The most refreshing drink. Ever! Heavenly flowery and tangy. Our homemade elderflower cordial is perfect with sparkling water on a summer day.
Every spring we make a huge batch of this elderflower cordial to last us the whole year. The ritual of picking elderflowers and filling the house (or our campervan) with their blossomy scent is a tradition that celebrates spring.
Homemade elderflower cordial is much tastier than store bought. This cordial is more tangy and floral, and less syrupy sweet. And it’s such a fun thing to make. (It’s always great fun to make things with edible flowers - like our vegan dandelion honey!)
Making your own cordial will save you a load of money too! In the UK, one 500ml bottle will set you back around £3, whereas making a batch of this cordial costs less than that - for 6 times as much!
Picking elderflowers
Elderflowers are the edible blossoms of the Elder tree, Sambucus nigra. This small tree is native to Europe and North America. It blossoms in late spring, and produces dark berries in late summer. Elderberries are also edible, but must be cooked before eating to get rid of toxins.
Here’s our top tips for picking your own elderflowers:
- Avoid picking from roadsides and polluted areas
- Individual flower heads are at their prime for picking when the little flowers have fully opened and have not started to wilt or turn brown.
- The best time to pick elderflowers is late morning on a dry day.
- The flowers should smell blossomy and sweet - watch out for a slightly unpleasant aroma the flowers might develop in the afternoon, or when they are past their best.
- Always use them as soon as possible after picking.
Citric acid
Citric acid is a preservative and is naturally found in lemons and other citrus fruits. It brings a lot of tang! to the cordial and has a role in extracting the flavour from the elderflowers. It’s also what helps the cordial to preserve for so long.
Where to get citric acid
It can sometimes be a bit tricky to find – pharmacies and world food shops are a good place to look. Our local zero waste shop sells it, so we buy it from them. It’s also easily ordered online, just look for food grade quality. We recommend organic citric acid which is GMO free.
Making cordial without citric acid
It is possible to make this elderflower cordial without the citric acid, but the taste will be different and the cordial won’t keep so well. If you omit the citric acid, store the finished cordial in the fridge and use up within a few weeks. You can also freeze it in plastic bottles so there’s room for expansion, or in ice cube trays.
But if you can, we highly recommend using the citric acid in this recipe. To us, it makes all the difference!
Step by step
STEP 1 - Add water, elderflowers, sliced lemons and citric acid to a pan and bring to boiling point.
STEP 2 - Remove from heat and leave to infuse for a few hours or overnight.
STEP 3 - Strain the liquid through a muslin cloth or fine sieve.
STEP 4 - Return the liquid to the pan and add the sugar.
STEP 5 - Bring to boil, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes.
STEP 6 - Fill the cordial into clean, sterilised bottles while still hot.
Preserving and storage tips
Here’s our advice for how to make sure your elderflower cordial will keep well:
- The final boiling step sterilises the cordial by killing off any wild yeasts, bacteria or spores that will cause it to spoil.
- Clean all your glass bottles, lids and other equipment in soapy water or in the dishwasher, then fill with boiling water. Leave for 5 minutes before draining.
- Alternatively, place the washed bottles and lids in an oven at 140˚C until dry.
- Fill your bottles and put on the lids as soon as you finish simmering and the cordial is still hot. (Wear oven gloves as the bottles and lids will get hot!)
- Bottling whilst hot ensures that the lid seals as the liquid cools.
Store unopened bottles of cordial in a cool and dark place. After opening, keep in the fridge.
More tasty elderflower recipes
Our homemade elderflower cordial makes a perfect summer drink when mixed with cold sparkling mineral water. It also adds a fresh and fruity note to a glass of wine, champagne or a cocktail.
But you can use elderflower cordial for other things than just drinks... Try our other elderflower recipes:
Elderflower Cake
Elderflower and Coconut Ice Cream
Elderflower and Lemon Ice Lollies
Elderflower Fritters
Enjoy the summer!
Paul & Sophie
📖 Recipe
Easy Elderflower Cordial
Ingredients
- 15 elderflower heads large (use double if small)
- 2 lemons sliced
- ¼ cup (50 g) citric acid
- 2 ½ litres (2.5 litres) water
- 5 cups (1 kg) sugar
Instructions
- Check elderflowers for dirt and little insects - don't wash!
- Add elderflowers, lemon slices and citric acid to the water in a big pan. (The only ingredient not yet going in is the sugar)
- Heat up to boiling point, stirring occasionally, remove from heat, cover and let infuse overnight, or for at least four hours.
- Strain the liquid through a muslin cloth, to catch all the flowers. Squeeze all that yummy flavour out of the pulp in the muslin!
- Return liquid to the pan and add the sugar.
- Bring to boil again, stirring frequently to dissolve all the sugar, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In the meantime, clean and sterilise all your glass bottles, lids, a funnel and any other equipment in soapy water. Rinse the bottles and fill them with boiling water and leave for 5 minutes before draining. Alternatively, place the washed bottles and lids in an oven at 140˚C until dry.
- Bottle up the finished cordial while it's still hot, pouring carefully into your warm bottles and closing the lids.
Dilution
- Depending on desired sweetness, dilute 1:5 to 1:10.
- Best enjoyed with sparkling mineral water.
- Optional: Squeeze in some fresh lemon for extra tanginess!
Notes
Nutrition
This information is calculated per serving and is an estimate only.
Nikki says
Hi!
Ive just made up this recipe, and now that I'm checking the amount of citric acid, it seems a lot compared to other recipes. My partner uses citric acid to clean metal... so Im just wanting some clarification about the amount of citric acid...so that I don't cause harm to anyone who drinks it!
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Nikki, Thanks for making our cordial! Most recipes for a similar amount of cordial I have seen use between 2 tbsp and 85g (7tbsp) of citric acid, so we're somewhere in the middle of the range with 50g (1/4 cup or 4 tbsp). Citric acid is generally recognized as safe for human consumption (Source US FDA) without limitations. As mentioned in the post, we recommend food grade citric acid which is made to higher standards and of course, to dilute the cordial with water. Hope that helps and you can enjoy the cordial!
Maya Christina says
I'm excited to make this recipe today! Do the sugar and water quantity equate to about 3L of cordial, or does it make much less? I see a lot of people writing that they want to make a second batch so wondering if I should start by doubling the recipe! Thanks 🙂
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Maya, Yes the recipe usually makes up to 3 litres of cordial or 3-5 bottles depending on their size. I think mostly people find it is so delicious and disappears so quickly that they make a second batch! I sometimes even triple the recipe. Happy cordial making!
B.Jane says
This looks amazing! I’d like to add Campden tablets to aid the preservation - could you advise at what point to add them? Thanks so much! 🙂
Sophie and Paul says
Hi B.Jane,
we have no experience with Campden tablets ourselves, but have done a bit of research. Add the tablets before bottling. Make sure they are well dissolved, which can be achieved by crushing the tablets and dissolving them in hot water before stirring this solution into the hot cordial.
Keep in mind that Campden tablets contain sulfites, which some people can be sensitive to and develop allergy-like symptoms.
Hope this helps! 🙂 Paul & Sophie
Les says
Made this using heads from the Black Elder we have in the back garden so had the bonus of a really floral scented cordial but in a fantastic deep red hue (similar in colour to the rhubarb cordial we make from the garden surplus). Made a fundamental error in filling 2x litre bottles first so ended up with 25cl over when the third, 75cl, bottle was filled. Doh!
Tastes great with homemade fizzy water from our daughters sodastream.
Cheers
Sophie and Paul says
Sounds beautiful! Thanks so much for using our recipe and keep enjoying the cordial.
Kev says
Have made this from your recipe for past three years. Thank you.
Any tips how to not end up with glass bottles cracking or exploding when filling up with hot cordial as directed? I'm losing at least one good quality Kilner bottle every year. They're not cheap!
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Kev, Thanks so much for using our recipe for so many years! Sorry you've had and issue with the bottles. We've made so many bottles of this cordial and never had an issue with cracking. We wash our bottles with warm soapy water, rinse with hot and then dry them in the oven. As the bottles are already hot adding the cordial doesn't shock them. You can also leave the cordial to cool if you prefer. We like to bottle it hot to help with the preservation. Hope that helps.
Susan Everett Breton says
Hello June, I use a long, thin metal parfait spoon or metal straw in the bottle before pouring in the hot cordial. This way, the bottle does not crack, craze, or explode. My grandmother taught that to me for pouring any hot liquid into glass. I hope this helps!.
Donna says
Made this today following your instructions. It was really easy and tastes great. 🙂 I've got a glass of it now with lemonade and gin in 😀
Thanks for such an easy recipe to follow! I've never made this before but it is definitely worth doing. I will get hold of more flowers soon and make more. I only made one bottle full, this made in bulk would be great for keeping throughout the year. <3
Sophie and Paul says
Sounds wonderful! Thanks for your lovely feedback Donna. Enjoy making more soon!
Alisha says
You stole this recipe from another website!!!! even your photos look almost the same! shame on you.
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Alisha, This recipe was adapted from a recipe that Paul’s grandma has been using for decades - we tweaked the quantities to our taste and changed the method for better storage and to make it easier for our readers. We care deeply about developing tried and tested recipes for our readers and every recipe that we publish is tested and adjusted multiple times by us. As it is such as simple recipe it is not surprising that there are similar recipes to ours, but I can assure you that all the pictures, instructions and helpful tips that we provide for our readers are totally our own. We hope you try the cordial, as it is absolutely delicious! All the best, Sophie & Paul
Gee says
Dude it’s cordial of course there are similar recipes and pictures. Welcome to the internet. No need for aggressive comments.
Linda says
Great recipe to follow, started today will finish tomorrow, I have used limes instead of lemons and it smells so good can't wait to finish and taste.
Sophie and Paul says
Thanks so much Linda! One of our favourite things about making the cordial is how beautiful the kitchen smells when we do 🙂
alesia says
citric acid is used when making wine so its available at wine-making shops.
Sophie and Paul says
Great tip Alesia!
Brigitte says
Is it better to 'cook' the flowers in the water/citric acid/lemon slices?
In the past when I have made cordial, I have made the syrup and allowed it to cool before adding the flower heads.
Thanks for your time
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Brigitte, We have tested infusing the flowers cold and our preference for both taste and better storage (as the natural yeasts on the flowers can lead to fermentation if not cooked) is to heat the flowers up to boiling point as instructed in the recipe. Hope that helps! Sophie
Alison says
Hi, I made this yesterday, it's really tasty!! I just wondered how long this keeps?
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Alison,
Unopened bottles can keep for anything between a few weeks to a year, depending on how careful you were with sterilizing all the bottles and tools, and if you were following our other tips in the post, like bottling it up while still very hot. We've still got some from last year's cordial, and it kept perfectly! Opened cordial should be kept in the fridge and should keep for 3 weeks.
Fingers crossed 🙂 Enjoy your cordial!
George says
I still have some from a year ago! I kept it in the freezer for a few months, then in the fridge. It never went mouldy and still tasted the same.
Now making a new batch which I'll be using on the elderflower cake!
Sophie and Paul says
That's great to hear George! We just started making this years batch today. Enjoy the cordial and the cake 🙂
Laura says
I have just started to make this on the stove top and now the whole kitchen smells lovely! Once opened, how long will this keep in the fridge? Thanks you for the lovely recipe.
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Laura, Yes the smell is wonderful isn't it! Opened cordial kept in the fridge should keep for up to 3 weeks, possibly longer, but we usually finish it pretty quickly because it's so delicious!
Linda says
Just made a batch of cordial. Loved making it and the recipe was so easy to follow. Thank you.
Denise Musson says
Thank you for this recipe I have made before, but this was much better way of doing it. I have used the flowers from a black elder in my garden, which has pink flowers. So my cordial is a beautiful dusky pink colour.
Sophie and Paul says
What a great idea, Denise! 🙂 Glad you liked the recipe. Enjoy your pink cordial!
Lina says
This is the best recipe I’ve ever used. I’ve made elderflower cordial since I was a child. Always using the same recipe - sugar water steeped flowers, lemons and citric acid, if available - accepting the older bottles would often ferment. I came across this recipe last year and so pleased I tried! The cordial was perfect, the process quicker and simpler, and no bottles fermented. I’m just about to go pick this year’s flowers and so happy I found this recipe again!!
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Lina, it makes us so happy to read your comment! We've still got some of last year's batch, and it kept perfectly and still tastes amazing! Enjoy your perfect elderflower cordial! <3
Cheryl says
Spent ages looking for a recipe, and this was the one with the least amount of sugar in. Started making it last night and finished off after work this afternoon. Completely delicious thank you! Tempted to go foraging again to make myself another batch to store so I can have year round!
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Cheryl, so glad you found our recipe 🙂 Enjoy your delicious elderflower cordial! xx, Sophie & Paul
Peter says
Extremely easy to follow as it is rather simple, as long as all the ingredients are to hand.
I’m an avid lover of Elderflower Cordial, having imbibed copious amounts in my lifetime.
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Peter, happy to hear you find it easy! 🙂
Best wishes from one elderflower cordial lover to another, Paul
Andrea Deyrup says
Do you remove the flowers from the stems? I've heard the stems of elder are toxic and I always remove them when I make elderberry wine. Thanks!
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Andrea,
We have always used the whole flower heads as you can see them in the pictures. But feel free to cut off as much of the stems as you want, they are not needed to make the cordial, it's all about the flowers! Hope this helps, thanks for the question! Enjoy your cordial, Paul
JEANETTE says
Love this recipe,lovely and crisp and not to sweet,really clear instructions.Im making double this year as we ran out just after Christmas.It kept perfectly with using the citric acid. THANK YOU.
Sophie and Paul says
Thanks so much Jeanette! We're glad the cordial kept perfectly for you! We usually make a double batch too. Enjoy!