By Sarraceniac
North Yorkshire,
United Kingdom 
Has anybody made elderflower champagne using Black Lace elderflowers? I ask because every year we make some but our local council has just 'improved' our local common, which is where a lot of people went to forage, by ripping out elders, hawthorn, crab apples etc., and putting in rhododendrons and the like. We weren't asked or warned, it was just done. I have a couple of Black Lace in my garden and wondered if I could use these. Or is the taste different?
20 Jun, 2012
Answers
Pamd posted a blog last year with the recipe for Pink Elderflower Champagne,just put her name in the search box and you'll find her or if you look on my favourite blog posts its on there :-)
20 Jun, 2012
Better still here's a link, she also has a recipe for pink elderflower cordial :-)
http://www.growsonyou.com/pamd/blog/10790-recipe-for-black-lace-pink-elderflower-champagne
20 Jun, 2012
Thank you Simbad (and Pamd). That answers my question because it looks like a standard recipe (i.e. the one I use for normal champagne). And I agree with you Pamg. The prime movers in this were the parish council who are supposed to be totally non-political but at the last election one political party (I won't say which one because I think that it should still be non-political) swamped the candidates list and, with the usual low turnout politicized it. Again, most of the residents were against this so I think they may pay at the polls in two years time but that won't save our old crab apples which are now gone.
20 Jun, 2012
How sad and what a disgrace that native trees and shrubs have been replaced by rhododendrons and the like. Don't get me wrong I like rhodos. but there is a place for them and it is not on a common in north Yorkshire!
20 Jun, 2012
How COULD you even consider cutting off all those fabulous pinky white flowers from Black Lace just to make a beverage, however delicious!? Shame on you.
(It's my favourite shrub!... but you could make elderberry wine or cordial from the fruit maybe!)
20 Jun, 2012
Don't worry Bertie. I have two so it won't be all, and one is in an area where nobody goes, lol. Don't blame me, blame politicians. I will.
20 Jun, 2012
Have you tried elderflower tea? Just one flower in a jug or cafetiere, leave a few minutes and strain - makes two big cupfuls. Very refreshing on a hot day. Agree about the common - ridiculous.
20 Jun, 2012
If you drink too much Black Lace elderflower champers you might end up singing Agadoo, do, do, push pineapple shake a tree. Sorry couldn't resist that :-D
20 Jun, 2012
How dreadful grubbing up native shrubs...home to native wildlife and planting rhodos'...... stupid!
Do they look and smell similar to the native one?
20 Jun, 2012