How to make Organic Elderflower Cordial...

It's easy - that's for sure :) We know it from our time in Austria, where it was served in 'Buschenschanken'. These are usually farms or vineries in the countryside who serve their own produce, meat and, of course wine. They also served chilled 'Elderflower Cordial', which was my favorite beverage (well, besides the wine ;))

A few years ago I started making the cordial myself, since we have lots of 'Common Elder' plants on our property.

Freshly cut Elderflowers and Lemon

Tiny blossoms in the sugar-lemon-water solution.

Here are the simplified instructions for anyone who would like to make this refreshing beverage:
Dissolve sugar in water (5 parts sugar, 3 parts water - or whatever ratio works for you - the sugar is mainly used to preserve the syrup. If less sugar is used, the syrup/juice can spoils rather quickly - unless it's stored frozen. I did this too one year - made with agave syrup and honey, instead of sugar)

Add the peel and juice from lemons
add elderflowers (freshly picked, washed - as many as you can fit, I usually add a few more after a day or two)
let stand for several days (in the fridge)
Strain and fill in mason jars or glass bottles that can be closed tightly.

Pour some syrup into a glass, add ice, water - ENJOY!
(I was enjoying too quickly to take a picture ;))

Thanks for reading!!!

I also found a link on Wikipedia... (after I wrote all this to find a better name for 'syrup' or 'juice' - I didn't know there was the term 'cordial' for this particular beverage - one never stops learning ;)

Organic Yarrow

My yarrow is coming along very well - growing like a weed, of course ;) It doesn't take long anymore and I can harvest the flowers (to be dried). Perfect timing since I ran out of stock.
This herb is essential for my Organic Cold and Flu Comfort Tea

Yarrow is used against colds, cramps, fevers, kidney disorders, toothaches, skin irritations, and hemorrhages, and to regulate menses, stimulate the flow of bile, and purify the blood. Medicinal tea is a good remedy for severe colds and flu, for stomach ulcers, amenorrhea, abdominal cramps, abscesses, trauma and bleeding, and to reduce inflammation. 

Oh the places you'll go.... or work ;)

That's the places I usually work at to get everything ready for my shop and my customers :)

Now, that spring is here, one can find me more and more outside, tending the herbs... (they're peeking through more and more - check out my recent post with some pictures)

My desk get's a lot of attention - of course, because so far allmost all my sales are online based. Also I can watch my kids from here (in this case just one, the older one is in school), if they're playing outside.

This is some of my storage space and close by the place where my husband will set up another table, so I can blend and fill and have stock/storage all in one place. I'm looking forward!!! ;)

...will have to move the plant and the binders, of course...

storage

blend and fill

Oh yes, and since there's the 'treehouse in my shops name, you might wonder... Well, we have the plan to build one in our backyard for quite a while. The base is done and hopefully it will grow slowly but surely, just like my business :)