A summer tradition – as soon as the elderberry trees starts blooming, I am on a mission.
Ice Cold Elderberry Flower Juice
I get out early in the morning while the sun is rising and the mist hangs low on the fields, to pick the beautiful white and deliciously smelling flowers. It’s a Danish tradition, we look at it as a confirmation of summer – the elderberry flowers are blooming and the first strawberries are ready. Then I know summer is here!
Elderberry flowers
Since I moved to the West Coast of Canada I have not seen any Elderberry bushes anywhere. Last year I told my friend how much I missed that tradition and she said – “but I have one!”
So this year she, the dear soul, donated every single flower to my mission – that’s generosity!
Elderberry Flower Juice
40 Clusters of flowers
3 organic lemons
1 1/2 kg Raw sugar – (the original recipe asks for caster sugar to get a clear blonde juice, but I prefer to use the healthier raw sugar)
2 liters of boiling water
Rinse the elderberry flowers, put them into a big bowl. Wash the organic lemons, slice them and put them with the flowers.
Getting ready
Add the sugar – pour over the boiling water and stir till the sugar has dissolved.
Leave it to cool – cover it and put it in the fridge for 3 days to “brew”. Take it out and stir every day.
Brewing
On the third day strain the juice through a cloth pour it in to distilled bottles. There is no preservative in the juice and therefore it will not last long. What I do to keep it fresh is to freeze it in ice-cube trays, then I can take it out as I need it. Use them as flavorful ice cubes – ie in white wine or in apple juice.
It’s delicious!
Even on strawberries with freshly chopped mint……
Local Strawberries
Enjoy!
On Ice
Anne Sture Tucker 
I have always heard of the benefits of elderberries but have never lived in an area where they grow.
You are right they are very healthy and they taste so good! Wish I could send you some juice to try 🙂
I loved collecting elderflowers when I lived in both England and Spain. Here in Louisiana, they don’t grow :(. I’ve been thinking about ordering some dried flowers, but as I’m sure you know most of the fun is in picking!
I am sorry, I can relate – once you have tried picking them and making beautiful juice, you are hooked 🙂 I was so happy when I found them here in Canada!
Thank you for visiting – have a wonderful weekend!
I don’t find Elderberries here. The flowers are beautiful!
Yes the flowers are so beautiful!
Thank you for visiting Amy – Hope you have great weekend!
Gorgeous flowers! I’ve never heard of elderberry flower juice – – but it looks really refreshing. We tried growing elderberries here…Tried ;-).
Oh Annie it’s so refreshing – the absolute taste of summer!
Too bad they did not succeed in your garden! They are quite robust and grow wild in Denmark.
I recommend another try 🙂
I wish elderberries were readily available here 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I know – they are so tasty! Wish I could send you a bottle of juice 🙂
Looks very refreshing!
Thank you Leslie – it really is gorgeously refreshing 🙂
I made your lovely drink & loved it so much, Anne! It was superb! x
Fantastic!! Are you so lucky you have the elderberry bushes in your garden?
I love Elderberry flower juice so much!
I think it would taste really amazing in a fruit smoothie 🙂
Such a beautiful recipe Anne. I wonder where I can get the flowers from. Maybe my farmers market on Saturday….
My mom-in-law loves this elderberry juice so much so she was so happy when we gave her a bottle of syrup that we saw in a German health shop. They are pretty much in bloom now but I don’t know how to prepare them from fresh flowers. Thanks for your recipe, will definitely try this now. 😉