The elderflowers should be gathered well away from main roads, when they are dry and before they start to go over.

I like to use unwaxed lemons for any recipe which requires the peel.

The syrup is very strong and only a small amount is required for each drink. Dilute with it with water, fizzy or plain, or with gin.

  Ingredients for about 1 - 1· 5 litres (2 -3 pints)

    8 - 12 heads of elderflower (depending on size)
    600 ml (1 pint) water
    900 g (2 lb) sugar
    40 g citric acid (get it from a chemist)
    2 small (or one and a half large) lemons

You will also need some muslin to strain it through and bottles for storage.

Shake the elderflowers to get rid of any lurking creatures and dust.

Boil the water in a large saucepan, add the sugar and allow to dissolve.

Remove the pan from the heat, add the elderflowers and citric acid. Use a coarse grater and grate in the rinds of the lemons. Slice the lemons and add them too. Stir it well.

Leave for 24 hours.

Strain it all through the muslin squeezing the lemon rinds well. This is rather a messy procedure! There is no point in letting it drip through the muslin.

Pour it into the bottles.

It will keep for a while at room temperature but is best kept in the fridge. Plastic containers of it will store very well in a freezer.