Marmora Man Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Having, last year, tasted my German sister-in-law's delicious Elderflower cordial I resolved to make some this year. Served with cold Presecco it makes a good "Bellini" lite.The trees should be in flower shortly (mid May - June) - but where can I find some around South London? If I do find some - can I harvest a couple of bucket load of flowers??I did wonder whether the Norwood Cemetery might be a good place to try?? For those interested the recipe is:40 fresh elder flower heads. 2 oranges, rough sliced2 lemons, also rough sliced2oz citric acid. 3 pints boiling water3lb granulated sugar, Instructions:Boil the water and dissolve the sugar in it. Allow it to cool properly.Add the orange and lemon slices to the cool sugar water.Stir in and make sure the citric acid is dissolved.Add the elder flower heads.Cover it up with a lid or cloth and leave it for 48-72 hours.Strain and leave for another 48 hours.Siphon into another tub, leaving the dregs behind. Stir well and then leave for 3-4 hours to settle.Bottle, leaving behind any more dregs. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 thats my recipe! I'm not goign to tell you where I go, but around the side of sports fields is a good place.;-) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429474 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 womanofdulwich Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> thats my recipe! I'm not goign to tell you where I> go, but around the side of sports fields is a good> place.;-)Are you my sister in law? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429476 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laddy Muck Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 The little park opposite Sainsburys has around a dozen Elderflower trees. Try and pick from those in the sun though (better aroma/flavour). Enjoy. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429483 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laddy Muck Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 PS: MM, why the citric acid in your recipe? I've been making the stuff for years without it.Cheers. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429484 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Laddy Muck Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> PS: MM, why the citric acid in your recipe? I've> been making the stuff for years without it.> > Cheers.Not sure - just the recipe I was given. Think it's something about it keeping longer? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429520 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peckhamgatecrasher Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 South east part of PRPark has good quantity of elders. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429522 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Minkey Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Best pick them as far from a busy road as possible. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429530 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peckhampam Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 If you go to a small pharmacy rather than Sainsbury's, be prepared to defend your wish to buy citric acid. Apparenently it is used in the manufacture of heroin and they can give you the once over. Obviously I passed. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429579 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlteenie Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 There are some in the woods. Picked the berries last year. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429592 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Minkey Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 It's not strictly speaking used in the manufacture of heroin, it's used to prepare heroin for injecting. Injecting the equivalent of lemon juice would surely hurt? Or perhaps it neutralises when cooked up with the heroin. Hmmm - one of life's mysteries I'm happy to leave in its box. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429594 Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 go to the lovely roger humbles fourways pharmacy in half moon lane, he usually asks me about now, "shall i order your citric acid in for elderflower cordail??" or you can have tartaric acid instead.(tu) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-429602 Share on other sites More sharing options...
katie1997 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Tried this recipe for elderflower cordial today, thank you for posting it* Marmora Man.No pharmacy I tried in ED had any stocks of citric acid - although SMBS did.* (there was a programme on the radio the other day that said in the 'future' we won't simply google for info but instead will be pointed to bits of the web from personal recommendations based on our online networks and activity) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-441078 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 You don't really need to wait for the future - That's pretty much how twitter works for a lot of people Katie (rather than the "reading celebs what-i-had-for-breakfast" stereotype Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-441106 Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 of course you can always look it up in a book if you are over a certain age... Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-441127 Share on other sites More sharing options...
katie1997 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 StraferJack Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> You don't really need to wait for the future -> That's pretty much how twitter works for a lot of> people Katie (rather than the "reading celebs> what-i-had-for-breakfast" stereotypeAha thanks strafer! Tbh I didn't really get the point of twitter, joined it a few years ago 'tweeted' once, forgot about it. Checked my account about a month ago to discover I had 8 'followers'!? WTF are they following?! I suppose I could now tweet about the elderflower cordial... Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-441448 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Hehe ? I?d read that!I know what you mean ? there are plenty of things to pick up on and it?s confusing. But don?t think you have to say anything just because you?ve joined. Just be sure to follow some interesting people in whatever you might be interested in (be it politics, arts whatever) ? unfollow the uninteresting ones after a week or so but by then you will have stumbled acrosss many other links and people. And then if you want to contribute you can. But it does consitute most of my news channels now (rather than single newspaper or worse, TV news) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-441458 Share on other sites More sharing options...
legalbeagle Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I tweet! But not about elderflowers, it has to be said. Though now you mention it........The citric acid or whatever is definitely for preservation, otherwise it doesn't last very long so better made in small batches. And the best bunches of flowers to pick are ones where some of the flowers aren't quite open yet. Don't know why, but again better flaviour etc. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-441473 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loz Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Laddy Muck Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> The little park opposite Sainsburys has around a> dozen Elderflower trees. Try and pick from those> in the sun though (better aroma/flavour). Enjoy.You mean DKH park? Where? Or have you stripped them bare?! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-441483 Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_carnell Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Are these still in flower? I've just had some home-brew equipment delivered.... Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-445629 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Curtain Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 david_carnell Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Are these still in flower? I've just had some> home-brew equipment delivered....You may if you're lucky find some.( i've just looked out of the bay "chez nette" and seen some )But I'd wait for the berries, add some blackcurrants & you could get a close to Merlot as a country wine can be.I had a couple of bottles last week, It was utterly superb.Nette(tu) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-445634 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 I'd have thiought ED elderflowers are now past their best.Interestingly I'm in North Tees today - and locally the elderflowers are just right - about a month later than ED. Proves the old wives tale that "spring" travels at about 8 miles a day! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-445653 Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_carnell Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I shall have to do my best. I've bought the buckets, demijohns etc and champagne yeast.Anything else to make with it instead?And a cheap place to obtain bottles suitable for champagne?Thanks. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-445657 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laddy Muck Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Loz Wrote:------------------------------------------------------ > You mean DKH park? Where? Or have you stripped> them bare?!Sorry Loz, just seen this.I meant St. Francis Park. Whilst little flower remains, the berries are swelling nicely...for wine, jam, cough syrup etc....DC: you are still in time for the berries. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-445658 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laddy Muck Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 david_carnell Wrote:------------------------------------------------------ > And a cheap place to obtain bottles suitable for> champagne?> > Thanks.I presume you are talking about Elderflower Champagne?I don't have/use any special equipment for this at all. As for bottles, I use plastic. Not ideal, as they can burst readily - so if you are able to obtain glass, all the better (though they too may burst!). However, I now find that if I release little gas out of the bottles every other day, they no longer explode. I currently have EFC fermenting nicely in my shed. I started off with 100 litres, but, as I am drinking it as a very refreshing elderflower-ade, I reckon I'll only get about 50 litres which is properly alcoholic. The fizz is incredible though: need to open bottles very slowly if you don't want your kitchen (ceilings and walls included) to end up a sticky/wet mess!Have fun! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/16873-elderflower-trees/#findComment-445669 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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