Elderflower

From Slovak herbs

Original recipe

Inspired by nature

Also suitable for cold brew

Developed by Slovak scientists

Teas with Elderflower

This category features original herbal combinations created in our Food Incubator. Elderflower is paired with ingredients such as lemon balm, linden blossom and colourful meadow flowers to create harmonious and fragrant blends.

Tea blends containing Elderflower can be enjoyed as a hot infusion or, if recommended for the individual product, served chilled. Follow the instructions on the packaging regarding the amount of tea, water temperature and brewing time.

Traditional uses and interesting facts about Elderflower

Elderflower has a long history in European cuisine and traditional herbalism. Its fragrant flowers have been used to prepare herbal infusions, syrups, lemonades and other homemade beverages. In some regions, fresh flower clusters were dipped in batter and prepared as sweet fritters. Heat-treated fruits were used to make juices, jams, syrups and fruit wines.

In traditional herbal practices, Elderflower infusions were commonly associated with the winter months and occasions when people prepared warm, aromatic drinks. The European Medicines Agency documents the long-standing use of Elderflower preparations in connection with the early symptoms of the common cold.

Elderflowers naturally contain various plant compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids. Scientific research examines their chemical composition, antioxidant activity and mechanisms studied in laboratory models. Research into the fruits focuses primarily on anthocyanins, which give them their characteristic dark purple to black colour.

Elderflower at a glance

• Botanical name: Sambucus nigra L.
• Family: Viburnaceae, also classified as Adoxaceae
• Plant type: deciduous shrub or small tree
• Origin: Europe to western Asia
• Part used in teas: mainly dried flowers
• Flavour and aroma: floral, subtly sweet and aromatic
• Uses: in teas, beverages, syrups and other food products

Elderflower produces broad clusters made up of numerous tiny, intensely fragrant, creamy-white flowers. Small dark fruits later appear on the plant in drooping clusters. Elderflower is the part primarily used in tea blends, complementing the other herbs with its delicate, subtly sweet aroma.

Further information

• Plants of the World Online – Sambucus nigra, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  
• European Medicines Agency – Sambuci flos, scientific monograph on elderflower
  
• Sambucus nigra: a review of its traditional uses and scientific research
  
• Elderberry: bioactive compounds and potential uses of the fruit in food production