Elderflower Syrup
Elderflower, the taste of summer. Preserve the taste and goodness of elderflowers all year round with this simple syrup.
Take 1 litre (1 quart) of elderflowers, pulled from the stems and place in a large glass bowl. It’s OK if there are some small green stems remaining, but ensure there are no thick stems, these can be mildly toxic. As soon as pulled, cover the blossoms with the juice and zest of two organic lemons. Meanwhile, heat 1 litre of water to about 30 deg C (86 deg F) and stir 1 litre of raw honey into it.
Pour the honey water over the blossoms in the bowl, cover with a cloth and leave for 2 to 4 days. Strain out the blossoms, and decant to bottles for storage. Store in a cool place, or the fridge.
Elderflowers are useful for all complaints of the lungs and respiratory tract, and for fevers of all kinds. The herb is used magically to confer protection, and to promote love. Enjoy.
The raw honey (cold filtered) is added at 30 deg C, which is below the maximum hive temperature. This ensures that the beneficial enzymes are retained in full.