Elder flowers syrup and delights
- Fanny - Nature Spells
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
I keep getting back at this recipe every year! It has to be my number one spring treat (and I make it last through summer and more if I'm not too much of a gourmand!).
It's very easy to make and I'm giving you all my tips for a successful batch of... elder flowers syrup! (and recipes to use it into)
Ingredients
10-12 elder flowers umbels
2 organic lemons
500 g (17 oz) of sugar
1 l (35 fl oz) of water
Tools
a basket or large bag to put your flowers into
something to put the water to a boil (device and adapted container)
something to cover your container afterwards (not necessarily hermetically)
a strong glass bottle with a hermetical closing system (lemonade glass bottles for example) for more than 1 l (35 fl oz) of liquid (2 bottles or a big one)
Elder flowers syrup in the making!
Instructions (tips below)
Clean your flowers and cut out the biggest stems
Bring your water to a boil
Cut the lemons in chunky slices
Out of the fire, put everything together and let sit for 2 days (not in the fridge so it macerates)
Take the flowers and lemons out, filter
Bring to a boil and add the sugar
Let a few minutes on the fire so the sugar completly dissolves
Transfer into your lovely glass bottle, let it cool and keep in the fridge for months!
Recognizing elder plants
it's a bush that can be several meters tall and their stems are wooden (not green)
the leaves are made of 5 leaflets
the flowers are tiny 5 petals white stars and are held in big bouquets called umbels
they smell divine! I can usually smell elders before I actually see them! (when they're in bloom of course)
you can look it up on the Internet to get more pictures (latin name: Sambucus nigra) and some websites will show you how to make the difference with the plants that look a bit alike in your area
Harvesting tips
elder plants are usually found in fresh places like deep valleys or close to streams, on rather sunny spots
they bloom in the spring, around april to july (depending on where you live and subject to change every year!)
they can also be found on the side of the road but I don't recommend harvesting anything there as it will be polluted (it helps for knowing when they are in bloom and organize your harvesting stroll though!)
make sure you're looking at elder plants! (see above section)
pick the flowers that are accessible (they are sometimes difficult to reach in slopes, surrounded by bramble, nettle...) but high enough so no animal (biped or other!) had a chance to pee on them
before cutting the stems (your fingers can totally do the trick), try and gently shake the stem so you don't pick an old umbel where all the flowers are going to fall right off; don't pick the ones with just buds that haven't opened yet either
place your flowers in a basket or a wide bag so they don't get smashed
An elder bush
Preparation tips
to clean your flowers, gently remove any insect or impurity you can see ; you can put them under fresh water but it will damage the pistils carrying all the flavor a bit
you can try to really keep only the tiny flowers using a fork like a comb but I find the smallest stems don't mess up the taste (the biggest ones do so do get rid of them)
when adding lemons, flowers and boiling water together, I press everything with a fork to get the water to cover everything
if you don't have a pet or child that might throw everything away, you can simply place a clean towel on your container. If you have to hermetically close your container during the 2 days of maceration, come and open it several times a day to prevent explosions
I like to stir and press everything with a fork once or twice a day during those 2 days
I do it again right before I take the lemon slices and flowers out to keep all the juice and flavors
when you can see the bottom of your pan clearly again, it means the sugar has completly disolved and your syrup is ready!
I've tried using brown sugar as I to stay away from refined sugar now but it kept separating from the liquid afterwards so it wasn't going to preserve well (I shook it and made ice cubes with this batch in the freezer, I hate waste!)
Conservation and hygiene tips
use only clean containers, filters, silverware...
sterilize your final bottle by pouring boiled water inside before you use it
always store your homemade syrups in the fridge, otherwise they will macerate and explode (been there!)
Syrup use
you can simply add water with ice in the hot days, I garantee unbelievable slighlty floral freshness!
you can also add fresh sparkling water or lemonade (a bit too sugary to my taste!) for floral acid bubbles
My favorite cocktail: the elder flowers mojito
Simply replace the sugar cane syrup (or caster sugar) with your elder flowers syrup. It goes perfectly with lime, rhum and mint leaves!
The mocktail version
Take out the rhum from the equation for an elder flower virgin mojito. If you're more of a sweet tooth, replace the sparkling water with lemonade.
Both versions will have your guests taste buds pleasantly astonished!
With my husband, we plan on buying a house with a big garden in the upcoming years, and let me tell you that if there is no elder already, I'll be planting one! To me this tall bush is a fairy plant: the tiny star flowers (which you can find in my constellation frames by the way!), the enchanting smell... yep I could swear fairies live in it!
Let me know what you think of this recipe and what combinations, cocktails and mocktails you come up with using this flowery magic syrup!
Stay safe when foraging, keep your cooking hygienic and store appropriatly! Nature Spells can't be held responsible for any incident.
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