Re: Elderflower Cordial

French Food and Wine

Elderflower Cordial

Geranium 08/05/2008, 10:46
Now that the elderflowers are out I want to make Elderflower Cordial this year. All the recipes I have require citric acid. Does anyone know what this is known as in France and where I am likely to get it from?

Re: Elderflower Cordial

Clair 08/05/2008, 11:03
French recipes use clear vinegar.
http://www.linternaute.com/femmes/cuisine/recette/307214/1095422231/jus_de_fleurs_de_sureau.shtml

Clair, a Real Virtual French Person

Re: Elderflower Cordial

Hoddy 08/05/2008, 11:05

You can buy citric acid at the pharmacy.

Hoddy

Re: Elderflower Cordial

JayJay 08/05/2008, 11:10
You could ask in your local pharmacie, it's acid citrique. Also, I remember reading somewhere, that you can substitute it with acide tartarique, you can get that from your pharmacie.

friendship warms the heart & heals the soul

Re: Elderflower Cordial

mooky 08/05/2008, 11:51
Not all Pharmacies will sell citric acid to the general public. It is part of a recipe used with heroin. I took a copy of my recipe for Elderflower cordial with me and showed the pharmacist. She explained their caution to me.

Re: Elderflower Cordial

Gengulphus 08/05/2008, 11:52

JayJay wrote:
acide citrique… you can substitute it with acide tartarique, you can get that from your pharmacie.

There is a slight distinction here. Most elderflower cordial recipes are quite heavy on citric acid, which contributes significantly to the final taste. Whilst citric acid is 'lemony', tartaric acid has a decidedly sour taste which most people do not consider pleasant in quantity.

But, as jayjay says, citric acid is readily obtainable.

It's good, provided it lasts…
Letizia Bonaparte

Re: Elderflower Cordial

Pierre ZFP 08/05/2008, 12:17
Just use lemon juice. Same effect and tastes good too

Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice, shame on me
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Re: Elderflower Cordial

Geranium 08/05/2008, 12:58
Thank you. I'll try and get the acid citrique. If I can't and choose to use lemon juice, would the quantitities be the same? My recipe requires 75g of the citric acid. Also would the keeping qualities be the same?

I was hoping the cordial would see us through the summer, but how long can I expect it to last in a normal air-tight bottle?

Re: Elderflower Cordial

Pierre ZFP 08/05/2008, 13:13
75g of citric acid is quite a lot. What quanties are you making? I would use 1 or 2 lemons per litre, taste it and see how much is good for you. The keeping qualities are dependent on the sugar content, not the citric acid but kept in a cool dark place it should be fine for the whole summer. If it starts to ferment, add more water and make elderflower wine Beer [B]

Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice, shame on me
Fool me 3 times and you can see a statistical tendency

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