Elderflower and mint are a match made in heaven. Elderflower mint cordial recipe is fragrant, refreshing, and perfect for summer beverages. This versatile cordial can be used to flavor cocktails, mocktails, teas, lemonades, and even desserts. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the simple steps to make your own elderflower mint cordial at home, capturing the essence of these delightful herbs.
This recipe is similar to my other plain Elderflower Cordial recipe, moreover its easy to make. Since, I have an abundance of both mint and elderflowers growing in my back yard, I didn’t need to forage them. Elderflower bushes are native to Europe and they grow wild. Although, I have a few bushes and we do not pick all the berries or flowers for our own use. We always leave a good quantity of the berries for the birds to forage too.
Since, the elderflower season is short, we have to pick them quickly about just the time they bloom. Otherwise, they turn to berries. On the other hand, with the berries you can make a jam, compote, or make an immune boosting cold and flu syrup.
The best time to pick the flowers is between late May to June. This also depends on the sub-climate in each zone of Europe.
Tips to make Elderflower Mint Cordial Recipe
- Use only the flowers and not the twigs for the recipe. Because, the root and twigs are poisonous.
- Pick the flowers from zero traffic area in order to avoid the petrol fumes, moreover it would be better from your own garden or a friends garden.
- Make the syrup quickly as soon as you pick the flowers in order to retain the scent.
- Pick the flowers on a dry and sunny day so that, the flowers are not wet with dew.
- Pick flowers that have just opened. In case, some of the tiny buds are still closed while picking, don’t worry. Since, these young flowers will have the most scent and therfore will give more flavor to your cordial. Avoid branches with brown or dead flowers.
- Best time to pick the flowers is when its sunny, in case its not, air dry them shortly in your home before making the cordial. Spread them on a tray with a tea towel to absorb the moisture.
How long can you store this cordial ?
If you want to store it longer than a few weeks, preserve the filled and sterilized jars with water bath canning. Mine have lasted for upto a year with water bath canning. But do this at your own discretion.
Tools you may need
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Big stainless steel sauce pan.
Sterilized swing top glass bottles
How to make Elderflower Mint Cordial Recipe
Ingredients :
- 1 cup fresh elderflowers (about 10-15 large flower heads)
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 4 cups water
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 1 tablespoon citric acid (optional, for preserving)
Method :
1. Prepare the Elderflowers and Mint
- Gently rinse the elderflower heads to remove any dirt or insects. Shake off the excess water and remove the thick stems.
- Rinse the mint leaves thoroughly.
2. Make the Syrup Base
- In a large pot, combine the water and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, bring the mixture to a gentle boil and remove from heat.
3. Infuse with Elderflower and Mint
- Add the elderflowers and mint leaves to the hot syrup.
- Add the sliced lemons and citric acid (if using) to the mixture.
- Stir well to combine, ensuring that the flowers and leaves are submerged in the syrup.
4. Steep the Mixture
- Cover the pot with a lid and let the mixture steep at room temperature for 24-48 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor of the cordial.
5. Strain the Syrup:
- After steeping, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bowl or jug. Press the solids to extract as much liquid as possible and discard the solids.
6. Store the Syrup:
- Pour the strained syrup into sterilized bottles or jars. Seal tightly.
- Store in the refrigerator, where it will keep for about 1-2 months.
How to serve Elderflower Mint Cordial ?
- Elderflower Mint Lemonade: Mix the syrup with fresh lemon juice, water, and ice for a refreshing summer drink.
- Cocktails: Add a splash of the syrup to gin or vodka with soda water for a delightful elderflower mint cocktail.
- Iced Tea: Sweeten your iced tea with a drizzle of elderflower mint syrup for a floral twist.
- Desserts: Drizzle over cakes, pancakes, or ice cream for an aromatic enhancement.
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1. Prepare the Elderflowers and Mint&amp;amp;lt;/strong></strong></p> 2. Make the Syrup Base 3. Infuse with Elderflower and Mint 4. Steep the Mixture 5. Strain the Syrup: 6. Store the Syrup: Do not wash the elderflowers otherwise they will lose some of their flavour. Try the syrup after it has been strained. If it tastes bitter, discard and start again. Use only organic lemon. Store in a cool, dark place for 6 months. Once you open, keep the cordial refrigerated. If you do water bath canning, you can store longer.
For longer shelf life, do a water bath canning for 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
