For centuries, elderflowers and berries have been used as effective home remedies to combat the common cold. The elderberry, berries and flowers, fresh or dried, were used. Today it is possible to freeze elderberry and use it anytime as if it were freshly picked.

Elderflowers can be preserved in a number of ways

Use of elderflowers

The wonderfully fragrant elderflowers are harvested in spring and usually processed fresh, as the flowers do not keep for long. There are various options for use:

  • Bake the washed blossoms in beer batter
  • dry the blossoms in the air or in the oven and use for tea infusion store in glasses
  • Production of elderflower syrup as an ingredient for various drinks

Preservation of elderflowers

Elderflowers must be harvested carefully and quickly, as they wither very quickly. It is possible to freeze the umbels of flowers so that they can also be used like fresh produce in autumn or winter. Elderflower syrup also freezes well.

Freezing step by step

  1. harvest the elderflowers when they are in full bloom
  2. shake off all dirt and any bugs
  3. briefly dip the umbels in water and let them drain on a kitchen towel
  4. place all the umbels side by side on a tray and place in the freezer for a few hours
  5. the frozen buds are now ready to be stripped from the stems and stored in the freezer in suitable tins

The preparation of syrup in simple steps

  1. use cleaned elderflowers
  2. boil 3 liters of water with 2 kg of sugar
  3. add the juice of 3 lemons
  4. pour the sugar solution over the elderflowers and let it rest for 5 days
  5. Boil the extract again, strain and freeze it in suitable containers

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden