Bird cherry cordial

Makes 2,5-3 litres of concentrate

Ingredients:
50 bird cherry flower sprays
1,5 litres water
1,5 kilos caster sugar
50 grams citric acid
2 organic lemons, washed and sliced

Preparation:
1. Clean and rinse your glass bottles with a pinch of sodium benzoate dissolved in hot water. Rinse the flowers well in cold water. 
2. Bring the water to boil and mix in the sugar and citric acid.
3. Put the flowers and sliced lemons in a bowl, bucket or pot that can be sealed quite tightly. Pour over the hot sugar mixture, stir it and cover it up.
4. Store the mixture in a dark and cool place for about 4 days. Stir it gently once a day. 
5. Next, line a jug or bowl with a straining bag and use a soup ladle to put everything into it. Squeeze the bag at the end to gather up all the liquid. Pour into the clean bottles.

Store in the fridge.

Dilute 1/4 concentrate with 3/4 water, or to your liking :)

Tip: Take 25 ml gin, 25 ml bird cherry cordial, top up with soda water, garnish with sliced lemon. It is SO good.

Picking bird cherry

There is an old saying, that the cobbler takes his summer holiday between the blossoming of the bird cherry and that of the lilac - because it is the most delightful time of the year. I totally go along with that.

So, this spring, me and my friend Linnéa got the idea to try making three different flower cordials. There is the obvious and classic elder flower, but we will also go for bird cherry and lilac, using the same method.

We picked the flowers and made the mixture yesterday, and now it will have to "brew" for four days in a cold and dark place before we can see how it turns out. I will share the result as well as the recipe here soon!