A Taste of Summer

The elder trees are in blossom. It always seems to me there’s something bridal about those heavy umbels of dainty, creamy flowers.

Their appearance usually sends me into preserving mode and I produce copious bottles of elderflower cordial or champagne; squirreling away the scent of early summer for tea-parties and picnics or to be given as gifts.

Only snag is that cordial and champagne require quantities of sugar…..and sugar and I do not agree. Which means I miss out on this quintessential summer flavour.

This year I decided I wanted to join in the party. So, after picking the elderflowers early this morning, I poured boiling water over them and left them to steep. The heady scent has filled the kitchen all day long.

Late this afternoon, once the liquid had cooled, I strained it; then added lemon juice and raw heather honey.

The concoction produced a deep amber liquid - some of which has been frozen away as grown-up ice lollies. The rest will be poured into glasses, topped up with fizzy water, decorated with lemon slices and served as spritzers.

The taste of summer hedgerows!

Comments

[brenna]

ooooh, if you can have honey, can't you make elderflower mead?

[helen]

I bottled mine today ~ lots of sugar I'm afraid. Love your image...and your blog, and so wish I lived near enough to take piano lessons with you!