Elderflower Cordial ("Bezináda")
·Boil the water
Boil four litres of water and let it cool.
Add the elderflowers
Some people give the flowers a gentle rinse (depends where you picked them) – just be careful not to wash off the pollen. Snip off the stems right at the base of the flower heads. This step matters: if you skip it, the cordial can turn out slightly bitter. So trim close enough that the flower heads almost fall apart, then add them to the water.
Add the lemons
Add the lemon, sliced, and let the flowers and lemon steep in the water for 24 hours (keep it out of direct sunlight).
Strain
After 24 hours, strain into a pot through a fine cloth – you'll be left with a cloudy liquid.
Add sugar and citric acid
Add the sugar and citric acid and warm gently over low heat (to about 40–50 °C – it must not boil) until the sugar dissolves.
Storage
The cordial is ready — let it cool to room temperature, then pour it into jars, ideally glass ones. Store in the fridge for up to 2 months.