Elderflower cordial; has anyone here made some?

[tallmummy]

We thought we'd make some this w/end following the River Cottage cookbook recipe. Have soaked flowers, lemon and orange zest overnight in just boiled water and have just strained through muslin into a pan ready to heat and add sugar. It's a very dark colour though! What colour should it be - I left it overnight in my metal jam pan so I'm worried the citric acid might have reacted with the pan and made the juice dark green. Should I chuck it and start again - also what is tartaric acid, is it the same as cream of tartar? Questions! questions!

[tallmummy]

Thought I'd give a quick bump but realise everyone has far better things to do!!

[Carmenere]

I've made it before but with my own recipe, with just flowers, water lemon and sugar. Dark green is wrong and I would say that the pan is the culprit but I'm not sure. Also not sure about tartaric acid TBH I would dump it and start again.

[spacedonkey]

Dark green definitely sounds wrong :-S

[tallmummy]

It doesn't does it fiofio, I reckon I need to try again and soak it in a plastic bowl. There are tonnes of Elderflowers out the back here so I might try again. It should be pale yellow shouldn't it?

[spacedonkey]

My mum used to make it and yes it was a pale yellowy colour

[tallmummy]

Smells wierd too! Definately going to start again.

[chenin]

This is my Mum's recipe that has been handed down through generations. I make it every year and it is delicious.

30 flower heads picked in the sunshine
2 sliced lemons
3.5 to 4lbs sugar (I only use 3 ish)
2.5 oz citric acid (buy from chemists)
2.5 pints boiling water

Put all the above in a clean bucket. Stir twice a day for 5 days. Strain through muslin and bottle into plastic bottles. Will last about a week in fridge but I freeze the bottles and take them out the freezer when I need them.
Delicious when added to sparkling water.

It will be dark yellow and as thick as single cream. It shouldn't be green tho!

[tallmummy]

Thanks Helliebean My second batch is looking more promising.