DESCRIPTION
Product: Elderflower Powder
Latin Name: Sambucus nigra
Plant Family: Adoxaceae
Other Names: Black Elder, Common Elder, Pipe Tree, Bore Tree, Judas Tree, Lady Ellhorn, Whistle Tree, Old Lady, Hylder, Hylantree, Eldrum, Ellhorn, Hollunder & Sureau.
Description: It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 4–6 m (rarely to 10 m) tall. The bark, light grey when young, changes to a coarse grey outer bark with lengthwise furrowing. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, 10–30 cm long, pinnate with five to seven (rarely nine) leaflets, the leaflets 5–12 cm long and 3–5 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The flowers of the elder are borne in clusters approximately 10–25 cm in diameter they are creamy white in colour and give off a characteristic odour, which some people say smells ‘catty’. The individual flowers in the cluster are between 5–6 mm in diameter, with five petals.
SUGGESTED USE
Elderflower powder can be mixed with other herb powders such as dandelion leaf to act as a compost activator. The powdered flowers can also be used to make infusions and decoctions that can added to lotions and creams for the skin. The dried flowers can be used to make sweet syrups or to flavour jellies and ice-creams. They can also be used to make a hair rinse to help lighten blonde hair.
SHELF LIFE
Shelf life of two years provided that goods are stored in an airtight container in ambient conditions.
