Recipe for: Elderflower, raspberry, and honey lemonade - photo 1
← Recipes

Recipe for: Elderflower, raspberry, and honey lemonade

Drinks May Day 45 min Easy 0 views ~48.80 PLN * - (0)
Rate:
(0)
Start Cooking

Description

Refreshing, modern Polish lemonade combining the delicate, floral aroma of fresh elderflower with the intense tart-sweet note of raspberries and the natural sweetness of honey. Perfect for hot days, summer parties, and picnics — served chilled, it impresses both in taste and appearance: a bright, golden drink with floating raspberries and lemon slices. The drink is natural, without artificial colors; it can be enhanced with sparkling water for a fizzy version or served as a non-alcoholic cocktail with a mint leaf.

Ingredients Used

Ingredients (9)

Servings:
6
  • Elderflower 80 g
  • Raspberry 300 g
  • Honey 120 ml
  • Lemon 3 pcs (~240 g)
  • Water 1500 ml
  • Ice 300 g
  • ✨ Optional
  • Sugar 50 g
  • Mint 30 g
  • Sparkling water 500 ml
💰 Estimated dish cost: ~48.80 PLN (8.13 PLN/serving)
* Prices missing for some ingredients

💡 Click an ingredient to mark it as used

Preparation steps

Preparation of ingredients

1

Evaluate and prepare the elderflowers: inspect each umbel, remove any brown or moldy flowers and thick stems. Gently shake the flowers to remove insects — it's best to lightly shake them over the sink. If they are very dusty, briefly dip them (for a few seconds) in cold water and immediately drain on a paper towel. Rinse the raspberries very gently under cold water in a colander and leave to drain.

Ingredients: elderflower, Raspberry
Use a large colander, a soft fruit brush, or gently shake the flowers. Do not leave the flowers in the water for too long - they will lose their aroma.

Infusing the flowers

2

In a pot, heat 1000 ml of water to a temperature of about 90°C (small bubbles should appear, but it should not be boiling). Place the elderflower blossoms in a large, heatproof bowl along with slices of half a lemon (cut into thin slices). Pour the hot water over them so that the flowers are completely covered. Cover with a cloth or lid and let it steep for 20 minutes to allow the infusion to develop its aroma; the infusion should take on a delicate, light straw color and have a distinct floral scent.

Ingredients: Water, elderflower, Lemon
Use a large glass or ceramic bowl. A temperature of 90°C best releases the aroma without bitterness. If you don't have a thermometer, wait 2 minutes after boiling.

Raspberry-Honey Syrup

3

In the meantime, place the raspberries in a large bowl. Squeeze the juice from the remaining half of the lemon directly into the raspberries (first cut the lemon in half and squeeze it with a manual juicer). Add honey and, if using, sugar. Mash the raspberries with a potato masher or the end of a wooden spoon into a smooth purée and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to release the juices. The honey will combine with the lemon and raspberry juice, creating an aromatic syrup.

Ingredients: Raspberry, Honey, Lemon, Sugar
Use a pestle or the whisk attachment. If the honey is crystallized, heat it for 10-15 seconds in a cup of warm water before adding it to make it easier to dissolve.

Separating the liquids

4

After 20 minutes, strain the covered infusion of flowers through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth or a clean cloth into a large jug, gently pressing the flowers with a spoon to extract all the liquid. Squeeze the remaining raspberry pulp more firmly through the sieve using the back of a spoon to obtain a clear syrup along with the pulp. Discard the leftover flowers and raspberry seeds.

Ingredients: elderflower, Raspberry
Use a wide jug and a fine mesh strainer; you can fold the cheesecloth in 2-3 layers for a clearer infusion. Work over a bowl to avoid losing any juice.

Mixing lemonade

5

Add the drained raspberry-honey syrup to the pitcher with the infusion. Fill with the remaining cold water (500 ml). Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon for 30–40 seconds until you achieve a uniform color and taste. Taste the lemonade: if it is too sour, dissolve an additional tablespoon of honey in 2 tablespoons of warm water and add it; if you want it sweeter and without honey, add dissolved sugar (optional).

Ingredients: Water, Honey, Raspberry, Lemon, Sugar
Use a large spoon to stir and taste after each adjustment. Honey dissolves better in warmer liquid — dilute it beforehand if the drink is very cold.

Cooling and Serving

6

Add ice to the pitcher or directly to the glasses. If you want a sparkling version, pour 1/4 of the volume with sparkling water into the glasses just before serving to keep the bubbles. Serve in tall glasses with two to three whole raspberries, a slice of lemon, and a sprig of mint as decoration.

Ingredients: Ice, Sparkling water, mint, Raspberry, Lemon
For serving, use glasses with a capacity of 300–400 ml and a stirring spoon. If you plan to serve the drink in an hour, chill it in the fridge; add ice only just before serving to avoid diluting it too early.

Additional tips

7

If you want a clearer lemonade, set it aside in a cool place for 1 hour, then strain it again through a fine sieve with cheesecloth. For the adult version, you can add a bit of raspberry liqueur or vodka directly to the glass — add 20–30 ml to taste.

Ingredients: Raspberry, Honey
Before adding alcohol, taste the drink without it to assess its sweetness and acidity. For greater durability, prepare a syrup (raspberries + honey) and keep it in a jar in the fridge, mixing it with the infusion just before serving.

Fun Fact

💡

Elderflower lemonade is a traditional infusion known in Poland for generations — elderflower was once used as a remedy for colds. The combination of elderflower with raspberries and honey brings together two of the most popular local summer flavors.

Best for

letnie przyjęcie piknik

Tips

🍽️ Serving

Serve chilled in tall glasses with ice cubes. To achieve a layered effect, first pour raspberry syrup into the glass, add ice, and then gently pour in the brew. For a sparkling version: add sparkling water to each glass just before serving.

🥡 Storage

Store in a tightly sealed pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. If you plan to prepare in advance, store the raspberry syrup and elderflower infusion separately, combining just before serving. Do not add sparkling water to the stored lemonade — it will lose its bubbles.

📸 Cooked by the community

Log in to add a photo
Add a photo of the finished dish

After moderator approval, you will receive 10 experience points.

🍲

No one has added a photo yet. Be the first!

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment on this recipe!

Add a comment

You might also like

Grilled trout with dill butter and lemon 60 min

Grilled trout with dill butter and lemon

5.0 Main dishes
Mango and Avocado Salad for May Day 30 min

Mango and Avocado Salad for May Day

Salads
Roasted Beet and Walnut Salad on Arugula 60 min

Roasted Beet and Walnut Salad on Arugula

Salads
Caesar Salad with Chicken and Grilled Asparagus 45 min

Caesar Salad with Chicken and Grilled Aspa...

Salads
Quinoa salad with spring vegetables 50 min

Quinoa salad with spring vegetables

Salads
Fruit skewers with honey-lemon glaze and cottage cheese-yogurt dip 30 min

Fruit skewers with honey-lemon glaze and c...

May Day

Recipe Categories

Drinks
Drinks in: May Day

Refreshing drinks are an important element of May Day gatherings. It's worth preparing both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options for all guests.

See all recipes in this category
May Day
May Day

May Day is a time when spring comes to life, and we celebrate the arrival of warmer days. It's the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and friends outdoors, at a barbecue or picnic. Culinary traditions associated with May Day include grilling, which has become almost a national sport fo...

See all recipes in this category
Advertisement