The delicate elderflower is quintessentially British and now these pretty white blooms that herald the start of summer are back in the spotlight. Preparations for Belvoir’s annual Elderflower Harvest are well underway and this year they’ll be getting a helping hand from TV presenter Gemma Hunt from CBeebies, who will be going behind the scenes at the Farm. She will be talking to the team on the ground who grow, pick and make the famous cordial – you can watch all the videos on the Belvoir Farms Youtube Channel.

The harvest period for Elderflower is short and so the team needs all hands on deck to collect and process the flowers. Their team is made up of passionate, hard-working people, including some who remembers the early days of Belvoir Farm and the woman who invented the original recipe.

The first Elderflower Cordial was created over 30 years ago and Belvoir’s signature cordial is still made using the same traditional family recipe. Now with a total of 23 delicious soft drinks, including 11 cordials, the company has seen demand for its cordials soar during lockdown and they are now the UK’s fastest growing premium cordial brand.

The family now produces nearly 20,000 bottles an hour and almost 30 million bottles each year, that are sold across the UK and exported around the world from the company’s state of the art bottling plant.

Belvoir has also joined forces with TV presenter, Gemma Hunt from BBC and CBeebies and The Outdoor Guide to raise awareness of the Elderflower Harvest and to tell the story of the unique process behind it.

Gemma and ourselves will be visiting Belvoir Farm again in June to help pick and bring in the flowers, plus learn all about the amazing people behind the delicious summer drink.

Make the most of nature’s bountiful elderflower crop

  • Please pick fresh flower heads only: avoid stalks, leaves, twigs, buds or foreign bodies
  • Don’t pick brown flowers: only creamy white fresh heads with lots of yellowy-green pollen
  • Look out for ‘off’ odours: only fresh, green-grassy, citrussy and flora aromas
  • Dry flowers have minimal moisture and work best in our delicious cordial
  • Make sure you’re not picking any cow parsley!

Tips for keeping safe and making the most of the great outdoors

  • Bring a reusable bag (or several) to carry your crop
  • Avoid busy roads and stay off the carriageway
  • Wear bright clothes so you can be seen by other road users
  • Wear long trousers, sturdy shoes and long socks to protect yourself from nettles and brambles
  • Stay hydrated
  • Wear sunscreen, and bring a sun hat
  • Bring insect repellent and antihistamines in case of bee or wasp stings – insects love hedgerows!
  • Ask for permission before entering private land
  • Maintain social distancing by staying at least two metres away from other people, and observe current government advice
  • Belvoir Farm can only award cash for collection to those over the age of 16. If your children come along for the fresh air and fun, perhaps you could treat them to a lollipop!
  • Park with consideration – don’t block gateways, driveways or other access points
  • Keep dogs under control and pick up after them
  • Take any litter home with you
  • When dropping off flowers at the farm, please comply with social distancing measures in place – observe signage and one-way system and follow the guidance of helpers at the site
  • Observe the Countryside Code at all times
Raspberry Aperol

Raspberry Aperol

Aperol 25ml Raspberry Liqueur 15ml Belvoir Farm Sparkling Elderflower 100ml

Method:

  1. Pour all ingredients into a glass over ice.
  2. Stir ingredients and finish with a splash of sparkling Elderflower.
  3. Garnish with raspberries.
Elderflower Fizz

Elderflower Fizz

Belvoir Farm Elderflower Cordial 25ml Lime Wedges 3 Pink Grapefruit Juice 50ml Belvoir Farm Freshly Squeezed Lemonade 75ml

Method

  1. Add all ingredients to a highball glass and stir.
  2. Garnish with freshly squeezed lime wedge.
Elderflower Mojito

Elderflower Mojito

Cuban Rum 35ml Mint Leaves 6-8 Lime Wedges 2 Sugar 1 tsp Belvoir Farm Sparkling Elderflower 75ml

Method

  1. Squeeze the limes into a highball glass.
  2. Add mint leaves and sugar, churn.
  3. Add rum and fill with crushed ice, churn again.
  4. Top with sparkling Elderflower.
Elderflower and Mint Daquiri

Elderflower & Mint Daiquiri

Mint Small sprig Bacardi Rum 60ml Belvoir Elderflower Cordial 25ml Lime Juice 1 tbsp

Method

  1. Take a cocktail shakers and add 6 ice cubes, pour in the ingredients and one sprig of mint.
  2. Attached the lid, shake vigorously and pour.
Elderflower Fling Gin

Elderflower Fling Gin

Belvoir Sparkling Elderflower 125ml Gin 25ml Chambord 25ml Lemon juice 20ml Sugar 15g Glass Jam jar (lowball) Ice cubed, capped with crushed ice.

Method

  1. Build the ingredients on cubed ice, churn until blended and cap with crushed ice.
  2. Garnish with berries, mint sprig, icing sugar sprinkle.
Bright & Sunny

Bright & Sunny

Appleton Estate Rum 60ml Fresh lime juice 30ml Belvoir Elderflower Cordial 15ml Belvoir Ginger Beer 250ml

Method

  1. Measure into a Collins glass the rum, lime & Belvoir Fruit Farms Elderflower Cordial.
  2. Add ice, top with Belvoir Fruit Farms Ginger Beer.
  3. Stir and garnish with a lime wheel.

The Belvoir Elderflower Gin Fizz (serves one)

For a refreshing and cooling summer drink, try Belvoir Elderflower Cordial diluted in still or sparkling water and top up with plenty of ice, add a dash to pep up Prosecco or try this delicious summer cocktail:

  • 25ml Belvoir Farm Elderflower Cordial
  • 25ml Pink Grapefruit Juice
  • 50ml gin
  • 75ml Belvoir Freshly Squeezed Lemonade (or any other good quality cloudy lemonade
  • 1 lime wedge

Add all ingredients to a highball glass and stir (if preferred, ice can be added to taste). Garnish with a freshly squeezed lime wedge.

Gin Fizz