Wild Elderflower Cordial

Wild elderflower cordial is a spring foraging classic, one of my first go-to recipes when the elderflowers start to appear in the hedgerows in May. But this cordial isn’t just for drinking with sparkling water; it’s endlessly versatile. You can use it to make cakes, ice cream, cocktails, and more. That said, it’s worth making at least a couple litres of the stuff to store for months to come. There are plenty of elderflower cordial recipes out there, but this is the one that I prefer, adapted from River Cottage’s “Pam the Jam”. The recipe includes both orange and lemon in the infusion, making for a complex cordial with layers of fresh flavour!  

When to make elderflower cordial? 

Wild elderflowers are prolific from around late-may to mid-June. They are best when the buds are freshly open, picked on a dry day away from traffic fumes. 

How long does wild elderflower cordial last? 

I use citric acid in my cordial to aid in preservation. With citric acid, the cordial will last for 3-4 months in the fridge. Without citric acid, it will last 3-4 weeks in the fridge. You can always freeze elderflower cordial in smaller plastic bottles for longer term storage. 

You might also like my elderflower cordial cocktail recipe (mocktail suggestion included!).

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Wild Elderflower Cordial

Makes about 2 litres

Ingredients

• About 25 elderflower heads
• Zest and juice of 3 lemons and 1 orange
• 1 kg sugar* see note below
• 1 heaped tsp citric acid optional

Instructions

• Place the flower heads in a large bowl together with the orange and lemon zest.
• Bring 1.5 litres water to the boil and pour over the elderflowers and citrus zest. Cover and leave overnight to infuse.
• Strain the liquid through a muslin and pour into a saucepan. Add the sugar, the lemon and orange juice and the citric acid.
• Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to a simmer and cook for a couple of minutes.
• Use a funnel to pour the hot syrup into bottles. Leave to cool then store in the refrigerator.

Notes

With citric acid, the wild elderflower cordial will last for 3-4 months in the fridge. Without citric acid, it will last 3-4 weeks in the fridge.

* For a seriously golden cordial, use unrefined golden caster sugar.