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GATHERING elderflowers and brewing up refreshing cordials is all the rage, but what about the flowery umbels that remain on the tree and magically turn into deep autumnal juicy red-black berries?
The elder tree is one of the must generous of all our natives and even though it looks rather unkempt from late October until May, it never fails to delight us with its summer fragrant blooms and its tart, distinctive elderberries in autumn. Great bunches of elderberries can now be found hanging off the hedgerows and adorning country lanes, roadsides, graveyards, parks and gardens and are almost begging to be picked.
Like other berries, elderberries Sambucus nigra are abundant this year, but one needs to get out and forage fast as peckish birds are equally abundant. Elderberries are used to make wine, jam, jellies, chutney, sauces, syrups, cordial and to flavour vinegar and spirits. They can be added fresh to pies and puddings, but be warned their tart flavour may not appeal to everybody, even when masked with sugar.
Elderberries work well in jams, chutneys and jellies, especially if mixed with other autumnal harvests such as blackberries and apples. If dried and rehydrated, they can be added to cakes and muffins, making a decent subsitute for raisins and blueberries.
They work especially well when blended with warm spices in syrups and cordials, making a drink that tastes absolutely incredible and is also known to be a remedy for preventing and recovering from flu, colds, excessive mucus and sore throats. Due to the large amount of antioxidants, beta carotene, calcium and vitamin C in elderberries, they are prized for their immune boosting benefits and have a long history of use in traditional medicine. Elderberries can start to ripen as early as August and berries are ready for picking when clusters start to hang upside down.
I'm assuming not due to the alcohol? I want to make another batch in days, because I don't have enough to give away, as I'm seeing some people over the weekend. Quite frankly, you can easily go broke buying elderberry syrup in the store. Guinness Ice Cream Cocktails June 23, Nope, no cooking necessary if you make the tincture.
When heading out on a berry-expedition, go equipped with a small bucket for collecting and a crook for gently tugging branches into easier reach. If you plan to gather large quantities, take along another container to collect the contents of your filled bucket.
Collect clusters whole by nipping them off at the stem and make sure to only harvest fresh juicy berries, avoiding those that are dried or shrivelled. Clean them well and strip from stalks using a fork. As always, good forager ethics need to be upheld so avoid over-harvesting or trampling and breaking bushes.
Remember also to spare some of the berry booty for the birds and avoid foraging food from the side of busy roads or sprayed fields. This recipe produces a warm, rich liqueur that will remind you of a tawny port wine, only without the port. Available for download now.
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