the jar you're using to have roughly the right amount), white wine or cider, or even malt vinegar if you like the taste (personally I find it's bit strong and raw for me).

Bring to a swift boil, and take immediately from the heat. Strain off the liquid and allow it and the buds to cool separately (doing this stops the liquid from overcooking the buds). Put the buds into your sterilized jar (don't use one with a metal lid - Le Parfait or Kilner with a rubber seal is best). Pour over the vinegar liquid - add or remove any of the spices as you prefer, and seal securely. Leave for a month or so to mature and develop the flavour.

This is a bit like pickled capers or nasturtium seeds, and would prob go equally well with fishy dishes, but I like it as salad pickle variant in a ploughmans. If the buds aren't overcooked, they should still have a crunchy texture. I don't tend make this in large amounts because I'm the only picklehead in our house. My version of the recipe has been tweaked with the addition of garlic and chilli - possibly not to everyones taste - but you can be bold and experiment!

Elder flower pickle - (haven't got round to trying this one yet - if you do, could you report back please!?)
Gather enough flowerheads to fill a smallish jar (as above). Shake them lightly to remove unwanted guests, give them a light rinse, and snip down to smallish florets. Fill your jar. Boil some white wine or cider vinegar and pour over the flowers in the jar. Pop the lid on loosely and leave for an hour to cool, then strain off the vinegar and use the florets in a tossed salad. Keep the vinegar for another occasion.

I'm getting seriously worried about all of you elder fans. I'm an avid lover of elderberry wine, and you lot are going to nick everything early

Ahhhh... You're safe there. I'm too far away to threaten your foraging haunts.

I do have recipes for lots of other things you can do with elderberries though.