Elderflowers

Along with strawberries, the smell of elderflowers is the epitome of English summertime - floral yet has a whiff of nettles and gooseberries but has a highly aromatic flavour. Elderflower season is typically from the end of May to the beginning of June and grow across most of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.

The flowers come in a large corymbs measuring 10-25cm in diameter and the individual flowers, which look like tiny stars, are white with 5 petals, of around 5-6mm.

Elderflower cordial is a soft drink made from a refined sugar and water solution and the flowers.

The flower heads are collected fresh when the tiny buds have just opened and are steeped in a concentrated sugar solution so the flavour is infused into the syrup. Citric acid and lemon juice are then added to preserve and add tartness. To drink it is diluted with water, tonic, soda or added to alcohol such as gin.