How to make your own Elderflower Syrup

Did someone say Elderflower Syrup?

Elderflower, one of my favorite smelling flower out there -- so sweet, fresh, and flowery. Elder, a common tree in both USA and Europe has been used in history for its medicinal purposes.

Its berries are rich in vitamin C and Potassium and the flowers are rich in A, B1, B2, B3 and vitamin C.

Here's what you'll need

• 40 – 50 Elderflowers
• 3 liters water
• 6 Organic Lemons (or Pesticide Free)
• 3 kilograms Sugar
• 100-250 grams Citric Acid

Prepping of Elderflower syrup

Cut away the bigger stems from the flowers. Place the flowers under running water in a bucket or pot, allowing the flowers to swim and float. Remove excess water from flowers. Cut lemon in slices. Next, place flowers in 2 liters of water along with lemon slices and let this sit for 3 days. After 3 days of sitting, strain flowers and lemon slices away from liquid. After straining, add 3kg liters of sugar along with citric acid. Cook up mixture to attain a slight boil and until all sugar is dissolved.

Fill elderflower syrup into glass jars. Syrup, if kept in a cool and sterilized bottle can last up to 6 months. If you do not have a cool and dark place to store your syrup, you may place the bottles in the refrigerator.

Tips

Citric Acid role in syrup will act as a natural preservative and also determines how tart or sour your syrup is. For a more refreshing lemon taste add the full amount of citric acid at 250g. For a more subtle yet safe syrup add the low amount of citric acid at just 100g.

Organic Lemons will also act as a natural preservative. It is important that when using lemons for your syrup recipe that you gather "organic" or "pesticide free" lemons. Because you are using the entire lemon plus its peel, you will want to get lemons that have had no chemicals used during its growth.

Pick Elderflowers in June until July. We picked from both wild and cultivated Elder trees.

Enjoy!

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