At this time of the year the hedgerows are full of elderflowers. In the early morning light their flat white heads appear to hover in the dark green foliage. There are also soft pink and white bramble blossoms that signal their forthcoming dark autumn fruit. On my morning run through the woods I find more beauty in the form of hatched eggs shells and decide to celebrate this glorious time of the year by making a bucket of elderflower champagne. It should be ready for Le Grand Depart on Saturday 5th July. The race passes close to my house in Ilkley twice over the weekend.
To make 6 litres of elderflower champagne you will need:
- 4 litres of hot water
- 2 litres of cold water
- 700g granulated sugar
- Zest and juice from 4 lemons
- 15 dry elderflower heads. Give them a shake to remove insects
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 6 one litre plastic screw top used carbonated bottles or 6 strong swing top glass bottles
Method
Place the hot water and sugar into a clean plastic bucket and stir well until the sugar has dissolved. Add the additional 2 litres of cold water together with the lemon juice, lemon peel, vinegar and elderflower heads and stir gently. Cover the bucket with a clean supermarket plastic bag and leave in a cool place for seven days.
By this time you may see bubbles rising to the surface of the liquid which is evidence of fermentation. Strain the liquid through a colander and discard the elderflower heads and lemon zest. Repeat this process but this time strain through muslin to remove any fine debris.
Decant the liquid into sterilised swing top glass bottles or used carbonated water bottles (rinse them in boiling water to sterilise). The elderflower champagne will begin to ferment in the bottles over the next few days. It is important to release a little of the pressure in the bottles every couple of days until fermentation has slowed down.
The elderflower champagne is ready to drink in one week but will keep for up to a year when it is then time to replenish your stocks and make some more.
A hatched egg I found in the woods. I am not sure which bird laid it but you can see where the chick has pecked the shell to get out.