The Recipe · No.802 · Elderflower Cordial

Elderflower Cordial, and Where to Source It

Steep the flower heads off the heat in the warm syrup for a full day, so the delicate floral aroma infuses without cooking off. Strain it well, then dilute to taste with sparkling water when you serve.

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Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep15 min (plus steeping)
Cook10 min
Makes4 servings (concentrate)
CuisineEuropean
Cook it with
No-cook
Part One
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Elderflower heads
Fresh, shaken clean of bugs, for the floral aroma. Local/foraged.
10
Local / market
Sugar
Boiled into the syrup base. An unrefined sugar adds a faint depth.
1 cup
Source it →
Lemon
Juice and zest to sharpen and balance the floral sweetness. A fragrant lemon is best.
2
Source it →
Sparkling water
To dilute the cordial at serving. A crisp seltzer is best.
to serve
Source it →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.
Part Two
The Method
  1. Boil the syrupBoil the sugar with water until dissolved.
  2. SteepAdd the elderflower heads and lemon and steep off the heat for a day.
  3. StrainStrain out the flowers and lemon into a clean bottle.
  4. ServeDilute the syrup to taste with sparkling water over ice.
Part Three
The Toolkit

Saucepan · Fine strainer · Bottle

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