Andaspain’s Organic Recipe

While walking the Camino de Santiago you may find elderflower scattered all along the trail. This plant has been utilised in traditional medicine with many benefits, as well as flavouring food and drinks. We enjoy making our own organic Elderflower Cordial. It is easy and sweetens up any beverage!

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 litres water
  • 500g sugar
  • 20 heads of elderflowers, picked on a dry morning so the flowers are not wet
  • 2 organic lemons – juice and zest
  • 20g citric acid – or you can use a splash of vinegar
Elderflower cordial

Method:

1. Boil water in a large pot, slowly add the sugar and dissolve.
2. Add the lemon juice and zest, as well as the citric acid. Stir gently. Remove from heat.
3. Carefully remove flowers from heads by pulling gently, using a fork.
4. Add the flowers to the pot.
Cover with a tea towel and leave for 24 hours.
5. Strain your cordial syrup through a clean cloth into your bottle.
6. Enjoy by adding to cold water with a slice of lemon or spring of fresh mint.  Or, if you like, jazz up your Gin and Tonic with a splash!
*While elderflower is typically found to be safe for consumption, the leaves, twigs, and roots are toxic and can lead to the build up of poisonous cyanide in the body.