The elder tree: a tree respected for centuries, esteemed for its provision of food and health benefits to mankind, and still sharing itself with us today. Elderflower tea, anyone?
Despite it being such an important tree species in the UK, many of us might struggle to identify an elder tree – especially as it’s more of a bush. Until, that is, the beautiful flowers appear in May. They’re like cream lace umbrellas (actually called umbels) that have been pushed open too far showing the pale green ‘spokes’ beneath. Each spoke then branches once more, sending forth another umbrella spray of beauty. Hundreds of tiny rounded five-petalled flowers each with five white stamens tipped with a yellow pollen sac (anther).
Have you ever smelled the flowers? It’s like smelling summer. The delicate fragrance doesn’t reveal itself to everyone but to others it’s like bathing in happiness.
If you fancy a pick-me-up, ask a tree if you can take one of its umbels and then, without washing it (just knock off any bugs), put it in a cup and pour on recently boiled water. Use as little of the main stalks as you can. Let it steep for maybe five minutes then drink. You have a simple yet delicious tea which, to my mind, far surpasses chamomile tea. By all means add lemon and/or honey (but not sugar), but I prefer the unadulterated taste of the hedgerow.
You can dry the flowerheads for use in teas later, or indeed to make cordial or elderflower ‘champagne’. You can also use the flowers (fresh or dried) to make tinctures as, more than just being a tasty tea, elderflowers are known to be good for their anti-inflammatory effects and have been used for centuries for allergies, sinusitis and colds.
Does anyone have any lovely elderflower recipes to share?
Note: Always make ensure you’ve correctly identified a flower before ingesting it. With elderflower, don’t confuse with the likes of cow parsley, hogweed or hemlock. If unsure, please ask for advice (including medical advice if you’re on medication, pregnant or have reason to be cautious about what you ingest).
