Storing Elderflowers?? Freeze? Drying?

[Turbotez]

Right, done my reccy, found a loverly amount of elder trees!!

Question i want to ask....... :wha: :wha:

Is it possible to Dry Elderflowers like you can Herbs?? :hmm: (i usually pick the herbs and dry them in the microwave, stinking the house out in the proccess!!!)

If not, can they be frozen and if so, will this affect them in any way as its going to introduce water :hmm:

 

[Samarith]

Yes they can be dried, I'd slow dry them either in the sun or oven.

That is to say I would if I didn't intend to make a lot of wine from them.

I read a great blog (dear lord I never thought I'd use those words in the same sentence) about how to harvest the flowers really easily. Not tried it but you can read it here
http://wijnmaker.blogspot.com/2009/05/vlierbloemen-oogsten-elderflower.html, its translated into english further down.

 

[Samarith]

Oh, one thing I should have mentioned!

I was told when harvesting the flowers take a bunch here and there, not all from one branch. The theory goes that pruning some but not all of the flowers from a branch, the remaining flowers will produce a stronger crop of fruit later in the year. I know that many gardeners pinch out excess fruit/veg from vine type plants for this reason, so the theory seems sound.

 

[bev]

hi! Always dry herbs or flowers by lying them out on a piece of cardboard or paper on a table or hang up in loose bundles with string out of the sun. If you microwave or put in oven or stick in direct sunlight you will fry the essential oils and plain ol' goodness out of them. Heaven forbid! :) your best to try an use them fresh... Elderflowers have natural yeast on them.

 

[granda]

i woulnt bother with drying as long as you have a freezer you can just freeze themtill your ready to use them