Elderflower Tea: A Warm, Floral Infusion
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Instructions 👩🍳
Step-by-step:
- Prepare the elderflowers: Place the elderflower tea in an infuser in a cup or teapot, or use a tea bag. Bring fresh water to the boil.
- Infuse the blossoms: Pour the boiling water over the elderflowers and leave the tea to steep. See the illustrated recipe for the exact details.
- Strain and serve: Remove the tea bag or strain out the blossoms so that they do not remain in the cup. Serve the elderflower tea warm.
Elderflower tea: a warm cup with a floral aroma
Floral, gently sweet and lovely with a plain cookie: elderflower tea makes an inviting afternoon cup. Try the first sip without additions and notice the blossom aroma. A little honey or lemon can take the next sip in a different direction.
The flowers make the infusion
Use dried elderflowers sold for tea, loose or in a bag. Their floral aroma can have honey-like or grain-like notes without added sweetening. This cup uses blossoms, not elderberries or other plant parts. Other ingredients in a blend will change its character.
A clear cup with room for the blossoms
A fine-mesh infuser holds the small blossom pieces while water reaches them. Fill it loosely, using the amount recommended for your tea and cup size. Tightly packed flowers are harder to wet evenly.
For hygienic preparation, use fresh drinking water at a rolling boil and steep for at least five minutes, or longer if the pack directs. Use a heat-safe cup or pot and let the finished tea cool enough to sip. Do not leave it standing lukewarm for hours.
Catch the fine blossom pieces
If fragments escape the infuser, pour the finished tea through a finer strainer into a clean cup. Set it securely on the rim first. Keep a saucer beside you for the wet infuser.
Optional honey or lemon
Honey adds sweetness and its own aroma; lemon adds acidity. Taste the plain tea first, then try one small addition. A mild honey leaves more room for the flowers.
Wash an optional lemon under running water before cutting it. Never give honey to a child under 12 months.
A little something alongside
A plain cookie or buttered toast goes well with the blossoms. For another herbal flavor, try fennel tea. Its seeds bring an anise-like flavor.
Keep the flowers dry
Store elderflowers well closed, away from heat, light, moisture and strong food odors. Use a dry spoon and keep the pack away from kettle steam. Set out your cup and strainer ahead, then brew fresh.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace the blossoms with elderberries?
No. This serving is specifically an infusion of elderflowers sold for tea.
How long should it steep?
Use at least five minutes for herbal-tea hygiene and follow any longer time on your particular pack.
Do I need honey?
No. The floral infusion can taste gently sweet on its own. Honey is an optional flavor choice.