Home Made Blackcurrant Cordial
For some strange reason I can’t drink neat water so I always need to flavour the water with something slightly sweet and tasty. After another trip to the local PYO I came back with a bucket of blackcurrants. I tried eating them straight from the bush but I wish I hadn’t as they were quite strong and bitter. Now I know why the birds rather go for the raspberries, I would too!
I always wanted to try and recreate the flavour of good old Ribena and thought that this was my chance. After de-stalking, cleaning and boiling the fruit I nearly ended up with a jelly. Blackcurrants are packed with natural pectin and therefore set naturally and for that reason blackcurrants are a good choice of fruit for jam making.
The colour of this home made cordial is magnificent, almost electric mauve but be careful as any splashes will stain.
It is ideal for the annual village fete, fill small bottles and hand them out with tiny straws. It makes a pretty picture and make little people very happy.
I like my blackcurrant drink diluted with carbonated water, however if you prefer use ice cold lemonade.
- 450g blackcurrants
- 250g caster sugar
- 260ml water
- Whole lemon
De-stalk and wash the blackcurrants.
Place the blackcurrants, sugar and water into a medium saucepan. Melt the sugar over low heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
Once the sugar has dissolved bring the syrup to a gentle simmer.
Simmer the fruits for 5 minutes, add the juice and skin of the lemon.
Bring the syrup back to simmer for further 5 minutes.
Let the cordial cool for 10 minutes and sterilise glass bottle.
Pass the cordial through a fine sieve, pour the cordial into the sterilised bottle, cool and keep refrigerated until needed.
To serve, dilute the chilled cordial to taste with chilled sparkling water and plenty of ice cubes.
Makes 750ml cordial
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I have made a blackcurrant syrup that keeps indefinitely.
1.5kg blackcurrants
4.5 litres water
Boil until all the juice is out. Strain through a jelly bag. Pour juice back into pot and add:
3kg sugar
1 cup white vinegar
Bring to the boil and boil for 3 minutes, stirring until the sugar is disolved.Bottle and seal. Dilute to drink – with iced water in summer or boiled water in winter.
My freezer is full to bursting. Is there any way of prolonging the life of this without freezing it?
Hi Ann,
You can pour the boiling hot blackcurrant cordial in a sterilized jar/ bottle and seal it whilst hot. This should keep for a few months. I always like to keep homemade items such as this in the fridge, but i understand about the over full fridge and freezer issue. Keep it in a cool well ventilated cupboard or cellar.
Happy Cooking
Madalene
I have just made about 15 jars of blackcurrant jam; however it doesn’t seem to have set properly. can I put the jars in the microwave for a liottle while to finish of the cooking process? Help!
This is brilliant, always wonder what to do with mums red and black currants!
Really simple to do and tastes beautiful!
Hi, I am going to give a go, I have already made my own elderflower cordial and it was very nice. I have put citric acid as its natural preservative and it made it last over 6 weeks. The rest I have frozen and get it out as I need it.
So i guess it should be no problem freeze this cordial, it will last you longer – I Thomson. I am going to do it.