Name: Elderflower Cordial
Yield: About 6 cups of concentrate
Ingredients: 20 to 25 large elderflower heads, freshly picked; 4 cups granulated sugar; 6 cups boiling water; 2 lemons, zested and sliced into rounds; 1 orange, zested and sliced; 2 tablespoons citric acid (available at pharmacies or canning supply stores)

Elderflower Cordial

Making elderflower cordial feels like capturing a season in a bottle. The flowers have an unmistakable perfume — floral, sweet, almost honeyed — that tastes like early summer even in the dead of winter. If you can find elder trees blooming near you (they're more common than you'd think), this is wor

Ingredients

20 to 25 large elderflower heads, freshly picked

4 cups granulated sugar

6 cups boiling water

2 lemons, zested and sliced into rounds

1 orange, zested and sliced

2 tablespoons citric acid (available at pharmacies or canning supply stores)

Method

Shake the elderflower heads gently to remove any insects, but don't wash them — water removes the pollen, which carries much of the flavor. Remove any thick stems or leaves.
Place the flowers in a large, non-reactive container (glass, ceramic, or food-grade plastic).
Dissolve the sugar in the boiling water, stirring until clear. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Add the lemon zest, lemon slices, orange zest, orange slices, and citric acid to the flowers.
Pour the warm sugar water over everything. Stir well.
Cover with a clean cloth or lid and let steep at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours, stirring once or twice a day.
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a clean tea towel. Squeeze gently to get all the liquid.
Pour into sterilized bottles.
*To serve:** Dilute 1 part cordial to 4 to 5 parts cold water or sparkling water. Add ice and a slice of lemon.
*Storage:** Refrigerate for up to 6 weeks, or freeze in ice cube trays for up to a year. You can also process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes for shelf-stable storage.
*Seasonal note:** Pick elderflowers on a dry, sunny morning when they're fully open and fragrant. Avoid flowers near busy roads. The best ones smell sweet and creamy — if they smell musty or cat-like, leave them.