As many of you may have noticed, I recently relocated myself in the noble land of the Newton, The Beatles, Darwin and East Enders. The reason behind this very enlightened decision is no other than a life reaffirming choice and that is, ladies and gentlemen: love.
As the days go flying by, each and every one of them bringing exciting and wonderful things, colours, smells, images, sunny skies, windy afternoons and kisses, there are a few things I can now confirm that I’m hopelessly addicted to: long, long walks admiring and enjoying the blessed countryside’s landscape (needless to say, that is in company of Mr.D) and the second: flowery drinks.
I was recently introduced to a range of traditional-fragrant, colourful and intoxicating drinks. And in my heart, I want to believe they are made with flowers harvested by fairies, brewed by fauns and bottled by elves…
The history of these classic and refreshing drinks is slightly less romantic, they go way back to Edwardian and Victorian times and that they are in a way an innocent yet sublime combination of flavours.
So, the drinks I’ve tried and grown to love are:
There are a few brands specialized in the production of these “botanical” drinks, a very popular is “Fentimans”. This company began producing this soft drinks in 1905.
As the days go flying by, each and every one of them bringing exciting and wonderful things, colours, smells, images, sunny skies, windy afternoons and kisses, there are a few things I can now confirm that I’m hopelessly addicted to: long, long walks admiring and enjoying the blessed countryside’s landscape (needless to say, that is in company of Mr.D) and the second: flowery drinks.
I was recently introduced to a range of traditional-fragrant, colourful and intoxicating drinks. And in my heart, I want to believe they are made with flowers harvested by fairies, brewed by fauns and bottled by elves…
The history of these classic and refreshing drinks is slightly less romantic, they go way back to Edwardian and Victorian times and that they are in a way an innocent yet sublime combination of flavours.
So, the drinks I’ve tried and grown to love are:
- Cream Soda
- Cloudy Victorian Lemonade
- Ginger Beer
- Rose Lemonade (one of my favourites by far…it’s *Pink* and yes, it contains rose oil and lemons!)
- And (the amazing) Elderflower cordial
There are a few brands specialized in the production of these “botanical” drinks, a very popular is “Fentimans”. This company began producing this soft drinks in 1905.
Cream Soda however is produced by Ben Shaw since 1871. It tastes like clouds, I promise.
There are several variations of the recipe but it essentially contains: water, cream of tartar, Epsom salts, sugar, tartaric acid, egg, and milk and sodium bicarbonate.
Now allow me to skip to the star of them all: Elderflower.
This is the inflorescence of the Sambucus, also called elder, or elderberry. This Adoxaceae belongs to the honeysuckle family , they are perennial plants and grow into small trees and shrubs. They are widely spread in the Northern Hemisphere, and even if my country of origin is located *yes* above the equator, it is not native to that side of the world, neither it has been introduced; at least I haven’t been notified of such thing!
The fragrant white little flowers of the Sambucus, popularly known as elderflower The word 'Elder' comes from the Anglo-Saxon word aeld. In Anglo-Saxon days we find the tree called Eldrun, which becomes Hyldor and Hyllantree in the fourteenth century.
they are extensively used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Extracts and infusions are made using different methods such as pressing the flowers or boiling then distilling. It is used to flavour sweets, marshmallows, cakes. Syrups are also used (so I’ve learnt) to elaborate liqueurs, wine and champagne.
Apparently it helps in the treatment of arthritis, flu, allergies and respiratory problems.
On a curious note, there's a Shakespearian reference in Cymbeline, where elder is a symbol of grief, mind you, as if a weeping willow wasn’t enough source & reference of grief.
But, what on earth is an “Elderflower Cordial”? you may ask, well, is a simple drink made with a syrupy extract of elderflower combined with sugar and water, usually sparkling water. It is not only popular in Britain but also in north Western Europe.
There are several variations of the recipe but it essentially contains: water, cream of tartar, Epsom salts, sugar, tartaric acid, egg, and milk and sodium bicarbonate.
Now allow me to skip to the star of them all: Elderflower.
This is the inflorescence of the Sambucus, also called elder, or elderberry. This Adoxaceae belongs to the honeysuckle family , they are perennial plants and grow into small trees and shrubs. They are widely spread in the Northern Hemisphere, and even if my country of origin is located *yes* above the equator, it is not native to that side of the world, neither it has been introduced; at least I haven’t been notified of such thing!
The fragrant white little flowers of the Sambucus, popularly known as elderflower The word 'Elder' comes from the Anglo-Saxon word aeld. In Anglo-Saxon days we find the tree called Eldrun, which becomes Hyldor and Hyllantree in the fourteenth century.
they are extensively used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Extracts and infusions are made using different methods such as pressing the flowers or boiling then distilling. It is used to flavour sweets, marshmallows, cakes. Syrups are also used (so I’ve learnt) to elaborate liqueurs, wine and champagne.
Apparently it helps in the treatment of arthritis, flu, allergies and respiratory problems.
On a curious note, there's a Shakespearian reference in Cymbeline, where elder is a symbol of grief, mind you, as if a weeping willow wasn’t enough source & reference of grief.
But, what on earth is an “Elderflower Cordial”? you may ask, well, is a simple drink made with a syrupy extract of elderflower combined with sugar and water, usually sparkling water. It is not only popular in Britain but also in north Western Europe.