Foraging for elderf lowers
Look for heads with lots of open, clean, white starshape flowers. Trim at the fork in the stem below (the stalks are bitter) and use within a few hours. As with all foraging, pick away from busy roads, where flowers may have been tainted by fumes, and don’t leave any of the elder trees too barren as this will prevent them producing berries later in the year. If you’re not sure about the flowers, give them a sniff – elderflower has a distinctive scent, which you’ll recognise easily if you’ve ever had the cordial before. Dry sunny mornings are best for picking.