Elderflower cordial recipe, plus tips on the best time of day to pick elderflowers

Traditional elderflower cordial uses just a few ingredients including fresh elderflowers, water, lemon juice and water. June is typically the best time of year to collect elderflowers – but the flowers do start to bloom in late May too. So the coming weeks are a great time to make your elderflower cordial recipe at home. 

Need a helping hand? Try to make this elderflower cordial recipe within a couple of hours of picking the flowers for the best results. 

When is the best time to pick elderflowers?

Gather elderflower heads on a sunny, dry morning (before the insects harvest the flowers’ pale yellow pollen) as their aroma fades by the afternoon. Expect to see elderflowers (Sambucus nigra, or common elder) flowering from May to June with exact timings depending on the weather. A mild winter should make for a bumper crop come late spring.

Tips for picking elderflower

• Find elder trees that aren't by a busy road and avoid flowers lower down that dogs or foxes may have peed on.

• They are best picked when the buds are freshly open on a warm, dry, sunny day away from traffic fumes. Wait for the tiny flowers to fully open (make sure they haven't turned brown.

• Avoid any that smell of urine, the smell means they’re past their best.

• Snip off the flower heads with as little stalk as possible so the plant is not damaged.

• Before using, pick off any insects but don't run the flowers under the tap or you'll wash the natural yeasts off.

How to make elderflower cordial