20+ Elderflower Recipes: cordial, liqueur, tea, jelly, cake + more! (2024)

FAQs

Is elderflower cordial the same as elderflower liqueur? ›

No, this is non-alcoholic; elderflower cordial is a liqueur. I have both. I did use this (elderflower syrup) in a champagne co*cktail but I've used the elderflower liqueur in margaritas (to change it up from a "normal" margarita) and will use it in other drinks.

Elderflower is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in excessive amounts. Some parts of the elder tree contain a cyanide-producing chemical which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The essence of up to one thousand elderflowers can be found in each Belle Epoque-style bottle of St-Germain! You can substitute St-Germain with Giffard Fleur de Sureau Sauvage, St. Elder, and RoomeR Elderflower Aperitif.

Elderflower has a woodsy and floral taste, and their sweetness comes out when elderflower is cooked. Photo courtesy of Shadi via Unsplash. Compared to elderflower, elderberry has a more intense taste: woodsy and floral, with a dark flavor that can be bitter and earthy when the fruit is consumed raw.

St‑Germain is a French liqueur made with fresh elderflowers, hand-picked once a year in the late spring.

St-Germain has grown to become one of the most valuable bottles in a bartender's arsenal. In addition to being a great aperitif to throw in a spritz, St-Germain is considered to be a great modifying liqueur, altering the flavor profile of the liquor it is added to.

Elderflower is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in excessive amounts. Some parts of the elderflower plant contain a cyanide-producing chemical which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cooking removes this chemical. Not enough is known about the safety of applying elderflower directly to the skin.

Elderflower is a diuretic, laxative, antispetic, antiviral and also has anti-inflammatory properties. The flowers are known for their high antioxidant content and Vitamin C which is great for boosting your immune system.

It's worth noting that ready-mixed sparkling elderflower cordial (AKA elderflower pressé) mostly comes in at more than 150 per cent the sugar level of its sister brand of cordial, so Belvoir and Bottle Green have 18.5g sugar per glass of pressé, but only 10.5g for a glass of cordial.

Absolutely, you can drink elderflower liqueur straight! If you're new to this, try it chilled or at room temperature in a small, elegant glass. This method lets you savor its aroma and taste in its purest form, creating a delightful sensory experience.

Is Sambuca made with elderflower? ›

Typically, sambuca is made of alcohol, anise star fruits, elderflowers, sugar, and water. Occasionally, botanicals, liquorice, and fennel are infused to create sambuca's unique taste.

Some of the different trees, flowers and plants which can be mistaken for elderflower include: cow parsley, cowbane, pignut, hemlock, pyracantha, red osier dogwood, rowan and hawthorn. (Even Michelin-starred chefs have been known to get confused!)

per bottle! This quarantees the easy mixability with sparkling wine/Champagne, or enjoyed chilled by itself!

Elderflower liqueurs are delicately flavoured, aromatic and floral; they mix brilliantly with pretty much every spirit, both white and brown, even combining well with the strong flavours of mezcal, peated whisky and pisco. Elderflower tends to mix better with light-coloured fruits such as pear, apple and white grapes.

Cooper, launched St‑Germain, the world's first elderflower liqueur in 2007. Inspired by Paris and its iconic quarter St‑Germain‑des‑Prés, St‑Germain sets a precedent as a modern liqueur made for co*cktails, and perfect for the aperitif.

Liqueurs And Cordials

Liqueurs are basically liquors that have been flavored and sweetened. The term is interchangeable with “cordial,” except in the U.K., where cordial can also just refer to a sweet, non-alcoholic liquid.

I use it to sweeten and flavor iced tea and sparkling water, or in place of simple syrup or sugar in co*cktails like the Daiquiri, Tom Collins, or Cucumber Gimlet. With a little tasting and tweaking, it'll work in place of elderflower liqueur in concoctions as diverse as the Yellow Jacket or Watermelon Crawl.

St-Germain is considered a cordial, which is a sweetened distilled spirit that's typically high in sugar. With 20% alcohol by volume (ABV), St-Germain also contains notes of pear, citrus and tropical fruits, according to the company.