Chocolate 21. Elderflower and elderberry

Day 21. Elderflower and elderberry, Sambucus nigra


Elderflower is one of those foraged ingredients that has gone commercial – you can buy elderflower flavoured cordials, gins, ice-creams etc in all supermarkets now.  Nevertheless, gathering the flowers and berries yourself is such a joy and the tree gives so much pleasure just being there in most hedgerows, along woodland edges, paths and roadsides.  Those gorgeous cream coloured plate-like flower heads, those deep purple drooping berries.  

We wanted to include in this selection plants both spring and autumn harvests of plants where we enjoy both flowers and fruits – and this of course is a classic.  In this chocolate we have flavoured a Columbian made white chocolate, made be Casa Luker, with cocoa butter in which we have infused elder flowers – a technique we use for a limited number of flavours.  Run through the chocolate, as an inclusion, are small pieces of elder berry leather.  So floral, fruity and with a little bit of texture.

What better way of celebrating the solstice and the coming of the light.  Elderflower just summons light-filled days of early summer



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