Elderflower (Sambucus nigra) Cordial Recipe for Home Gardeners

Now is the peak of the elderflower bloom! My whole side yard is full of the fragrance of blossoms. Time to make elderflower cordial!
(Also some tips and thoughts on growing elders, both S. nigra and S. cerulea)
Recipe:
4 C Water
3 C Sugar
Combine ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil, letting sugar dissolve.
Remove from the heat and add:
the Juice of 2 lemons
4 small lemons, sliced
15 elderflowers, rinsed
Let steep on the counter for 24 hours, then move to the fridge and steep an additional 24. Strain and keep on the fridge for 4-6 weeks. You can also freeze in ice cube trays.
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All still photos are mine from my garden, except thr Blue elder photo used out of the Creative Commons: commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/...

[@mandolin1925]

You are an excellent presenter.

[@daniellepetrone8532]

I appreciate the videos showing how you utilize the harvest. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with what I have growing.

[@petervanlaeke19]

My brother made elderberry wine last year. Surprisingly good!

[@ceili]

Crikey that is some flower set on those trees. Elders grow everywhere here in Ireland but I've never seen florets that big

[@TheAvidGardenerNM]

I really like your music selection for the elderberry tour.

[@alisonandrew5231]

I picked some heads from a nearby hedge today (Kent UK) ready to put brewing. Love elderflower cordial. I add an orange as well for extra yummines. Got this recipe from Hugh Fernley-Wittingstall, River Cottage...... Makes about 2 litres About 25 elderflower heads Finely grated zest of 3 unwaxed lemons and 1 orange, plus their juice (about 150ml in total) 1kg sugar 1 heaped tsp citric acid (optional And then make it the same as Angela.

[@RoseJackson79]

I feel the same way about my elderberries and also my currant bushes....amazing aromas and amazing foods and syrups to be made for excellent health benefits. Thank you so much for sharing your Cordial recipe :)

[@auroraborealis3764]

Angela, such a timely video. I bought two elderberries this year and so excited for them to produce flowers and then berries. I really enjoy watching your videos because they’re so relatable. I’m in Corbett, about 15 miles east of Parkrose. You introduced me to permaculture and I’m learning a lot!

[@isabelladavis1363]

Wow those elders look amazing..we are in a semi tropical area here in Georgia and the afternoon sun would KILL THEM so I opted for 6 hours of morning sun and afternoon shade and they have survived beautifully…only my second year and nothing like your huge bushes but all goo things come to those who wait right? Thank you for sharing…those two you suggested are in the garden but they have not THRIVED too hot here for them…they get a bit of growth then die back again…use the local ones that actually do well in Florida can’t wait for the day I can sit in the garden and sip this lovely cordial …truly a one of a kind flavor thank you for sharing…stay blessed.

[@thelionofjudah6175]

Excellently and clearly presented! Two things, I don't wash my elderflowers to keep the pollen. I wouldn't use white sugar. I'd add Mama Buci honey (spring harvest) a 100% pure raw ethical organic killer bees honey from Zambia 🐝👍

[@birkins1]

Oooo perfect timing thank you. I’m very lucky to have them growing wild all around me

[@CairnOfDunnCroftPermaculture]

Here in Scotland, I have dozens of wild elder cultivars in our shelterbelts for fruit production. But for elderflowers I'm using a single cultivar of sambucus canadensis. Being self sterile, it can't pollinate itself of course so flowers all summer long. In time I'll reproduce it by cuttings, and have several in the food forest systems. Elders are amazing.

[@brigettescottageplants946]

Thank you so much. Xx

[@Thewoodlandnest]

Thank you! I'm making your recipe now

[@CarissaWyles]

This sounds so good! There's a bunch of elderberry trees in a nearby park, I might just have to go snip off a few flower bunches to try this 💙🙏

[@chachadodds5860]

This is a wonderful gift from you, Angela. Thank you, for sharing your Cordial recipe with us; it sounds divine. I appreciate that you incorporated your knowledge and perspective, on the Elder varieties available. I'll be making that investment in my new property this Fall. Elder Cordial, is a few years away, but thanks to you, I have another reason to make room for Elderberry bushes. I saw that the PNW, is having a heatwave this weekend, yet you look so cool and relaxed. Enjoy the holiday with your family.

[@user-ex5mr4ud7v]

Elderberry grows so slowly here for some reason. Can’t wait for mine to start blooming 💕

[@arkiegold]

Thanks for the video! York and Nova are S nigra ssp. canadensis in case you didn't know. Come join Elderberry World facebook group. You would be popular there.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

Thank you for showing us the plants as well as how to utilize them. I'd love to have elders, but I'm not sure I have room. I need it to stay only a few feet wide and avoid damaging structures. Is that possible?

[@gtromble]

Just made a batch this morning. It already tastes amazing.

[@HomesteadDIY]

I just made this over the weekend following your recipe. Delicious! My wife thought it a little sweet for her tastes but agreed it would work well in a lemonade or with some hard liquor. Thanks! A Very simple way to use a wonderful plant. Now just waiting on the berries to make some elder mead.

[@pamelabratton2501]

Timely video! I have a quart of tincture going and have been eyeballing the bushes to see if I can get MORE elder-flower, or should I wait for the berries. My strawberries are an their second bloom, I might wait and mix the two berries. A nice problem to have, I must admit! I have been giving elder starts to ALL my neighbors! Gotta spread the wealth!

[@sweetpeasbackyardgarden1236]

This was really informative. Did you do a follow video with the finished product?

[@tara281]

Thank you, mine are just about to bloom and I’m going to make a batch

[@AK-hz8mm]

Thank you for explaining the sambucus nigra, Where do I get the sambucus nigra plant? I am living in ga.

[@bethsbabies1963]

Your plants are amazingly beautiful! New to your channel, I enjoy your presentations and information! Thank you 😊

[@R1M1r1m1]

I would love to see more chicken videos.

[@jacksonstacy3813]

Could I use black lace elderberry flowers and other elderberry such as the red elderberry

[@einbisschenwasvonjenem]

Red Elderberies are toxic, use only black elderberries please.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

You can definitely use black lace elder flowers! They may tinge your syrup a bit pink. Red elders are a different species and generally not consumed this way. They have other toxicity issues. I don’t eat them.

[@naferitt]

Do you remember what music you chose for the elderflower tour? It's beautiful! Shazam can't recognize it and I'd love to listen to it while gardening! Thank you for the wonderful video! So much great information 💕

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I don't remember, but I use the royalty free music from iMovie for all of my videos

[@naferitt]

@@ParkrosePermaculture Thanks so much!

[@sandrah583]

How do you grow your Meyer Lemon tree? My daughter got me one last year and I have it in a pot. When the weather got cold I brought it inside by the sliding glass door. It still died. I want another one but I want to know how to keep it alive first.

[@CliffsidePermaculture]

York is Sambucus Canadensis, east coast native.

[@kristinraabe6887]

Hi Angela. Making this recipe right now. How do you strain? Cheesecloth or regular strainer. Can flower bits stay in the mixture and do you put the lemon slices in finished product also? Thanks so much! Looking forward to tasting it in my future nightcap. 💙🌎✌

[@crazydiamond6512]

In rinsing the flowers does that not lose the pollen?

[@frankyzombie]

Are the stems ok for 🔥 in my rocket stove? I was thinking on saving them for that purpose after I prune them. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

[@jessicablanchard5211]

How are you able to grow a lemon tree in Portland? I'm in Beaverton area and cannot.

[@alcrz3943]

can poultry, like quail, eat elderberries raw safely? i'm having trouble with my blue elderberry with curled twisted leaves on new growth but i've been working on getting it back to good health. hoping to still be able to get an ok harvest this year !