20+ Elderflower Recipes: cordial, liqueur, tea, jelly, cake + more! (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between elderflower cordial and elderflower liqueur? ›

Contrary to the name, elderflower cordial does not contain alcohol. If the preparation has alcohol in it, it is typically referred to as an Elderflower Liqueur, like. St. Germain.

Elderflower has antibacterial and antiviral properties and may also help alleviate some allergies and boost the functioning of the immune system. Topically, elderflower might help reduce pain and swelling in joints due to some forms of arthritis and is used to stop bleeding.

Use a funnel and a ladle to fill sterilised bottles (run glass bottles through the dishwasher, or wash well with soapy water. Rinse, then leave to dry in a low oven). The cordial is ready to drink straight away and will keep in the fridge for up to 6 weeks.

Flavor Profiles

Elderflower has a woodsy and floral taste, and their sweetness comes out when elderflower is cooked. Photo courtesy of Shadi via Unsplash. Compared to elderflower, elderberry has a more intense taste: woodsy and floral, with a dark flavor that can be bitter and earthy when the fruit is consumed raw.

With a little tasting and tweaking, it'll work in place of elderflower liqueur in concoctions as diverse as the Yellow Jacket or Watermelon Crawl. Elderflower cordial is a natural companion for sparkling wine—add a little cordial to your bubbly along with some gin and a lemon slice for a twist on the French 75.

St‑Germain is a French liqueur made with fresh elderflowers, hand-picked once a year in the late spring. To accomplish its exquisitely natural flavor, every bottle of St‑Germain contains up to 1,000 of the very best elderflower blossoms, resulting in a finely crafted, perfectly balanced and refined liqueur.

Elderflower is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in excessive amounts. Some parts of the elder tree contain a cyanide-producing chemical which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cooking removes this chemical.

Where I had gone wrong, was that I hadn't removed enough of the stalk and if you leave this in, you get this horrible, bitter taste, which ruins the cordial. To make the cordial, you'll need to leave it to infuse overnight and the most time-consuming part is in the prep, but it is really simple to do.

Cordials: Our best before date is printed on the neck of our bottles, but typically will have about 12-18 months shelf life by the time you get your hands on them! Once opened, they should be consumed within 3 weeks.

There is enough yeast in the flowers of the elderflower to cause it to ferment, go fizzy and become (very slightly) alcoholic. The solution is to freeze your cordial in small batches, and defrost as and when you need it.

Why add citric acid to elderflower cordial? ›

Why use citric acid in elderflower cordial? The addition of citric acid simply prevents the cordial from fermenting and acts as a preservative. You can buy citric acid for cordial online in a number of sizes depending on how you choose to use this versatile product.

As a supplement, elderflower has diuretic and laxative properties and is helpful in relieving occasional constipation. It has antibacterial and antiviral properties and may also help alleviate some allergies and boost the functioning of the immune system.

The flavor is just sweet enough and adds a little extra something to a co*cktail. Tastes good enough to drink straight if you absolutely wanted to. Great in a nice gin co*cktail. I love adding elderflower liquor to co*cktails.

Elderflower liqueurs are delicately flavoured, aromatic and floral; they mix brilliantly with pretty much every spirit, both white and brown, even combining well with the strong flavours of mezcal, peated whisky and pisco. Elderflower tends to mix better with light-coloured fruits such as pear, apple and white grapes.

St. Germain is an elderflower liqueur. There are a number of others on the market, including the Pür Blossom Elderflower liqueur, Cote Jolie, Bitter Truth, and more.

A liqueur, or cordial, is a sweetened distilled spirit. Flavored with a variety of fruits, nuts, herbs, and spices, as well as things like chocolate and coffee, liqueurs contribute more flavor than alcohol to co*cktails and mixed drinks.

Instead of water, why not dilute in prosecco, add some to a G&T, or mix with gin, a splash of apple juice and topped up with soda water to your liking. You could also use it as an alternative to St Germain elderflower liqueur in co*cktail recipes.

St‑Germain works well in a variety of co*cktails, including the classic St‑Germain Spritz. Bartenders love our elderflower liqueur for its versatility and its ability to elevate any co*cktail whether it's a Gin & Tonic, Margarita, or even an Old Fashioned.