Rhubarb Cordial
BBC Good Food
If your rhubarb patch runneth over, 10 minutes is all you need to whizz up those succulent pink stems into a sweet, summery cordial. A hint of citrus and ginger gives it a kick – great added to a vodka and tonic – or drizzle through a vanilla sponge cake for the perfect marriage of sweet and sour.
Elderflower Cordial
BBC
What could be more British than elderflower cordial? Mary Berry’s Elderflower Cordial. Watch her ‘how-to video’ and make your own for summer drinks but also as the key ingredient in a range of recipes – from gooseberry and elderflower fool to key lime and elderflower pie. Mary’s recipe has a secret ingredient that prolongs the shelf life of your homemade cordial and will have you sipping it all year round.
Blackcurrant And Lemon Verbena Shrub
BBC Good Food
No, it’s not a plant (or a typo). A shrub is a fruit syrup preserved with vinegar to capture the flavours of the fresh fruit; packed with probiotics, they are great for digestion. If you’re sick of summer puddings and your herb garden is going wild, this combo is the perfect recipe to use up a glut. Dilute just like a cordial, or use as the base for a summer mocktail.
Cucumber And Lime Cordial
Olive Magazine
Using just three ingredients, this cooling veg-based cordial from Olive Magazine is the perfect sip in a heatwave. The zesty lime perks up the mellow cucumber – great on its own with sparkling water or drizzled into a G&T. Thirst quenchingly delicious.
Blueberry Cordial
Waitrose
The deep purple of this fragrant drink is a real showstopper – perfect if you are having garden drinks, or a BBQ with friends. If the season is right, adding a few heads of elderflower to the mix adds a sweet, floral note. The cordial lasts for up to six months in the fridge, making it perfect for when you want a splash of sunshine in the depths of winter.
Raspberry Cordial
Recipes Made Easy
A homemade raspberry cordial is a thing of beauty. Perfect as an alternative in a Kir Royale, or drizzled over a summer fruit pavlova. Add to sparkling water with a squeeze of lime for an additive-free alternative to squash, or paint the town red and whizz up a raspberry mojito.
Blackberry Cordial
Sainsbury’s
Photograph by Dan Jones
The queen of summer hedgerow bounty, blackberry cordial is a frugal punch that rewards the hours spent foraging with a sweet, sticky, inky purple drink. Add a squeeze of lime to the recipe to counter the sweetness, or try a bay leaf that adds a rich, herbal note. Perfect in place of crème du mure in a cocktail, or simply served with crushed ice, sparkling water and topped with fresh berries.
By Lydia Mansi
Updated June 2023
