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!

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

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.

Dark green definitely sounds wrong :-S

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?

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

Smells wierd too! Definately going to start again.

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!

Thanks Helliebean My second batch is looking more promising.