Pure Camomile and Elderflower Cordial Base

teas.co.uk · 25 min + cool · Makes 400ml (~10 long drinks)

You'll need

• 4 Loyd Pure Camomile pyramid tea bags
• 350ml filtered water at 95°C (just off the boil)
• 140g caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 40ml elderflower cordial (Belvoir, Bottlegreen; proper cordial, not a sweetened squash)
• 1 sterilised 400ml glass bottle with a tight seal
• For each long drink: 50ml cordial in a tall glass over cubed ice, top with 250ml chilled sparkling water, garnish with a thin lemon slice and a small mint sprig
• For each hot drink: 50ml cordial in a mug topped with 200ml just off boil water
• For a non classic spritz: 50ml cordial in a flute topped with 100ml chilled prosecco

Method

1. Boil the kettle, switch it off and give it about half a minute to settle to just off the boil. Put all four Loyd Pure Camomile bags in a heatproof jug, pour over 350ml of the water, cover with a saucer and leave to steep for eight minutes.
2. Squeeze the bags gently against the side of the jug, then lift them out. Stir in the caster sugar while the liquid is still hot, until it has fully dissolved.
3. Let it cool until it is just warm to the touch, then stir in the lemon juice and the elderflower cordial. Adding them now rather than hot keeps both of them fresh and lively.
4. Pass the cordial through a fine sieve into a sterilised bottle, seal and keep in the fridge. It settles and improves after a day and stays good for about three weeks.
5. To serve, pour 50ml over ice in a tall glass and top with chilled sparkling water, with a slice of lemon and a little mint. For a warming version, stir 50ml into a mug of hot water. For something celebratory, drop 50ml into a glass of cold prosecco.
6. If your elderflower is on the sweet side, hold back 20g of the sugar and taste before bottling.

Recipe: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/camomile tea/pure camomile and elderflower cordial base/