Elderflower Cordial with Merridale Cowichan Vodka
Elderflowers are back in season!
I highly recommend you forage or go to a local farm and harvest these delicious and health-giving flowers.
Grab a plant identification book, or check out the Harmonic Arts videos to know how to identify the right flowers, and spend time in nature collecting!
Elderflowers have some timely health properties for the spring season.
Elderflower is a diaphoretic, which helps the body promote and produce sweat and detoxify our body. This is one of nature's many ways of providing foods for us that naturally cleanse our bodies in the spring time. It’s also anti-inflammatory, supportive of your immune system and may help with seasonal allergies (I told you Mother Nature has your back).
Dairy Free. Gluten Free. Refined Sugar Free. Foraged. Vegan.
This recipe is great to make if you:
- love foraging and are looking for a simple recipe to try out;
- are looking for a refreshing summer drink alternative to drink less pop;
- are looking to incorporate more medicinal foods and preparations in to your diet.
I chose Merridale Cowichan Vodka because I support local and absolutely love the business they have in Shawnigan Lake. The vodka is made entirely using British Columbia fruit and distilled on Vancouver Island, and is incredibly smooth from spending 3 years in stainless steel before being filtered through charcoal. You have to try it, it makes the perfect pairing for the elderflowers.
ingredients & directions
Serving size: makes approximately 1 litre of cordial
- 2.5 cups of elderflowers, stems removed
- 3/4 - 1 cup of raw unpasteurized honey
- rind and juice of one organic lemon
- 1 litre of filtered water
- Merridale Cowichan Vodka
- Boil the water on it’s own in a large pot. Once it’s boiled, turn it off and stir in the honey until mixed. Add the flowers and lemon. Cover the pot and let sit for 3-4 hours.
- Once it’s infused, use a nut bag or fine mesh strainer and strain out the flowers and lemon in to a jar or other glass sealable container. This is your cordial.
- For the vodka infusion, remove 1 cup of the mixture and add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of vodka, or however much you want to make. I prefer it stronger with a 2:1 ratio, so try it and see what you like best!
- You don't have to make all of your cordial in to a vodka drink. Serve cordial chilled with 1 part cordial to 5 parts sparkling water (adjust to taste). Serve with a fresh slice of lemon.
- Serve the infused vodka in a shot glass or small rocks glass.