Elderflower champagne

[lockwood1956]

http://wijnmaker.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

Luc is a great guy, and very knowledgeable, I love his experiments...my favourite is the pectin one....

(scroll to the bottom of the pages for the English version)

[lockwood1956]

http://wijnmaker.blogspot.com/2009/05/vlierbloemen-oogsten-elderflower.html

this is the harvesting method entry from his blog

[benarnold]

http://wijnmaker.blogspot.com/2009/0...derflower.html

this is the harvesting method entry from his blog

I did the elderflower harvesting his way this year and it does work really well. You still have to sift through the flowers to remove the stalks, but it's easier than actually pulling them off. I got through about 200 heads of flowers in no time

[Her Lushness]

http://wijnmaker.blogspot.com/2009/0...derflower.html

this is the harvesting method entry from his blog

Okay, you convinced me! The dogs will be pleased, coz when I go harvesting for stuff they get an extra long walk

[piagio2000]

See C4 have now amended their recipe from 2KG per 6ltr to 700g!

Reading down some of the comments it seems quite a few people did what I did and followed the previous recipe to the letter.

C4 really need taken to task over that....consequences could have been horrible.

[shirlthegirl43]

Here's the recipe I use, comes out great every time...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A593363

I would recommend using 2litre pop bottles rather than glass though. It doesn't ferment in the bin, just takes the elderflower flavour. The fermenting happens in the bottles and the fizz is just gorgeous. It turns out looking like cloudly lemonade and does have sediment which will always come up when the bottle is opened but it doesn't matter.

[lockwood1956]

Under no cumstances should anyone put this stuff into glass bottles, other than proper chapagne bottles, you are creating glass hand grenades if you do.
I was on jims beer kit last year when they were all making it, and they were all having bottles explode and break into teeny pieces, if that happened and you were next to it, i shudder to think the damage it would cause.

The BBC and Channel4 need reaming for their publishing of these methods (I have written to both, but received no replies)

The recipe is fine...the methodology re glass bottles isnt

[shirlthegirl43]

I have picked what I reckon will be the last of the reachable flowers here. I don't have any lemons and cba going out to buy them - can I use citric acid instead? I have that and I have pure lemon juice in a bottle. Which will be the best substitute for lemon peel and how much should I use? I need rind and juice of 4 lemons

[Valfodr]

Just a warning to you all!

If you are using Champagne bottles, make sure that they are in good condition. Especially, if they are 'used'. Didn't realise that one of the ones I used for EF Champers was damaged/weakened/whatever.

Got home from work on Monday and found my 7 yo son waiting for me in the garden. He expected me to clean his bike, his swingball, desk, paints, toys, action man, starwars figures...Well, you name it and it was covered in sweet smelling, syrupy loveliness.

Apparently, the neighbours were going to call out the local Armed Response Squad. Taliban attacking Yate, they feared. Makes quite a loud bang, so I hear!

[Her Lushness]

Thank God he wasn't near the bottle when it went off! I bet you OH wasn't too impressed?

[kampervan]

why are people using glass for this. doesnt have the greatest lifespan so why not use pet. not had one explode yet and you can see if its expanding

[Valfodr]

I'll assure you that I won't be doing that again. It's the first bottle explosion I've had after many beers / wines and lagers.

I used 4 glass champagne bottles (because they look nice ) and the other 12 bottles are 1lt PET.

Still, the elderflower fizzy does taste good.

Best of british, all.

[wipka84]

wish i had my finger out to have a go at elderflower champagne. Unfortunately the flowering this year coincided with my exams to become a chartered surveyor, so spent much of my time either staring at the flowers whilst working away or only getting the chance to have a go at concentrate wines which i could buy and get round to making when i had a spare hour!