A Jubilee special: How To Make Elderflower Cordial

With the Jubilee weekend on the horizon, now is the perfect time to brew up your own elderflower cordial, it’s also the month when elderflowers start to bloom. So with sunny weather and garden gatherings back in diary, why not treat your guests to a homemade drink?

Makes 1 litre of cordial

You’ll need:

18-20 elderflower heads

Zest and juice of 2 lemons

1kg sugar

1l boiling water

A bowl, a pan, a tea towel, a sieve to strain and sterilised glass bottles.

Step 1. Add the blossoms and lemon zest to the 1 litre of boiling water. Cover and leave for 24 hours.

Step 2. Strain and transfer the infused water to a pan with the sugar and heat until dissolved. Add the lemon juice, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 3. Pour into sterilised glass bottles and seal firmly.

Step 4. Dilute to taste with water or use neat as a flavouring for gin.

Now what to serve it in? Shop glasses and drinkware.