Elder

The elder is a plant originally from Syria, which has since spread throughout Europe, within South East Asia and north-west Africa. A bush with a large number of branches and regularly serrated leaves, it can be found in sparsely wooded areas and hedges and is often planted alongside village houses. Its scent, when it flowers in June-July, is lovely, thanks to the essential oil its flowers contain. In traditional medicine, elder flowers are used for their diuretic and purifying properties. In cooking, all parts are used – the bark, leaves, flowers and fruits. The flowers are eaten fried and they add a nutmeg-like flavor when fermented with wine.