The elderflowers are here and it is the best time of year. If I was more of a poet I’d have come up with a second line to go with that. I’ve been shoving elderflowers into various different things for years: cordial, gin, crumble and sugar to name a few. I wanted to try something a little different, and a bit less time consuming this time round, to get that wonderful elderflower fragrance down my neck as soon as I could. A celebration of late spring flavours my Elderflower, Cucumber and Mint Fizz is just the ticket for a sunny afternoon.
Ingredients
You will need (for two glasses):
- ½ cucumber, grated
- 1 lime
- 3 heads of elderflower
- Small handful mint leaves
- Sparkling water
Method
If you can pick your elderflowers on a sunny morning it is said to be better for flavour. Having picked in all manner of different weather I can confirm that sunny mornings are actually better; they certainly smell more intense anyway.
I leave my elderflower heads on my draining board when I have picked them to allow time and opportunity for any bugs to escape (it’s next to the window so they can go back to where they came from). I then follow this with a good shake outside to get rid of any others that are clinging on.
Squeeze the grated cucumber into a small lidded container to collect the juice. The leftover grated cucumber is excellent for making a raita.
Squeeze the juice from the lime into the cucumber juice. Bash the mint leaves up a little, either in a pestle and mortar or just whack them with a rolling pin, and add these to the cucumber juice too.
Pick the elderflower flowers from the heads, leaving as many stalks behind as possible, and add these to the container. Put the lid on and give everything a good shake. I prefer shaking it as I feel this more violent approach helps to release more oils and flavour.
Leave to infuse for an hour.
Strain the cucumber juice into two glasses and top up with sparkling water. Decorate each glass with a little mint leaf if you’re feeling suave.
This would be really rather delicious if topped up with some Cava or added to a gin and tonic. On its own it is so refreshing and has all the flavours of an English summer; I really like it with sparkling water, or just tonic, sat outside with a good book. It looks so delicate but don’t let that fool you, the cooling cucumber, sharp lime, refreshing mint and elegant elderflower all come through so well. If you are thinking of heading out to pick some elderflowers, check out my beginner’s guide to wild food!
I love the sound of adding this to some sparkling water :-)) Would it work with ginger ale?
It would be delicious with ginger ale, or tonic water!
Oh Caroline, this is such a nice and elegant drink…I love the refreshing cucumber and mint with the aromatic elderflower…thanks for the inspiration!
I hope you are having a great week 🙂
I love the color of this drink – it’s so pretty and sounds very tasty as well! Perfect for a summer time drink by the garden.
we don’t use elderflower much in the us, but i’m very drawn to it and i love seeing how you use it!
Oh I know I am a fan of this cocktail. Cucumbers are so underated in drinks and subtle enought to work with the elderflower. I have the liqueur and some syrup at home.
You always have the best drinks and I love all your elderflower creations, so please keep them coming. It’s such a lovely delicate flavour.
That sounds so refreshing! I wish I could get elderflower blossoms in Tucson… maybe a syrup or extract? I will check and let you know, Caroline!
Ooh lucky you! I wish I had a ready stash of elderflowers 😀
Such a pretty and elegant looking fizz. Mint and cucumbers are the best friends and that addition of elderflower.
What a lovely, refreshing beverage! Love the deliious infusion of mint and elderberries 🙂
Wow!! it looks refreshing and yumm. A perfect fizz for any day. Awesome flavours and yum drink. 🙂
I have always wanted to make elderflower syrup, I bet this drink is fabulous.
This sounds so wonderfully refreshing! And that color is just gorgeous :). Have a great week!
This drinks looks so refreshing and summery. I love your addition of mint. Lovely presentation too.
You make the best drinks. This one sounds so refreshing
I wish I could forage for elderflowers here. I will have to make do with the cordial we get however.
Elderflower isn’t so popular in the states but I’ve had it a few times and I’m a huge fan. This drink looks refreshing and summery. I wonder if I can track down Elderflower to make it myself.
This is the perfect summer drink. I’ll definitely be topping mine up with gin though because I am a gin hag!
Lovely drink. Nice all by itself, and I like the cava and G&T ideas. Thanks!
What a great, refreshing summer drink – love elderflower ♡
Miriam xx
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Yum! This seems so palatable and thirst-quenching! Great job!
Such an elegant looking fizz. Love these ingredients ; )
This sounds so refreshing and delicious!
The elderflowers are here and it is the best time of year.
So try this drink and tell me what you think!
Obviously I am not a poet but I do love a challenge. The drink looks really refreshing. I wish I had elderflowers around me so I could try it
This definitely sounds like a super refreshing summer drink! Love the color, Caroline. I’m going to look into tracking down elderflowers or maybe a syrup, as David suggested. They’re not easy to find in Texas 🙂