31/10/2026
For a very brief time during mid-spring we enjoy the beautiful flowers of the Elder bush (Sambucus nigra). These cream coloured, fragrant umbels (umbrella shaped clusters) are historically used for both food and medicine.
Elderflower cordial and Elderflower fritters both are delicious! 🌼 Traditional healing has utilised an infusion of the flowers for upper respiratory congestion, and to induce a fever — which can help a body move through a bout of influenza.
As an antiseptic and anti inflammatory, the warm infusion is sometimes used as an eye compress for conjunctivitis. While the cool infusion is incredibly soothing to sunburn and skin irritation.
And yet, if the flowers are left on the shrub, by late summer they will have evolved into beautiful black Elder berries! And that offers even more opportunities for food and medicine.
