Elderflower cordial

Elderflower cordial is a soft drink made largely from a refined sugar and water solution and uses the flowers of the European elder (Sambucus nigra L.).

In some countries, the drink can be found as an aromatic syrup, sold as a concentrated squash that is mixed with still or sparkling water.

In the northern hemisphere, elderflowers are in season from the end of May to the beginning of June[1] or later and grow in most of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.

They grow in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, though they primarily prefer sunny locations.

[1] The cordial is made by steeping the elderflower heads in a concentrated sugar solution so the flavour is infused into the syrup.