Found a bag of frozen Elder Berries from last fall's harvest. Saved a bag of berries in case I didn't make enough elder berry syrup to last the winter. To make elder berry cordial: simmer 5 C elder berries in 2 C water and 3 C sugar.
This makes a nice elder berry sugar syrup which is excellent for keeping away colds during the winter. Angelica also likes this syrup to take her herbal medicine in for her childhood asthma. It's part of the Mary Poppins's school of medicine....A teaspoon of sugar....I also gently press out the berries using this old lemon juicer I picked up at a yard sale.
I say gently press because you want only the sweet. It is also best if you simmer only berries and no stems (the stems are bitter).
Then you add that syrup to 27 oz of alcohol. Your favorite is fine. This time I used rum. YUM!
As with all liqueurs they improve with age -- Letting them sit 3-4 months is what we find to be the hardest part of the whole process. It will maintain this lovely deep purple color.
Once it has aged: use as a dressing on a salad, or mix with a lemon/lime soda as a refreshing beverage, or drizzle over ice cream. It would also be good in a trifle.
OK, ship some out to me. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember my Grandma's Elderberry Jelly, and I loved it. But I haven't had any since I was a youngster. And there's none down here in So. CA. :(
Val
That sounds so good. I would love it over ice cream or in a salad dressing for sure.
ReplyDeleteTerrific information here and such a lost art - such wonderful gifts!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever tried Elderberries. The cordial sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful tutorial! I am from the country of Georgia in Eastern Europe and I remember my grandparents making this. Thanks so much for bringing back good memories.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your post searching how to dye with elderberry.
xx
Maya