Dilys Morgan - Mad Englishwoman on an Elderflower hunt

For writer and Pure France property-owner, Dilys Morgan, nothing refreshes like elderflower cordial

The elderflower is in bloom around us, so I’ve been out scouring the hedgerows for those delicate lace-cap flowers to make cordial. We find it’s the most refreshing non-alcoholic drink for when the temperature soars to 30 plus.

I asked hubbie to get me some citric acid while he was shopping in the village and this caused great consternation! His French isn’t that good, so when they asked what it was for (just as they do in the UK to check you’re not a terrorist embarking on bomb making) he managed to convey the idea that it was for a drink. But he couldn’t tell them what quantities he wanted, so they wouldn’t sell him any!

I returned with him to the pharmacy after the requisite two-hour lunch-time closure, to be greeted with puzzlement. What is this flower that this strange English woman is using for a drink? I’d no idea of the French for elder-flower, so attempted to describe it. No good. They looked up ‘elder’ on their computer and came up with ‘senior’! Not helpful.

Eventually, someone found that it’s called ‘Sureau à grappes’ in France and although they’re familiar with the idea of using the berries, they don’t seem to bother with the flowers. I explained the recipe and promised to bring some back later for them to taste.

And so, next day, we proceeded into the village armed with a basket containing plastic mugs, a bottle of sparkling water to mix it with and some of my freshly-made elderflower cordial. I have to say the staff in the pharmacy were nothing if not charming; some quite clearly didn’t like the taste, one asked with alarm if it was alcoholic, and the others professed to enjoy it.

I’m not sure though there’d be a market for it locally if I decided to bulk produce!

But what fascinates me is that the French, who are notorious for using every inch of an animal in their cuisine, throwing nothing out, wasting nought, and who delight in using the freshest of produce and relish the novelty of each new delicacy as it arrives in season, would ignore the humble elderflower which is abundant all over the countryside.

Do they know something we don’t perhaps?


Dilys is a former journalist and popular BBC TV presenter who now writes for a variety of UK publications. Dilys also hosts the newly created website GrandparentsNow

Related links :

• www.GrandparentsNow.com