Elderflower Cordial - Sciroppo di Fiori di Sambuco

On the wonderful island, Lido di Venezia, there are hundreds of wild Elderflower Trees, and no one knows what to do with the flower or the berries. So, I get on my bicycle and collect the flowers, every now and then some, curious older person will ask me what I going to do with the flowers, and tell them... they think I am mad. Their loss!

You will need:

6–10 Elderberry Flowers

1 lemon-try to get an unwaxed lemon

1 and a half tablespoons of white wine Vinegar

3 litres of Water

500 gms of Caster Sugar

Firstly, place 500 ml of water into a small pot and bring to a simmer, add the sugar and stir until all is dissolved. Allow to cool to room temperature.
Wash the lemon, use a peeler and peel away the zest of the lemon, try not to get the pith ( the white stuff under the peel) as it is bitter.

In a large pot or a glass bowl, I place the elderberry flowers, the vinegar, the lemon peel, the juice of the lemon, 2.5 litres of water and the sugar water. 

Stir to combine all these amazing flavours and then cover with a lid or with cling film. Allow to rest for about 4 days, however, during each of those 4 days, I like to stir the ingredients each morning.

Once the 4 days are up, get yourself a few sterilised bottles or jars with SCREW TOP LIDS... and sieve the elderflower liquid through a piece of muslin to catch all those little bits and pieces.

Now, place elderflower liquid in a cool place in your home. Sometimes, as the liquid starts to ferment, and bubbles begin to form, the lid will start to push out.

After about 2-3 weeks, chill the bottles. Now we are ready to enjoy a fabulous spring aperitif... fill a wine glass with some sparking white wine (Prosecco) and add the Elderflower Cordial or make yourself a classic Gin and Tonic and add a splash of Elderflower Cordial or add a splash to some tonic water with lots of ice and some lemon peels. 

Delicious!