I ran into my friend Aryn from Sweet Song Herbals, at the market. We got to talking about Elder, whose flowers are in bloom and ready for harvest this week. She told me she had tried Elderflower 'fizz' which is an ages old delightful remedy/libation/afternoon sipping beverage -- from 'way back'.
Elderflower Champagne is SO good. You'll remember the first time you try it, for a very long time.
My first experience? It was in Provence, France in 2003 during a "Plant Lover's Journey" with my dear friend and mentor, Rosemary Gladstar. What a delightful trip; so full of the wonder of the plants! We were visiting a lovely woman who made her own essential oils from wild plants in the surrounding countryside! The glorious afternoon was only made more perfect by the arrival of Elderflower Champagne and subsequent sipping!
This, of course, is not really a champagne, nor is it alcoholic, but it is a refreshing and deliciously fragrant drink to serve on a summer's day. Elder bushes grow wild in many places, so if you do not have one in your garden, take care where you pick the flowers. Avoid picking those that have been growing by the roadside, and always lightly wash them before use.
This recipe is an excerpt from my chapter in the IHA "herb of the year" Elder from 2013.*
ELDER-FLOWER CHAMPAGNE
Elderflower Champagne
Ingredients
- 4 litres/1 gal good quality water
- ¾ cup sugar pure organic cane sugar, coconut sugar or your favourite
- zest and juice of 2 organic lemons
- 4 large elderflower heads or more!
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
Instructions
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Boil the water, then stir in the sugar until it has dissolved, and leave to cool.
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Zest the lemons.
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Extract juice from one lemon.
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Cut the other lemon into slices
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Place the elderflowers in a large, non-metallic container.
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Add the lemon zest, juice and slices, the sweetened water and the vinegar.
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Stir, cover with a cloth, and leave for 24 hours.
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Strain the liquid through a fine sieve, squeezing the flowers to extract all the flavour.
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Pour into clean screw-top bottles
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Store, preferably on their sides, for 10 days, until effervescent.
Recipe Notes
Drink within 3-4 weeks.
I have only made this recipe with freshly picked elderflowers.
*Note: Herb of the Year books from the International Herb Association can be purchased via the IHA website.
I've written about Elder ~ her wonderful flower medicine here and Elderberry medicine here. In the fall, many herbalists make their own version of Elderberry syrup, infused with healing powers for cold + flu season. Here's my recipe.
Where to buy ELDERFLOWERS? I have never tried to make the Champagne recipe with dried flowers, but if you are looking for good quality dried flowers for your medicine chest, try my friends Matt + Andrea at their beloved herb farm,
Healing Spirits Herb Farm
or here through Amazon affiliate and Frontier Herbs:
Frontier Natural Products Elder European Flowers Whole -- 16 oz
Melissa
I definitely pinned this one! What a great idea!
Danielle
Wow, what a great idea... I would never have thought about this. I think elder flowers are hard to come by here in Arizona. Do you happen to know of another similar flower I could try this with? I know the flavor would be different, but this is really intriguing to me! Thanks Carol.
Maria C
Wonderful drink!!! I grew up in Europe and spent a lot of time collecting, drying, making teas and champagne out of these wonderful flowers. When I moved to Woodland Hills, Ca my only resource was to buy the dried European Elder flowers from Frontier. The first time I made a batch of champagne I stored the strained liquid in glass bottles and in some of the green plastic Perrier bottles that were used strictly to pour the sparkling water into glasses. I stored them on a tiled floor of my pantry which is kept at 65 degrees. I inspected them after 7 days. The Perrier bottles held up pretty well but I had about 5 glass bottles exploded in pieces all over the floor. I am collecting all of my Perrier bottles since and I am also collecting the champagne glass bottles to use for my Elder Champagne recipe. Those types of bottles have their bottom recessed into the bottle to increase their resistance to built up presure.
Carol Little
WoW. Thanks for sharing!
linda spiker
How beautiful! Those flowers are lovely and the drink sounds fantastic!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
This is so fun! I love the delicate flavor of elderflowers. They're so dainty and beautiful too!
Raia Todd
I wish I would've seen this before all my elderflowers turned to berries! Not that I'm complaining about having elderberries... ;) Keeping this in mind for next summer!
Carol Little
Pin for next summer!! I apologize re timing.. I am far north of you!
The Food Hunter
I wouldn't mind sipping on this!
Carol Little
It is delightful. I have no doubt you will enjoy it!