The mid-spring frothy white riot of elderflower heralds the start of a new season of preserving in my kitchen. Starting off slowly with some batches of elderflower cordial, stewed rhubarb and perhaps a few containers of broad bean hummus to be frozen for mid summer spreads, the pace quickly picks up until I’m drowning in jars, resolutely making as yet unfulfilled promises that this will definitely be the year I sort my jar collection and desperately seeking new friends to gift excess jam and courgettes.
I could probably keep harvesting and preserving all year in some form or another if I really put my mind to it, but I think including seasons of rest and relaxation is just as important in annual cycles as periods of growth and activity (also, any excuse to sleep in during winter).
This past weekend was a little of both, piling compost onto rapidly growing plants and taking some time out for a leisurely amble around Evandale in Tasmania’s northern midlands, visiting the Sunday market and collecting some of the abundant elderflower that grows up that way.
There are dozens of ways to use elderflower in cooking, although so far I’ve only got as far as making champagne or syrup (a dash of syrup with gin and soda makes a sublime mixer) – I follow this recipe from River Cottage, and use about 20-25 flower heads per 1.5l batch
Evandale is an adorably quaint little village about 25 minutes south of Launceston. Streets lined with Georgian heritage buildings, featuring wrought iron detail and tastefully designed gardens, any day is good to visit but mid-spring on a Sunday is an ideal time. As well as the markets, there’s a couple of antique shops worth a visit, as well as stepping back in time at the 19th century general store style Evandale Village Store. If you want to grab a bite, the Clarendon Arms offers both a lush dappled light beer garden as well as an old style pub interior. If you’re passing through with your pooches, the beer garden is dog friendly.
The markets, meanwhile, offer everything from new potatoes to vintage fur stoles, antique toby mugs to old tools. Also live chickens if you’re looking for that special gift for someone who’s impossible to buy for. It’s dangerously easy to walk out of there with armfuls of bric-a-brac that you never even know you needed, which is absolutely a skill I’ve honed down to a fine art over the years. Although I haven’t come home with any poultry yet. Yet.
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