10 Elderflower Recipes and Uses (2024)

FAQs

What can you do with elderflowers? ›

Elderflower is delicious mixed into cakes, tarts, trifles and jams. It pairs particularly well with tart fruits such as rhubarb and gooseberries. From casual nibbles to celebratory showstoppers, we have a whole host of fantastic floral recipes.

The lightly sweet nuances of elderflower blend well with many other natural fruit flavors and botanicals, including honey, pear, blackberry, strawberry, grapefruit, orange, lime, passionfruit, ginger, and even herbal flavors like rosemary, basil, and lemongrass.

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. Cooking removes this chemical.

The flowers and berries are the only edible part of the plant. They are mildly toxic and have an unpleasant taste when raw. Cooking destroys the toxic chemicals. Elderflowers are ready around late May to mid-June.

The flavor is just sweet enough and adds a little extra something to a co*cktail. Tastes good enough to drink straight if you absolutely wanted to. Great in a nice gin co*cktail.

Elder Flower is truly a protector and soother–its cooling properties work to quell irritation, offering solace to irritated skin. Its naturally calming properties help reduce redness and relieve discomfort, guiding skin back to a state of tranquility and diminishing the visual signs of irritation.

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.

The most common uses are for colds and flu, sinus infections, and other respiratory disturbances. As a supplement, elderflower also has diuretic and laxative properties and is helpful in relieving occasional constipation.

Elder flower tea may also be useful against insomnia, anxiety and other nervous disorders. The flowers are a significant source of Vitamin C, as well as other antioxidants. The ripe berries also have a laxative effect in small doses, but may cause nausea and vomiting in larger amounts.

Is elderflower anti-inflammatory? ›

The health benefits of elderflowers mean they are high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and also helpful in supporting healthy skin healing and reducing skin irritations.

Safety. Elderflower may lower blood sugar levels, therefore precaution must be taken in diabetes, or where taking anti-diabetic medications. Precaution must also be taken as elderflower may interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery.

They contain a variety of antioxidants (including vitamin C), and are often used to treat respiratory illnesses – from colds to sinusitis. They are also thought to contain antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. There are over 25 species of the elder plant around the world, with berries that vary in colour.

The leaves, stems and unripe berries of both red and black elderberry species contain cyanide-inducing glycosides which can cause a toxic buildup of cyanide in the body. When using elderflowers, be sure to remove them from all but that smallest stem attachments to keep these toxins out of your food.

By itself, the elderflower flavor profile is described as a uniquely fresh, fruity, green and slightly floral with subtle pear, lychee and tropical nuances.

Harvesting elderflowers

On a cool sunny morning, cut the elderflower clusters off, when the dew on the freshly opened individual flowers has dried off, and place them loosely in a basket. Use the harvested elderflowers as soon as possible, otherwise they will wither.

Elderberry and elderflower actually come from the same plant, and represent its different growth stages. While consuming raw elderberries or other parts of the bark or leaves can be poisonous, the elderflower is an aromatic, light blossom that creates a floral and balanced flavor.

Depending upon where you live, elderflowers are at their peak in late spring to early summer. In most regions, mid-June seems to be the best time for picking. If left to their own devices, the flowers will turn into delicious, dark purple berries around August, which must be cooked to remove cyanidin glycoside.