Easy Elderflower Cordial

This elderflower cordial is such a refreshing drink, all naturally made, with no boiling involved, and no citric acid added and it can be made fizzy by allowing it to naturally ferment. You can have it totally nonalcoholic or add some prosecco, gin, or vodka to get the party started but then, it will no longer be cordial. Haha!

Jump to:

• How to make elderflower cordial?
• What is a cordial drink?
• Healthy elderflower cordial version
• Why is elderflower good for you?
• Is elderflower the same as elderberry?
• How and when to get the elderflower?
• What are the benefits of elderflower?
• What does elderflower taste like?
• Serving Suggestions
• Tips:
• FAQs
• Easy Elderflower Cordial

In Romania, this is a traditional mid-spring drink known as 'socată'. I've recently learned that Japan has adopted this naturally fermented Romanian beverage and it is sold in cans (Fanta Socata).

It is ridiculous how much I can say about this elderflower juice as we used to call it when we were kids, about this beverage recipe, and about this beautiful white-yellowish edible flower called elderflower. I will keep it short and brief though.

It's a drink I did not appreciate as a kid although my mum would make it every late spring/ early summer and kept on saying drink it, it is good for you. I was having it to please my mum but I never really fully enjoyed it.

How to make elderflower cordial?

The elderflower cordial is so simple to make and it contains just three main ingredients:

• Sugar - use good quality cane sugar, honey, maple syrup, or a low-calorie sugar if desired such as stevia, sucralose, or any sweetener you may wish to use;
• Elderflower - nice and fresh blossomed heads, but can also be dried or frozen;
• Lemon - juice, slices, and rind can be used - lime or ginger also be added.

• To these ingredients you add water, mix it all together, and let it rest. Ta-da!!

I make this elderflower juice with either honey or brown cane sugar making it a little darker in color but also a touch of caramel taste, which I find very pleasant. If you prefer a light color, use caster sugar or acacia honey.

It is such a simple recipe to make.

Here are the three ingredients you will need to make this delicious and refreshing cordial drink.

What is a cordial drink?

Cordial, also known as squash, is a non-alcoholic concentrated syrup made from fruit, elderflower, or ginger. We use it to flavor our drinks and water. A little splash of cordial really helps make a boring old gym bottle of water more interesting and appealing. A great option for a picnic or a party gathering.

This elderflower cordial version is a lot simpler, it contains all-natural ingredients and it involves no boiling/distilling.

My version is almost a fusion between cordial, juice, and pop and it is ready to drink as it is, hence the lower sugar amount.

This is how my parents and grandparents used to make it and this is how I always make it too which might be a little different from the cordial drink you know. Definitely a healthier cordial option.

Healthy elderflower cordial version

A cordial drink is generally meant to have a high sugar concentration but my version is a far healthier one for six reasons:

• it's already diluted so it is low sugar, a ready-to-drink beverage;
• there's no citric acid but just natural lemon juice
• it is naturally fermented so it gets a natural fizz
• it also contains extra lemon juice (loads of Vitamin C) and it can also contain ginger
• my favorite version is the cordial I make with honey ( I add 2-3 tablespoons of honey for every 1 liter - 1.2 liter of water) as I do not like it super sweet.
• this version is one that naturally ferments the flowers - it's delicious!

Why is elderflower good for you?

They taste great, they look pretty, they are unique in taste, versatile and have many health benefits which I have enumerated (only a few) below.

Elderflowers can be utilized in many ways in our kitchens, just make the most of this natural wonder while it lasts or preserve some for later by drying or freezing them.

Is elderflower the same as elderberry?

Elderberries are of course the berries forming when the elderflower blossom ends. They are dark red and appear towards the end of the summer. The optimal time to harvest elderberries is when they are very dark in color almost black in appearance at first sight. When they are light or dark green these are raw and known to be toxic. Elderberries have many great health benefits such as strong anti-viral properties and they are packed with vitamins A and C.

How and when to get the elderflower?

I was walking to the gym through the park today ( May Day) and I could see one or two elderflower heads starting to blossom here and there so, yay!

Elderflowers only bloom for a short period of time so keep an eye out for them in late spring/early summer in Europe and I am pretty sure it is the case with most places where elderflower bush grows. Here are some elderflower harvesting tips:

• harvest them when the bush is about two-thirds covered;
• pick them in the morning when they are at their best vigor;
• lay them on paper in a warm dry place to dry upside down which will help some of the bugs to come out too;
• don’t harvest these from bushes that are located near roads, motorways or industrial sites - go to less polluted areas like huge parks or friends' houses located in a nice country-side 😉
• always ask of course before taking
• don’t over-harvest as you will have no elderberries later.

What are the benefits of elderflower?

Some key elderflower health benefits include:

• Helps sinuses (reduces and stops runny noses as it has anti-catarrhal properties)
• Healthy blood supply
• Supports with detoxifying pathways (constipation)
• Used for fever
• Helps with making skin look better
• It has anti-inflammatory properties

The list can go on, these are just a few benefits and properties of elderflower.

It might well be one reason why I rarely have a cold, who knows? I definitely do enjoy this elderflower cordial now and I am so glad my kids love it too.

What does elderflower taste like?

Delicious and sophisticated.

Elderflower has an amazing and very unique taste. It tastes green, fresh, fruity, slightly floral, and musky, with subtle pear, vanilla, lychee and some tropical notes.  Mmmm, nice, right?

Because of its unique flavor, this traditional Romanian drink also inspired the American giant Coca-Cola, which launched an elderflower juice of Fanta Shokata

Serving Suggestions

• serve on ice with a slice of sugar-glazed lemon
• add to a martini to make an elderflower martini
• add to gin to make an elderflower gin cocktail
• make an elderflower fizz mocktail
• make an elderflower cake with these flavourful edible flowers

Tips:

• add a dash of gin, Martini, vodka, or white wine if you want to turn this into an alcoholic drink, and add a few frozen grapes too instead of ice ( this is to avoid diluting it but getting the full cooling effect
• this beverage is truly versatile, make an elderflower gin cocktail (recipe to follow), martini, spritz, lemonade, tonic, juice, or even an elderflower tea.
• I sometimes add pineapple juice to sweeten it

FAQs

A few recipes where elderflower could be added :

• Ricotta Pancakes With Pineapple And Rum,
• No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe,
• Almond Flour Cake With Apricots, Coconut, And Mint,
• Semolina, Ricotta Cheese, And Coconut Cake,
• Pineapple And Mixed Berries Cake, or add to these Yogurt, Flaxseeds, And Chocolate Ice Cream Bars. The list can go on and on.
• Check this healthy Turmeric Ginger Lemon Shots recipe out