ELDERFLOWER FIZZ
THE WEEKEND PROJECT
This summer refresher is easier to make than you might think. Light and fragrant, it’s a fantastic alternative to shop-bought bubbly, and has hardly any alcohol
“My parents made this fermented elderflower drink when I was a child, steeping the frothy, creamy flowers in enamel basins in the garden, and it’s a tradition I’ve revived as an adult.
Elderflowers bloom in late May and June and need to be picked early in the morning on a sunny, dry day. This isn’t superstition but chemistry. This recipe, inspired by the one in John Seymour’s The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency, relies on wild yeasts to carbonate your bubbly, and they’re most abundant in warm, dry conditions. That said, don’t fret about how fizzy your drink will be – there’s inevitable variation from year to year.