Elderflowers

[tonyhibbett]

Walking down the street, I picked up that lovely smell. Elderflowers are finally out, in London at least!

 

[matjam]

Excellent! I'll take the canal path home tonight and see if there's any movement.
There was nothing doing last week though

 

[MadrikXIV]

I have my beady eye on the solitary tree in the neighbours garden, nothing at all so far, itching to start on a wine and champagne!!

 

[JimmyB78]

The one in my garden looks set to start flowering any day now. Looks like it's got plenty of flower heads too so should be able to do plenty of champagne this year.

 

[Jonny69]

Excellent news - thanks for the heads-up. I was going to leave it a few weeks before I checked, so it looks like the sunshine has brought them out!

 

[tonyhibbett]

Be very selective. Pick only the bunches which smell good.

 

[calumscott]

Ah ha!! Just in time for a trawl round the lanes in the sunshine this weekend!

Good recipe for an elderflower bubbly please anyone?

 

[motomaniac]

has anyone got any pictures for elderflower trees??... theres two lots here which are in full bloom ( in places), but they look the same flowers, yet are different bushes/trees, dont want to pick the wrong one and poison everyone... one has leaves that look more or less a mirror image on each side of the stem, with a little serated edge, the other im sure is hawthorn, that type of tree anyway, just not 100%.... all the pics ive seen show the flowers , but no close ups of the leaves... thanks...

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Elder leaves are similar to ash leaves, but with five rather than nine leaflets. Also the flower heads are usually slightly concave (hollow like a bowl) rather than convex (rounded like a ball).

 

[tonyhibbett]

The flowers must be processed on the same day as picking to avoid the infamous 'catty' flavour.
Having reviewed several recipes, a basic WOW with half a pint of flowers makes a nice white burgundy style wine. I'd like to have a bash using gooseberries, but mine are rather late this year. However, I am considering freezing some elderflowers, as I have a whitecurrant bush which could supply an interesting ingredient.