Elderflower Cordial

Elderflower Cordial has a delicate and subtle fruity flavour – and is a budget-friendly way to turn your summer drinks and desserts into something fancy.

Elderflowers bloom throughout late spring and early summer. Grab a bunch (more on where to find elderflowers below – chances are you may be able to get a bunch for free), gather just a few other affordable ingredients and you can create this ultimate ingredient for your summer drinks and desserts.

Enjoy Elderflower Cordial with champagne, mix up a Gin and Elderflower cocktail or add it to a summer punch.

At dessert time, you could splash some over ice-cream, use it instead of grenadine in my Festive Fruit Cups or flavour icing for a Sponge Cake with it.

Jump to:

• What is elderflower?
• Where to find Elderflower
• Ingredient notes
• How to make Elderflower Cordial
• More homemade cordials
• Elderflower Cordial

What is elderflower?

Elderflowers are tiny, tiny white flowers which hang together in sprays and develop into purple elderberries on the Elderflower shrub, also known as the Elderberry.

The flowers are pretty in a posy, and both the flowers and berries have a wide array of culinary uses. Here, we're using the flowers in this Elderflower Cordial Recipe! 

The elderflower shrub grows well in Australia and will grow "in most soil types, including wet soils." It grows to about three or four metres in height an likes full sun, but will grow in part shade as well. In fact, it can grow too well, and is sometimes labelled a weed in Australia.

Which is great for us when we're attempting to hunt some down to make cordial. Check out your neighbours gardens and offer to invite them over for a glass of Elderflower Cordial in exchange for a bunch of flowers.

There are also Indigenous species which grow on the edge of rainforests in NSW and the Otway Ranges in Victoria. These species are regarded as important bush foods.

Elderflowers and elderberries are also a traditional medicinal plant. They're packed with antioxidants and bioflavonoids, and the berries have a higher content of vitamins A, C and B6 than blueberries and cranberries.

It's used to treat everything from stomach ache, constipation, diarrhoea, sore throats, colds, fungal and bacterial infections, bruises, skin conditions, and as an anti-inflammatory application for wounds.

Note that you must be careful using the raw plant due to potential toxicity. Heat destroys the toxins, and we heat the elderflowers here during the cordial-making process.

FUN FACT: "The botanic name for the genus is Sambucus, and when you know that the two common botanical flavourings in Sambuca liqueur are anise and elderberries, you will never forget the genus name for the shrub again." – goodfood.com.au

Where to find Elderflower

The Elderflower shrub blooms from spring to autumn, and they are quite easy to grow. So if you have a nice, sunny spot, you might only need to step into your backyard to find some fresh elderflowers. Or perhaps your neighbours may have a shrub and be willing to let you harvest a bunch of flowers.

They do grow in the wild, however you need to be very careful that you know what you're picking and that it is indeed elderflower.

You can also sometimes find elderflower at Farmer's markets or specialty fruit and vege stores.

Ingredient notes

You'll need about 8-10 heads of elderflower, along with:

• 3 ½ cups sugar (caster, granulated or white)
• 2 medium lemons (sliced)
• 3 teaspoons tartaric acid
• 4 cups water (one litre).

Equipment

You'll need a glass bottle or bottles to store the cordial – the bottles will need a combined capacity of about 1.5 litres. Make sure they're sterilised before adding the cordial.

You'll also need a muslin cloth to strain the cordial and a funnel to transfer the cordial into the bottle.

How to make Elderflower Cordial

Begin making Elderflower Cordial by dipping the elderflower heads gently in water (to remove any bugs or other extras) and then placing them into a large saucepan.

Add the water, sliced lemon and tartaric acid into the saucepan and then bring to the boil. Take off the heat and leave overnight, covered.

The next day, remove as much of the lemon and elderflower as possible (using tongs) and discard.

Add the sugar to the mixture in the saucepan and stir over low heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil and remove from heat immediately once it boils.

Allow to cool.

Strain using a muslin cloth, and pour into sterilised bottles (using a funnel if necessary. Secure lid.

Enjoying and storing your cordial

Enjoy your homemade ElderFlower Cordial with still or sparkling water (using 1 part cordial to 4 or 5 parts water), add it to a wine or cocktail. If you're celebrating, create your own Elderflower Cordial Champagne by adding a little to your favourite bubbly. You could also mix it with Nana Ling's Lime Cordial to make a Lime and Elderflower Cordial.

Your cordial should keep in the fridge for up to a few months.

It could also be bottled for shelf storage, though you will need to rely on your own research and knowledge of bottling and preserving.

More homemade cordials

I've adapted Nana Ling's original cordial recipe to create recipes for various flavours:

Made this recipe and love it? Please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. (And it really makes my day to hear how Nana Ling's recipes are being made, shared and loved all around the world! - Libby x)

For more fun and deliciousness in the kitchen, follow along on Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest, and subscribe for new posts via email.