I am going to try making the cordial this year and my recipe does not give any information about the type of bottles to use. Can I use former wine bottles with screw caps or should I buy appropriate ones. Any advice please !!
As long as it doesn't start to ferment you can put it in virtually any bottle - screw cap wine bottles will be fine. We did buy some PET bottles for Elderflower champange which we use for cordial as well but to be honest you can use anything you can make airtight.
I use old wine vinegar bottles and old elderflower bottles from the days when I used to buy it. I put them in the freezer with the screw tops left off until they are frozen, then screw them back on.
I like to make a year's supply, hence the freezing, as they don't keep for very long even in the fridge.
I use these smallish bottles for the same reason. I wonder if wine bottles would be too big? I can see the cordial going off if had a wine bottle full of it to drink before mould or fermentation started.
I also freeze it in large yoghurt pots and similar, allowing for expansion in the freezer, and then putting the tops on. Not very elegant, but you can always decant it, when thawed, into a nicer looking bottle.
I am obviously addicted to the stuff. I like to drink a lot of water, and the mild, flowery, lemony flavour is just perfect to hide the chlorine taste we seem to have.
I like the idea of freezing ! I guess the cordial could be frozen in any container and then used as and when ! Maybe even make cordial ice cubes !!!
I save the 500ml pop bottles and do as above fill them then freeze them. Works for Rhubarb or plum squash to.
good luck. if you are after citric acid try the brew shops as the chemist will glare at you and assume you are a heroin addict.
x sunloving
Already got citric and tartaric acid from Roys - Norfolks answer to Harrods !!! It was actually the local chemist who told me where I could buy them !! Just need to find the elderflowers when they flower.......