What To Do With Elderflowers How To Use Elderflowers From The Garden

You can make elderflowers into cordial and syrup, and then use those products to make a range of drinks and foods. They can also be used to flavor wine and beer or to make tea.

What can I do with fresh Elderflowers?
Can you freeze elderflower flowers?
How do you process elderflower?
Should I wash Elderflowers?
What is the best time of day to pick Elderflowers?
Is it legal to pick Elderflowers?
What part of the elderberry is poisonous?
Are elderflower stems poisonous?
Can you use frozen Elderflowers to make Champagne?
Can I preserve Elderflowers?
How long do Elderflowers last?

What can I do with fresh Elderflowers?

Elderflower is delicious mixed into cakes, tarts, trifles and jams. It pairs particularly well with tart fruits such as rhubarb and gooseberries.

Can you freeze elderflower flowers?

Look for elderflower heads from about the end of May. They can be frozen if liked: freeze about 25 heads in a bag and add to the hot sugar syrup straight from the freezer - this will stop them turning brown once defrosted.

How do you process elderflower?

Remove flowers from most of stems (especially the large ones), wash by quickly submerging in cold water, and drain. Place the flower heads in a large bowl together with the lemon zest. Bring water to the boil and pour over the elderflowers and citrus zest. Cover and leave overnight to infuse.

Should I wash Elderflowers?

The pollen in the tiny elderflower blossoms is what makes the cordial so delicious and fragrant, which is why you don't want to lose any of it. ... Do not wash the elderflowers before doing this!

What is the best time of day to pick Elderflowers?

Elderflowers are ready around late May to mid-June. They're best picked when the buds are freshly open on a warm, dry, sunny day, well away from traffic fumes.

Is it legal to pick Elderflowers?

– Never pick protected species or cause permanent damage. Britain's wild plants are all protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), which makes it illegal to dig up or remove a plant.

What part of the elderberry is poisonous?

The seeds, stems, leaves and roots of the Black Elder are all poisonous to humans. They contain a cyanide-inducing glycoside. Eating a sufficient quantity of these cyanide-inducing glycosides can cause a toxic buildup of cyanide in the body and make you quite ill.

Are elderflower stems poisonous?

Elderberry roots, stems, and seeds are poisonous. Eating them builds up cyanide levels in our system. However, it is fairly easy to circumnavigate these dangers. ... This is the time of the elderflower.

Can you use frozen Elderflowers to make Champagne?

You can also freeze Elderflowers in ice cubes to cool your favourite tipple! Champagne (or “Fizz” if you bow to EU “protected designation of origin” rules!). The Champagne is very simple to make and only needs 4 heads of the flowers for a gallon of drink.

Can I preserve Elderflowers?

Storing Elderflowers

You can use the blooms fresh or preserve them for later use. To save them, hang the umbels upside down or lay them on a screen for several days until they are dry. The flowers should retain much of their creamy color. ... Store dried flowers in paper bags in a cool, dry location.

How long do Elderflowers last?

After 24 hours, pour the liquid through a sieve to remove the detritus, then pour through a funnel into reused screw-topped plastic bottles. Don't use glass bottles because as the pressure of the fermenting fizz increases, they can explode! Leave the bottles for at least two weeks.