Elderflower Benefits & Tips for Making the Best Homemade Elderflower Juice
Elder trees are loaded with the pleasant aroma of fragrant and delicate elderflowers in late spring and summer. Their frothy, white flowers bloom in spring and continue to bloom until the berries ripen in August. The blossoms can be harvested and used to produce wonderful elderflower juice and lemonade, as well as being added to various pastries and biscuits. This herb has been known and used for at least 4000 years. Perhaps the most popular drink from elderflower is its juice. Its flowers contain essential oils, resinous substances, glycosides, organic acids, many antioxidants, vitamins, and phytochemicals. After picking elderflowers, you can make homemade concentrated juice to enjoy as a sweet refreshment during the hot months. Our expert elderflower guide will help you with recognizing and harvesting elderflowers in the wilderness, understanding the elderflower benefits, and making some delicious elderflower recipes!
Let’s see what the aromatic elderflower is all about!
What is elderflower?
Elderflowers are the exquisite blossoms of the Elder tree. These blooms have five tiny petals and are white in color. They grow in umbels, which are clusters of flowers. They are native to Europe and North America, and they bloom from May to late June, depending on the weather. If the bush is north-facing, you might even discover some elderflower bushels in July. It’s impossible not to notice the sweet, floral perfume of elderflowers when they are at their most fragrant.
Tip: If you are into fragrant flowers, check out our guide for the best-smelling flowers!
Elderflowers are the aromatic blossoms of the Elder tree
Chances are you have an Elder tree somewhere near
What is the best time to harvest elderflowers?
As their perfume fades by the afternoon, gather elderflower heads on a sunny, dry morning (before insects harvest the flowers’ pale yellow pollen). Elderflowers bloom from May through June, with specific dates varying depending on the weather. A warm winter should result in a bountiful crop in late spring.
Gather elderflower heads on a sunny, dry morning
How to harvest elderflowers
We choose a dry and sunny day and find the cleanest possible spots in nature with elderflowers. They should be away from roads and human activity. Cut the stems carefully with scissors or cut them with your hands, holding the blossom upwards so that you do not lose the pollen. Only pick flowers that have not rebloomed. Place them carefully in a basket, and after taking them home, examine them carefully and remove any spiders and bugs. Do not wash them with water.
Place the elderflowers carefully in a basket
Once, you are at home clean the elderflowers
Place the amount you are gonna use in a bowl
And, let’s get to the elderflower recipes below
Tips for picking elderflowers
- Look for elder trees that aren’t on a busy road, and avoid blossoms that have been peed on by dogs or foxes.
- Remove the flower heads with as few stalks as possible to avoid damaging the plant.
- Remove any insects before using, but don’t run the flowers under the water because the natural yeasts will be washed away.
Try not to damage the plant while picking the flowers
Make sure there are no bugs on the flowers
How to make homemade elderberry juice
Homemade Elderberry Juice: Method 1
Ingredients:
- 60 sprigs of elderflower
- sugar- 2 kg
- organic raw honey – 16 tablespoons (Tip: Read our honey guide to see if your honey is pure or adulterated)
- lemons – 8pcs.
How to make it:
Put the sugar in a large saucepan and pour in 3 liters of water. Heat on the hob and once it is boiling and all the sugar has dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat. Leave to cool. Add the chopped lemons, honey, and elderflowers and leave to stand for 48 hours. Make sure the flowers are well coated with the syrup. Strain through gauze and put into glass bottles. Sterilize for 5 minutes.
You will need 6o springs of elderflowers
The result is a refreshing elderflower drink with lots of health benefits
Homemade Elderberry Juice: Method 2
Ingredients:
- 60-70 elderflower sprigs
- water – 11 liters
- finely chopped herbs (thyme, wormwood, and lemon balm)
- 4 packets of lemon salt
- sugar – 11 kg
How to make it:
Take an 11-liter tube of mineral water and put 60-70 elderflowers in it and top up with fresh water. If we wish, we can add finely chopped herbs such as thyme, wormwood, and lemon balm. We close the cap of the tube and leave it for at least 24 hours to soak, shaking it occasionally. Strain the resulting extract into double gauze and add 11 kg of sugar (in a 1:1 sugar-water ratio) and 4 packets of lemon salt. Stir the liquid until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the finished homemade elderflower juice into glass bottles and close them tightly. Store in the refrigerator. When consuming, you should dilute the concentrated elderflower juice with water to your taste.
Store your elderflower juice in glass jars
Homemade Elderberry Juice: Method 3
Ingredients:
- 20 elderflower flowers
- water – 1 liter
- lemon salt – 1 sachet
- pure raw honey – 1 kg (Read also: Honey’s amazing benefits for your health)
How to make it:
First, put the elderflowers in the water and add the lemon salt sachet. Leave for 24 hours in a cool place. Strain and add 1 kg of pure honey, stirring until the honey has completely dissolved. Pour into glass jars and refrigerate. Before consumption, dilute with water to taste. This is a real vitamin bomb.
Find the method that works for you the best
And, make yourself this golden elderflower elixir every summer
Watch this video to see how elderflower syrup is made:
Elderflower Benefits
Elderflowers contain many vitamins – vitamin A, B-1, B-2, and B-3 complex and vitamin C; bioflavonoids, which are best known for their antioxidant anti-cancer properties. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and also contains chlorogenic acids that can help with allergies, regulate blood sugar levels, and have a laxative effect on the body. People have been using the elderflower for several millennia because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as detoxifying properties. Influenza, bronchitis, diabetes, swollen sinuses, constipation, rheumatism, joint inflammation, and eye irritation – are a few of the conditions the elderflower is good for. In combination with primrose flower, gentian root, verbena, and sorrel, the elder is used to maintain healthy sinuses and treat sinusitis.
Tip: If you are into super healthy drinks, take a look at kombucha’s benefits! And if you want to learn how to make the best homemade kombucha, follow our tips.
Elderflower has so many health benefits you have no idea about
Elderflower Tea Benefits
For centuries, people have used dried elderflowers to make healthy and restorative teas. To make a cup of tea, add 5 grams of dried elderflower to 200 ml of hot water and allow it to brew for ten minutes. When making elderflower tea, use only the dried flowers. Therefore, you should take advantage of the power of nature’s pharmacy and pick ripe elderflowers in spring. You can use them to make a delicious and healthy juice, and you can dry one part for tea.
See also: Have you heard of the magical blue tea? It is one of the most beneficial and unique-looking drinks you have ever seen!
Drinking tea is a great way to get all the elderflower benefits quickly in your system
And, if you want a refreshing snack, make some elderflower popsicles
Or, bake a delicious dessert with aromatic elderflowers in it
