Elderflower

Sambucus nigra

flower

Broad umbels of small, very fragrant cream flowers of the black elder, a shrub of European hedgerows; as cordial, lemonade, fritters or tea.

Origin

Hedgerows of Europe

Season (United States)

May to June

Preparation

Only the flowers, without the green stems: the leaves, stems and raw berries of elder make you ill. And make sure it is black elder, a shrub, not dwarf elder, its toxic herbaceous cousin.

Molecules

In small amounts, not counted Flavonols (quercetin)

Did you know?

All over Europe it is made into a syrup diluted with water: socată in Romania, fläderblomsaft in Sweden, hyldeblomstsaft in Denmark.