Description
If yours is a purple-leaved Sambucus nigra cultivar such as Black Lace, this deserves its own page.
Purple elder cultivars can have striking dark foliage with soft pink or creamy-pink flowers. Black Lace, for example, produces lemon-scented pink flower clusters followed by dark berries, and both the flowers and fruit are used for flavouring and cooking.
The flowers can create beautifully coloured syrups and cordials.
Important: Need to identify your exact purple elder before you use it for food use. With elder, the species is not something I’d guess from the colour alone.
Pink Elderflower Syrup
For correctly identified edible Sambucus nigra only.
Ingredients
8 to 10 pink elderflower heads
500 g sugar
750 ml water
2 lemons
Method
Heat the sugar and water until dissolved.
Remove from the heat.
Add the elderflowers and sliced lemons.
Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
Strain thoroughly.
Store refrigerated.
Dilute with water or sparkling water to serve.
Tammy’s tip: The colour will vary naturally.
