Drinks

A delicious fragrant cordial, capturing the taste of summer. You must pick the elderflowers on a dry, warm and sunny day, when the flower heads are fully open.  They must be perfect, with no trace of brown blossoms. Do not wash them so make sure that you pick them from an area where they are unikely to have been contaminated by wildlife or passing vehicles.

The cordial will keep for several weeks in a cool pantry, several months in the fridge or alternatively freeze in plastic containers and it will keep for a year.

Citric acid is available from chemists and DIY wine making suppliers.

I've been making lemon barley water for years and it's always been a big hit with visitors at our house. Measurements do not need to be exact, some lemons yield more juice and are sweeter than others. Make according to your own taste and dilute further if you prefer. It's delicious served over ice on a hot day. Use unwaxed fruit and if you can't find unwaxed lemons scrub under running water before use.

Drinking Vinegars, or Shrubs as they are also known are not new, but becoming popular again. Created since the 17th Century as a method to preserve fruit in vinegar, then sweetened with sugar to make a syrup to mix with soda, hot or cold water, or as a base for a cocktail. Try adding some crushed sweet cicely seeds to the strained liquid and sugar for a hint of aniseed.