Recipes: Elderflower & lemon cordial

Elderflower & lemon cordial

Diluted with sparkling water, this makes a refreshing drink to enjoy throughout the summer, or use a dash neat in recipes like gooseberry fool

  • 1,8kg granulated sugar
  • 1,2l water
  • 20 clean and insect-free heads of elderflower
  • 2 lemons
  • 75g citric acid (available from the chemist)

    Method

    1. Dissolve sugar in water over a gentle heat, then bring to a simmer. Pour over the elderflower heads with the zest from the lemons - use a potato peeler to get nice wide strips. Slice the rest of the lemons and add to the syrup with citric acid. Stir well, cover and leave for 24 hours in a cool place to infuse. Strain through muslin and pour into sterilised bottles. Once open, refrigerate.