Elderflower Champagne

The small purple elderberries can be made into pies, jams, and juices.

But the flowers are equally useful in the kitchen.

Elderflower champagne is a naturally carbonated drink that is easy to make.

Don't be put off by the word champagne.

This is neither a drink of the privileged class nor something that is difficult to make: It's flowers left in a pail with water, sugar, and lemons to undergo a fermentation that takes place when natural yeasts on the elderflowers feed on the sugar.

Elderflower Champagne
Supplies:

• Nonreactive container (a granite pot or a food-grade plastic pail will work well.)

Ingredients:

• 16 cups water
  
  
• 3 cups white sugar
  
  
• 6 elderflower clusters
  
  
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  
  
• 3 lemons, thinly sliced

Procedure:

• Boil 12 cups of water and allow to cool;
  
  
• In a separate pot, boil 4 cups of water. Remove from heat, then mix with the 3 cups of sugar, stirring until dissolved. Allow to cool in a nonreactive container;
  
  
• Add other ingredients to container;
  
  
• Stir and cover with a tea towel;
  
  
• Leave for 4 days in a slightly warm place;
  
  
• Strain through cheesecloth into sterilized plastic screw-top bottles;
  
  
• Store in a cool, dark place for at least one week;
  
  
• Once bottles are very firm, store in refrigerator.

Some sediment is normal.

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