A sparkling and rather alcoholic summer drink
Shake the elderflowers to remove any stray insects, and check them over.
Put eight pints of blood-temperature water (warm when felt with the elbow -as you'd do with a baby's bottle) into a large non-metallic container. I use a clean sterilised 2-gallow plastic bucket.
Add the sugar to the water and stir until all dissolved.
Add the zest and juice of two lemons. Don't get any of the white pitch in it, or the wine will be bitter.
Add the elderflowers, and dunk them thoroughly, using a wooden or plastic spoon.
Now add a pinch of yeast if you're nervous. In theory, wild yeasts on the elderflowers will cause fermentation anyway - but I always add yeast.
Stir, cover tightly with muslin or a clean tea-towel.
Stir once or twice daily for three days
Leave for a further three or four days.
Then strain through a jell-bag or similar, pouring the wine off carefully so as not to disturb any sediment in the bucket.
Bottle in very strong bottles with firm lids - or cork VERY securely. Storein a cool but not cold dark place. It's ready after a further2 weeks.
Note: fermentation continues after bottling, giving a fizzy wine. It's an excellent idea to test a bottle after the first four or five days by unscrewing / uncorking: if there's been a massive gas build-up, release the pressure in all the bottles. Otherwise, fermentation may jut be vigorous enough to explode the bottles!
Don't be put off by the initial smell of the elderflowers, which is pungent and many find unpleasant! It dies down after the first day, and the finished drink has a glorious aroma.
I made this as a youngster, and started making it again in 2012, and again in 2013.
View line-by-line Nutrition Insights™: Discover which ingredients contribute the calories/sodium/etc.
|
||
Serving Size: 1 Serving (4462g) | ||
Recipe Makes: Servings | ||
|
||
Calories: 1799 | ||
Calories from Fat: 6 (0%) | ||
|
||
Amt Per Serving | % DV | |
|
||
Total Fat 0.6g | 1 % | |
Saturated Fat 0.1g | 0 % | |
Monounsaturated Fat 0g | ||
Polyunsanturated Fat 0.2g | ||
Cholesterol 0mg | 0 % | |
Sodium 158.2mg | 5 % | |
Potassium 322.3mg | 8 % | |
Total Carbohydrate 476.6g | 140 % | |
Dietary Fiber 10.2g | 41 % | |
Sugars, other 466.5g | ||
Protein 2.6g | 4 % | |
Powered by: USDA Nutrition Database Disclaimer: Nutrition facts are derived from linked ingredients (shown at left in colored bullets) and may or may not be complete. Always consult a licensed nutritionist or doctor if you have a nutrition-related medical condition. |
Calories per serving: 1799
Get detailed nutrition information, including item-by-item nutrition insights, so you can see where the calories, carbs, fat, sodium and more come from.
There are no reviews yet. Be the first!
What would you serve with this? Link in another recipe.