You know when your mom tells you the same story over and over and over and you just nod your head and act like you’ve never heard it before. This is called being nice. I do this all the time. Love that woman but OMG.
I almost started to tell you that I go to the Hollywood Farmer’s Market every Sunday to buy produce but I feel like you know this very boring story and I’ll probably tell you this story again when I share the rest of this very spring brunch so I’ll just say that this elderflower came from the market.
I’ve been wanting to make elderflower syrup for a few years but I always miss my window. The good news is that if you walk around your neighborhood and live out a scene from Kinfolk, you can clip any suckles or edible florals that you find: honeysuckle, elderflower, lavender, etc,. and use this recipe as a base.
I simmered the elderflower in sugar and water and then allowed it to steep for 1 hour. This resulted in the most fragrant, sweet syrup. It was so delicious. I squeezed a bunch of lemons and added water, chilled the whole thing and BOOM! The most delicious fragrant lemonade ever.
The good news is that elderflower, lavender and honey suckles are in bloom from now until the end of June so you gotz all the time to live your like foraging human
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or dried elderflower plus more for garnish
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 6 cups filtered water
Instructions
- To a medium saucepan, add the elderflower, sugar and water. Set over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a simmer and then immediately turn off the heat, cover the pan and allow to steep for 1 hour. Pour the syrup through a strainer and into a pitcher and discard the elderflowers.
- To the strained syrup, add the freshly squeezed lemon juice and top with the water. Refridgerate until chilled, at least 2 hours. To serve, add a few ice cubes and then garnish with elderflower.
But I’m going to try the white elderberry flowers too and compare lemonade taste! fun!!
I started making this concoction last year and was blown away by the divine taste elderflowers give lemonade! Truly like nectar of the Gods as one might say. I only have 2 large sambucas nigras so I plan to buy or cultivate at least 3-4 more plants for both purposes of fragrance on the tree and using the flowers for lemonade! I’m thrilled to have found this luscious drink, thank you!
random but I love those scissors!! where can I find some?! Also, I made this for a breakfast party and everyone loved it!
oh awesome! yay!! i got them from anthropologie but it seems like they no longer have them in stock 🙁
oh yay awesome! i got the scissors at anthropologie unfortunately they’re out of stock 🙁
Oh this looks so good. I am on the hunt for elderflowers in the UK as they will be coming into season soon.
As they say, everything tastes better when it’s free. I’ll be sure to use this recipe when I get my elderflowers.
I don’t think you’ll get the same taste from the wild white elder flowers. It’s the pink blossoms from the Black elderberry “sambuccas nigra” that have the intense fragrance and delicious infusion.
Amazing pics!!!
xoxo
Bianca
http://www.thegreencreator.com
oh man, this looks bomb. i could never find fresh elderflower when i lived up in pdx, but maybe it’s more accessible in california?
Not that it’s relevant to you any more .. they sell them at the Portland nursery so you can have your own elderberry plant and get flowers and berries every year. I did this.
I’ve never worked with Elderflowers before. Thanks for the photos breaking it down!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Thanks so much I’ll go check it out.
Do you know any other farmers markets in Los Angeles (does the Hollywood one have them consistently or is it a once in a blue moon thing this season) that have them or where one could get seedlings? I have my Swiss great aunt’s recipe for the syrup (as well as a few ways to use it- like in mini pineapple tarts) and have never seen them in Los Angeles.
i don’t, hollywood is the only one i know of. and around this time of year, it absolutely has them consistently. the one vendor that has them is closest to hollywood blvd. and they sell all sorts of berries! the elderflower didn’t smell THAT fragrant, but once I allowed it to steep in the syrup, it was really delicious and tasted exactly like elderflower.
Mexican elderflower grows wild all over Los Angeles. You can go forage in Griffith Park where there are tons of trees if you can’t find flowers at the farmer’s market. I have seen them for sale at Santa Monica Farmer’s market too.
Yummmm! For me summer isn’t summer without elderflower, I love it so much. #addicted
I have to keep my eye out of Edelflowers next time I go to the farmer’s market- I’ve never noticed them before!
Whenever we make a trip to IKEA (UGHHH), Thom always has to get a pack of those elderflower juice boxes because he loves them so. Dude is gonna shit when I put a pitcher of elderflower lemonade in front of him.
I want this all summer long, such a great idea!
me too, me too. thanks, matt!