Just a few quick notes about elderflower. Key points, if you will.
1) The flowers can discolour quickly if you dry them at too high a temperature. They will also lose their volatile oils at too high a temperature which means they will also lose their potency. You don't want this
2) A hot infusion of elderflower will make you sweat...this can be a good thing! This is what you want for feverish conditions and chills in the bone or when you feel full of the flu and run down. Don't wait until the fever/flu has hit a peak rather start taking it as soon as you start to feel unwell. Fresh flowers are best but well dried ones will be fine too.
3) It is also beneficial to anyone who has a build up of catarrh/mucus/phlegm/snot so useful for sinus problems, hayfever and coughs and colds.
4) An elderflower syrup provides the taste of summer through the long winter and anything which does this helps counter the effects of long nights and dull days.Obviously, there is more to it than that but that will do for tonight....I have found some ye olde recipes involving elderflower which require further perusal.
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