Dorothy FarrarElderflower
Elderflowers belong to the musk herb family, three of which are native to Central Europe. Elderflowers can be collected in early summer and then processed into a wide variety of sweet specialties.
Here’s what you should know about elderflower
The elder is a woody plant and grows as a shrub or subshrub. It grows between 1 and 15 meters high and has imparipinnate leaves and paniculate inflorescences with white flowers. The elder flowers are three to fivefold and have a double perianth. Elderflowers have a very intense smell and a sweet taste.
Elderberry can be found primarily in Central Europe, but it also grows in Central and Western Asia and North Africa. In some countries such as Poland, Spain, Hungary and Russia, the plant is also deliberately cultivated.
importance to health
It was already known in ancient times that elderflowers are very healthy. In terms of health, however, the blossoms only have value when they are fully open. For example, a tea is used for colds , flu infections and fever , whereby two teaspoons of elderflower are simply poured over with boiling water. The tea has to steep for ten minutes, is then strained and drunk. It can also be used to gargle with a sore throat .
Furthermore, the circulation can be strengthened and the metabolism promoted with the help of the tea. In addition, it also purifies the blood and helps against flatulence . Steam baths with elderflower also help with bronchitis and sinus infections . In the case of sunburn and inflamed eyes, poultices with the flowers relieve the symptoms.
Ingredients & nutritional values
Elderflowers mainly contain essential oil and flavonoids , with organic acids and the substance rutin occurring here in particular. Other ingredients are:
- Vitamin C
- tannic acid
- tannins
- mucilage
- Choline
- Glycoside
intolerances
Since elderberry only releases pollen to a very small extent, the allergic reactions here are very low. Food allergies that occur due to the consumption of elderflower are not known.
Shopping and kitchen tips
Elderflowers cannot be bought, only collected. The elder flowers from the end of May to the end of July. Then the elderflowers can be picked. However, the pollution should be taken into account here and the flowers should only be collected away from busy roads. Only the white umbels are picked, as the leaves and stems of the shrub are slightly poisonous and can cause gastrointestinal problems .
Since the flowers are very delicate, they should be harvested on dry days as they fall off when it rains. The morning hours are particularly suitable for this, when the flowers are carefully cut off and best placed in a basket. A plastic bag is not suitable for collection, as the flowers then spoil rather quickly. After picking, the flowers should be used as soon as possible.
However, elderflowers are also suitable for drying and keep for several months protected from light and in an airtight jar. If you want to dry the flowers, spread them out on a baking tray and then put them in the slightly open oven at around 40 degrees. A temperature of 20 degrees is sufficient for circulating air.
The elderflowers are dry when they can be easily detached from the flowers. They are then rubbed through a wire sieve and placed in a dark container. If the flowers are used fresh, they only need to be washed and then shaken dry.
preparation tips
The so-called elderberry cakes, for which elderflowers are dipped in dough, are very well known. For the batter, flour, milk, rum, salt , egg and acacia honey are whisked together. The mass has to rest for 30 minutes, then the flowers can be dipped and fried in fat. The baked elderflowers are served warm with cinnamon and sugar.
In addition, a delicious syrup , jelly or liqueur can be prepared from the flowers. For an elderflower juice, the flowers have to steep with lemon slices , water and tartaric acid in a cool place for 24 hours.
They are then strained, boiled with sugar and bottled. By boiling, the sugar dissolves very well, so that the shelf life is also extended.
The elderflower sparkling wine is also very popular. For this, sugar is dissolved in water, then lemons, wine vinegar and the flowers are added. The mixture is steeped for 24 hours, then strained and bottled.
The bottles are secured with a cork, on the surface of which a shallow notch is cut. A piece of string about 45 cm long is pressed into this notch and tied around the neck of the bottle. After a few days, the drink will begin to ferment slightly, and then a month later it can be drunk.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.