Elderberry cordial

[Sonnet]

I'm hoping one of you mumsnetters out there can help me...

I have a glut of elderberries in the garden just about to ripen and I'd love to make some elderberry cordial. I can find recipies for elderflower but not elderberry
Do any of you guys have any??

Many thanks....

Found this on Google:

Elderberry Cordial
Elderberries (still on stalks)
Sugar
Cloves

Pick the fruit on a dry day and stew with the stalks in a large stainless steel saucepan, with just enough water to cover.

Strain through muslin squeezing to get all the juice.

To each pint of juice add 1 lb of white granulated sugar and 10 cloves.

Boil for 10 minutes.

Allow to cool and bottle in sterile bottles with good quality plastic screw-on tops making sure you distribute the cloves evenly amongst the bottles (they act as a preservative).

The cordial can be used immediately, and will keep well for a year or two.

Taken with hot water it is renowned as a guard against colds, and a glass a day through winter is a wise precaution..

All the other recipes I came across seem to involve vodka or whisky (!)

I have just made a rather yummy Elderberry, Blackberry & Apple Jelly. The recipe's at home but I can post it later if you're interested. Don't forget the berries are toxic until cooked...had to drum that one into ds as he adores blackberries.

That's great - thanks Bettys....

The jelly recipe sounds great too - if you wouldn't mind posting it....
Thanks

I'll post it tonight (Wed)

Bramble & Elderberry Jelly

Makes about 3 x 1lb/450g jars

1lb/450g elderberries (stripped weight)
1lb/450g blackberries
2lb/900g cooking apples
1 pint/560ml water
about 1 3/4lb / 800g granulated sugar

Strip the elderberries from their stems using a fork. Don't worry if a few bits of stalk cling to the berries. The occasional under-ripe berry will raise the pectin levels & help the set.
Peel, core & chop the apples. Simmer all the fruit with the water until really soft.
Strain overnight through a jelly bag or a sieve lined with muslin. Measure the juice & add 1lb/450g sugar per 1 pint/560 ml.
Heat together gently until the sugar is dissolved, then boil until setting point is reached. (To check for setting point, spoon a few drops of jelly on to a chilled saucer. When cool, push with a fingertip. If the surface wrinkles, it is ready.)
Put in clean warmed jars.

I've found this sets really easily - almost solid the first time I made it. Its' taste is a little more woodsy & sophist than straight blackberry jam. However it didn't make as much as the recipe suggested, even allowing for the fact that I was using half the quantities.

thanks Bettys -I apporeciate the time you taken to type it out.
I can't wait to start - I'll let you know how I get on!!

bettys
Thanks for the elderberry recipe. I regularly take some herbal medicine called Sambucol which is, pretty much, elderberry cordial. It certainly tastes like that, anyway! It's nearly £8 a bottle, tho.

I take 2 spoonfuls a day, because I've had shingles 3 x in the last 5 years. It's supposed to have anti viral properties.

I'm off to find elderberries...... Tra la la....