The monthly herb - Elderflower
When the elder blooms it’s scent drifts to our noses faster than it’s glorious white flowers stun our sight. It is the very picture of early Summer - a welcome portent of easier days.
The tree itself is ancient and sacred. The strange hard corky bark hides a weak pithy centre which makes its wood unusable for most purposes. This is good as it’s considered very poor luck to cut one down. The tree is regarded both as the witches tree and sprigs of it have also been worn and hung on doors to deter the wicked spells of witches.
When you collect the flowers for their exceptional culinary and medicinal properties you need to be careful to take a few off each tree. This is to ensure that each tree has plenty left to produce its sublime berries in the autumn.
The flowers can be brewed into a delightful tea or fermented with their own yeasts into a marvellous floral champagne. Here is a simple way to make a delicious cordial which can be mixed with mineral water and ice to cool us through the summer months.
Elderflower Cordial
4l water
1kg sugar
50g citric acid
zest and juice of 4 organic lemons.
a colander full of elderflowers (larger stalks removed)
Boil up the water and dissolve the sugar, cool a tiny bit, add the zest and juice, add the citric acid then the elderflowers.
Cover and stand overnight.
Sieve through muslin and bottle.
Keep it in the fridge.
