Lilac Blossom Cordial

Nothing says spring like the intoxicating scent of lilac blossoms. Their sweetness reminds me of childhood, my mother's birthday, and the hope and renewal that spring rains bring. Their fragrance is so heady and delicious that I've always wanted to eat them - and you can! While I enjoy lilac blossom tea with a bit of honey and a twist of lime, my true love lies with lilac blossom cordial.

Spring Blossoms 

Lilacs have been used as medicine for as long as they've been around. Their bitter taste improves digestion and cools inflammation. They have been used for kidney infections, digestive distress, and to calm anxious nerves.
It's a tree of guardianship protecting those in need, and an ally to the faerie realm to ward off unwanted intrusions.  In Gaelic, Lilac is called Galad, which means gift and is the root word for hospitality, sexual pleasure, delight and mystical union. Perfect themes for Beltane, which is just around the corner. 

Where I live, both lilac and elderflower bloom at the same time of year, and both have a scent that I am eager to capture. This is where cordial is the perfect recipe! Making cordials means I get to capture that intoxicating scent and taste long after the flower fades. While I do prefer to avoid sugary products, especially when it comes to making herbal medicines, the power of preservation that sugar has is like no other, so this is one of my exceptions. 

I use the same basic recipe for lilac cordial as I do for elderflower cordial. The native elder tree that grows here on Salt Spring (Sambucus racemosa)  happens to bloom now - when the lilacs do. So I'm busy making this recipe for both. Go ahead and do the same!
Note: The seeds within Sambucus racemosa berries are toxic, but the flowers are safe. 

LILAC FLOWER CORDIAL 

Preparation: 10 minutes 

INGREDIENTS 

6-10 fresh lilac heads (or elderflower)

2 litres (2000ml) of boiled water 

1kg (2lbs) of organic sugar 

2 whole organic lemons, washed 

Optional: 2TBSP of citric acid to help preserve. Or, simply add two more lemons. 

Gather approximately 6-10 whole heads of lilac flowers. Make sure to gather from an unpolluted area. It's best to harvest on a sunny day when the blooms are dry. Avoid wilting, browning blooms that are on their way out.

Pull the blossoms off of the stem.

It's okay if some of the green ends of the blooms are pulled off as well.  Place the blossoms in a wide-mouthed glass or ceramic container.

Wash two lemons clean. Slice them and add them into the container with lilacs, peel and all.

Boil 2 litres (2000ml) of water.

Add 1kg of sugar to the boiled water to dissolve.

Pour over the lilac and lemons.

Optional: Add 2TBSP of citric acid to help preserve the finished project - or add two more lemons to the recipe.

Make sure the blooms and lemons are submerged under the hot water. Fasten the lid on the jar. Let it stand on the counter for 3-5 days.

Check on the brew each day, making sure the blooms remain submerged; stir good intentions and images of all the people you will make happy with this cordial. I smile as I think of all the birthdays and holidays I'll be celebrating with this garden brew. 

Taste it. You can add more sugar if necessary. Some recipes actually double the amount of sugar I used here.

After 5 days, strain the cordial through a fine mesh strainer, and place it in sterilized bottles. You can use canning jars, or pretty antique jars so long as the lid is tightly fastened. Just remember to label it with ingredients and a date.

Store in the fridge. It can last a very long time. In fact, I just found a bottle in the back of my fridge from five years ago! It smells and tastes as fragrant as the day I made it.

How to drink it? Oh, well, any which way you like. I prefer 2tbsp of cordial in a fancy wine glass filled with sparkling water and ice. Plain water is nice too if you don't like the bubbly. You can drizzle it over pancakes, ice cream, or crepes.

I also found this amazing recipe for lilac scones! Please make them and then let me know how they turn out. 

There is nothing sweeter in the wintertime than serving this summery cordial, it always lifts the spirits. 

Enjoy! I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. What do you do with Lilac blossoms? And if you make cordial this year, let me know how your batch turns out!

xo Seraphina