So we dug it up and transplanted it at the allotment (which we used as a sort of dumping ground for all the shrubs and trees that outgrew the garden) and forgot about it.
Until last year when I wanted to make Elderflower cordial and suddenly noticed that it had grown enormous and was dripping in wonderful pink blossom, was right there under my nose and I didn't have to go hunting in the countryside for the flower heads. And so began my love affair with Pink Elderflower cordial, which because of its glorious rose colour feels like the queen of all syrups.
This weekend I made several batches, filling the kitchen for days with it's strong lemony acidy perfume, and now every time I open the fridge the door rattles with gleaming bottles jostling each other, waiting for their outing with fizzy water and a slice of lemon....or to be sweet gifts for loved ones. And there were more than enough flowers for our allotment neighbour to make her own batch too.....
Thank you Sophie Grigson for your recipe in County Kitchen - which I followed almost to the letter ( except for the number of flower heads - couldn't resist chucking in just a few more than you said....) and they were pink of course not white.....
Cut the flower heads - checking for sticky blackfly on the stems......
Put in a big bowl with parings of lemon zest and slices.....
Pour over eye watering quantity of boiling sugar syrup and leave to steep for 24 hours....
Strain through a square of muslin (or a clean J-cloth in this case) draped over a sieve...
and pour into bottles.
Swoon at the heavenly colour with the sun shining through it....
notice it's almost the same colour ( when it's diluted with fizzy water) as my rose called Nostalgia which is flowering in a pot on the patio....
and remember to give thanks to the tree which donated its pink beauty to me. For free.....
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