I am an Elderflower foraging newbie.
While I’ve enjoyed the fruits and flowers of others forest finds, I have yet to venture out solo to search for these sweet, delicate, spring blooms. Well until this year.
I am determined to learn all there is to know about Elderflower. Called “Holunder” in German, it’s creamy white blossoms which grow in late spring, and early summer (depending on weather and elevation) produce a sweet fragrance perfect for cordials and jams. But the season is short, and you need to know where to find them. So to help you, newbie foragers, like me, I have asked around those in the know to help us all identify, locate and collect Elderflower this spring in Switzerland.
Where to find Elderflower in Switzerland?
Up until last year, I had no idea even how to identify Elderflower. But thanks to technology and the expert guidance of a couple of friends I now know I am looking for: a large green sometimes tree-like bush with clusters of tiny creamy white blooms. However, to be 100% sure what I’ve found is indeed Elderflower, I use the “PlanetNet” app installed on my phone.
Finding blooming Elderflower requires not only the right timing, as blooms don’t last long, but knowing where to find those bushes in the first place. Keep your eyes peeled for plants along the edges of forests or river beds, in both valleys, as well forests at higher elevations. My friend and annual Edelflower forager Alessandra who lives close to Zürich has an abundance of plants around her parts, especially along the Sihl river. Make sure if the bushes are on private land you do ask for permission before collecting.
When to pick Elderflower in Switzerland
As the German saying goes “Morgen Stund hat Gold im Mund” or translated “The early bird catches the worm”, so collect the Elderflower blooms early, after allowing the morning due evaporate. For maximum fragrance avoid foraging on rainy days, instead, wait for a stint of sunny days before collecting. Alessandra recommends choosing bushes away from the roads to prevent collecting flowers contaminated by car emissions. I’ve read it’s best not to collect low lying blossoms because Dogs and Foxes don’t discriminate and may use the bushes as their bathroom. ;-).
Collecting Elderflower
Bringing along a basket, colander or bowl to collect the Elderflower blooms isn’t just for a beautiful styled Instagram photo – any open container is necessary to avoid damaging those very delicate blooms. So no stuffing your backpack and using a plastic bag is a big no-no.
For a batch of cordial, you will need at least 12 bunches of Elderflower blossoms that have been cut or broken off at the stem, not flowers individually plucked. However, when you get home, you will only use the blooms, not the stems or leaves for cooking.
Using Elderflower Blossoms
Decide how you are going to prepare your foraged Elderflower blooms ahead of time so that you have all the ingredients ready to go as soon as you return. I made the mistake of not knowing what to make the first time I foraged, and by the time I went to the pharmacy for the required citric acid for my cordial, the flowers had gone bad. (I wish I had seen this recipe for Holunderblütensirup from Helvetic Kitchen that uses lemons instead of citric acid)
What can you make with Elderflower blossoms?
The most common is, of course, cordial. Use your Elderflower Cordial for alcoholic cocktails like the Hugo (Helvetic Kitchen has a recipe), mixed with mineral water for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink or added to desserts for a flowery sweetness. Other options include making jam or why not dry the flowers and make a tea?
I plan to create a sirup solely to recreate the English style Elderflower posset I still dream of from my Scottish holiday last year. Not forgetting to keep extra blooms aside to deep-fry.
Don’t want to go to all the effort of finding your own Elderflower? Don’t worry, you will discover Holunderblütensirup at the local farmers market or even in the grocery store. Later on in the summer, when the leftover blooms have turned into berries, you will find a ruby red Elderflower berry cordial too.
Handy German Vocabulary:
- Holunder: Elderflower
- Holunderblüten: Elderflower blosooms
- Hounderblütensirup: Elderflower blossom cordial
- Dolden: an Umbel, or a bunch of short flower stalks.
- Zitronesäure: Citric Acid
