HOME REMEDY: Elderflowers

Last year I thought mid-June was late to make elderflower cordial, but this year, after our cold spring, they are even later, so depending on where you live you might be lucky. This year I’ll be making elderflower champagne, to add some sparkle to summer. It’s pretty much the same as making cordial, with the addition of vinegar and you leave the mixture to ferment and bubble, relying on the natural yeast in the flowers – or if it’s not bubbling, add brewer’s yeast. Fermentation turns the sugar into alcohol, but watch out – the bottles can explode.

Another celebratory use for elderflowers is as confetti at summer weddings – the elderflower is said to bring luck and fertility, so scatter them freely then toast the happy couple with elderflower bubbly.

And yes, there are health benefits in elderflowers: they can help with summer colds, but rather than champagne for this, make a tea or go to my website for a cordial recipe. Andy Hamilton’s book: Booze For Free (Eden Project Books, £9.99), is excellent for his champagne and plant-based drink recipes.
Sof McVeigh: www.thehomemadecompany.com