Elderflower Cordial
One of the most delicious cordials. The best time to gather flowers is midday on a sunny day. Don't gather flowers after the rain, as the pollen will have washed away. Choose the freshest looking flowers - they should have a yellow glow to them - which is the pollen.

Ingredients:
3kg of Sugar
30 florets (flower clusters) of Elderflower
3 litres water
100 grams of citric acid (available from the chemist shop)
Bottles and bottle stops (you'll need about 6 or 7 wine bottle sized bottles).

Method:
Boil the water and then leave to cool (this purifies the water). Soak the elderflowers in the water overnight. Clean some bottles (such as old wine bottles). Make sure you sterilise the bottles by cleaning them carefully then putting them in the oven at 50 degrees centrigrade for half an hour or so. Make sure you have airtight lids for the bottles (either rubber tops or clean corks).

Next day, sieve the elderflowers out of the water and add the sugar and citric acid. Warm up the water until the citric acid and sugar are completely dissolved - it should be near to boiling point, but it shouldn't boil. Warm up the bottles you have prepared by filling them with hot water (water out of the hot tap is hot enough). Warming up the bottles will stop them breaking when you pour in the hot cordial. Pour out the hot water just before you pour in the cordial and cork or close the bottle immediately.

Once the cordial has cooled, it is ready, although it's probably better to leave it for a week to fully infuse. Make sure you shake the bottle before pouring and store the bottles in the fridge once they are opened. Closed bottles can be stored in a dark cool place and will remain fresh for a few months.

Enjoy!

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