Elderflower Champagne

Elderflowers are in bloom in late May and while we usually start with elderflower cordial, it's not soon after that we turn to something a bit more... intoxicating. Elderflower champagne is easy to make, all you need is a few easy-to-find ingredients and some containers with tight-fitting lids (we recommend sturdy swing-top glass bottles). We can't think of a better way to toast in the summer than with a glass of elderflower fizz!

To accompany your elderflower champagne make Lydia’s Amazing Elderflower Cake.

Elderflower champagne

• 4 litres hot water
• 700g sugar
• Juice and zest of four lemons
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• About 15 elderflower heads, in full bloom
• A pinch of dried yeast (you may not need this)

Method:

1. Put the hot water and sugar into a large container (a spotlessly clean bucket is good) and stir until the sugar dissolves, then top up with cold water so you have 6 litres of liquid in total.
2. Add the lemon juice and zest, the vinegar and the flower heads and stir gently.
3. Cover with clean muslin and leave to ferment in a cool, airy place for a couple of days. Take a look at the brew at this point, and if it’s not becoming a little foamy and obviously beginning to ferment, add a pinch of yeast.
4. Leave the mixture to ferment, again covered with muslin, for a further four days. Strain the liquid through a sieve lined with muslin and decant into sterilised strong glass bottles with champagne stoppers (available from home-brewing suppliers) or Grolsch-style stoppers, or sterilized screw-top plastic bottles (a good deal of pressure can build up inside as the fermenting brew produces carbon dioxide, so strong bottles and seals are essential).
5. Seal and leave to ferment in the bottles for at least a week before serving, chilled. The champagne should keep in the bottles for several months. Store in a cool, dry place.

Image credit: Monica Shaw.