🌼 Elderflower Champagne (Easy Recipe)

A light, naturally fizzy drink that’s perfect for warm weather.

🧾 Ingredients

• 7 heads of elderflowers (picked on a dry, sunny day)
• 1 gallon (8 pints / ~4.5 litres) water
• 2 lemons 🍋 (juice + thinly sliced peel)
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 1¼ lb (about 570g) white sugar

👩‍🍳 Method

1. Boil the water
   Bring the water to a boil, then pour it over the sugar in a large container. Stir until dissolved.
2. Let it cool
   Allow the sugary water to cool completely.
3. Add the ingredients
   Add:
• Elderflower heads
• Lemon juice
• Lemon peel slices
• Vinegar
4. Leave to infuse
   Cover and leave the mixture for 24 hours.
5. Strain
   Strain the liquid through muslin (or a clean cloth) into another container.
6. Bottle it
   Pour into clean plastic bottles that previously held fizzy drinks (like sparkling water bottles).

⏳ Fermentation & Fizz

• Lightly fizzy after 1 week
• Very fizzy after 2 weeks

⚠️ Important:

• Check bottles daily and gently loosen the caps to release pressure (this prevents explosions).
• Only use bottles designed for carbonated drinks—still water bottles are not strong enough.