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Non fermenting Elderflower Champagne

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  • Non fermenting Elderflower Champagne

    Dear All!

    Please can someone give me some advice! My elderflower mix (a-la Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall's recipe) has been sat in a bucket since Saturday (6th day today)) and no signs of anything doing (ie fermentation) despite a pinch of yeast on day four... What now? Should I put more in? Is this normal/usual not to see anything...Should I start again? Should I bottle it anyway? Should I take up knitting instead... Answers to these or any other questions on a postcard!

    Many thanks
    Jelliebabe X
    http://meandtwoveg.blogspot.com

  • #2
    Not sure what goes into HFW's elderflower champagne - I need to look up the recipe. I assume you have added sugar and water to elderflowers, with probably oranges and/or lemons. It does take a few days for bubbling to start - the first few days the yeast feeds on the sugar and only produces a few bubbles. Give it a good stir.

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    • #3
      How hot was the water? If above 30degC it is likely you could have killed the yeast.

      The recipe:
      Elderflower Champagne Recipe | Food | Channel4.com

      The instructions are almost none existent and to me that looks dangerous. There is no mention of the level of sugar and hydrometer use as such I would only be inclined to use plastic screw top bottles as there is too much danger of the others exploding. Yes I saw the warning but people can and do miss things.

      I would start again with fresh yeast, after sulphiting.

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      • #4
        You sure it was elderflower?

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Guttata View Post
          How hot was the water? If above 30degC it is likely you could have killed the yeast.

          The recipe:
          Elderflower Champagne Recipe | Food | Channel4.com

          The instructions are almost none existent and to me that looks dangerous. There is no mention of the level of sugar and hydrometer use as such I would only be inclined to use plastic screw top bottles as there is too much danger of the others exploding. Yes I saw the warning but people can and do miss things.

          I would start again with fresh yeast, after sulphiting.
          It does say 700 g of sugar. Why would you need to use a hydrometer? Our ancestors never did? What is the point of sulphiting? If you are going to start again then you might as well start off a whole new brew.

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          • #6
            Rustylady - Yes recipe was - 4 litres hot water to disolve sugar (700 grams) then 2 ltres cool water then v2 tablespoons vinegar, lemon rind and elderflower. I added a pinch of yeast at day 4 as nothing happening... now day 6 and still nothing...

            Guttata - Water was cool when Elderflower added, and room temp when pinch of yeast added

            Zazen - LOL - yes it was Elderflower cheeky!
            http://meandtwoveg.blogspot.com

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by rustylady View Post
              It does say 700 g of sugar. Why would you need to use a hydrometer? Our ancestors never did? What is the point of sulphiting? If you are going to start again then you might as well start off a whole new brew.
              When dealing with brewing wine going into glass bottles, then yes I would say use a hydrometer. There is too much of a risk of them exploding and for safeties sake they should be at an SG of 5, which you can't tell without a hydrometer.

              Jellie you say you added a pinch of yeast two days ago, then I would say give it a stir. It can take a little time for the yeast to build up to large enough numbers for you to see any activity.

              My brews take a day or so to start depending on the temp of where they are. I also use a starter bottle started at the same time as the must is made up so the yeast is already up and riunning when added. I have never added dry yeast so will bow out to those who have experience of it as it is outside mine to say how long it would take in such a situation for you to see activity.

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              • #8
                Early for elderflower? Is this a first for Zaz's other thread?
                My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                Diversify & prosper


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                • #9
                  I would say very very early for elderflower, I usually pick mine in June at the earliest.
                  Happy Gardening,
                  Shirley

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                    Early for elderflower? Is this a first for Zaz's other thread?
                    Was just thinking tha same!
                    Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

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                    • #11
                      As I've said on the other thread, we have loads of elderflower out and I've just set up a bucket of champagne so fingers crossed. To be honest I did question if I'd got it totally wrong as so many people were saying it wasn't out yet and googled for piccies but it most defo is elderflower and when I picked it yesterday one of the trees had already gone a bit over.

                      Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                      Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Alison View Post
                        As I've said on the other thread, we have loads of elderflower out and I've just set up a bucket of champagne so fingers crossed. To be honest I did question if I'd got it totally wrong as so many people were saying it wasn't out yet and googled for piccies but it most defo is elderflower and when I picked it yesterday one of the trees had already gone a bit over.
                        That is really strange! Elderflower here is only just showing buds! We have rowan in flower, and wayfarer, buth of which have similar looking (from a distance) flower heads. I would expect to be at least a couple of weeks ahead of anywhere that far north of this!
                        Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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                        • #13
                          Alison - I Checked too (a couple of times) but yes I'm sure it's elderflower! I'll take a pic! I got mine from ASDA (outside the store! not inside)
                          Last edited by Jelliebabe; 21-05-2010, 03:26 PM.
                          http://meandtwoveg.blogspot.com

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                          • #14
                            Elderflowers are still not out here, but it has been cold up until the last few days. I'm waiting with bated breath as I want to make some elderflower champagne this year. Possibly elderflower cordial too.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Jelliebabe View Post
                              Alison - I Checked too (a couple of times) but yes I'm sure it's elderflower! I'll take a pic! I got mine from ASDA (outside the store! not inside)
                              Yay - The Asda in High Wycombe? Know it well. There are a few elder trees with fully open flowers on round here too - but the main bulk of flowers are still in bud - any day now they will be ready.
                              Maybe you picked a bit early in the season- before the natural yeasts had a chance to develop on the flowerheads? They say to pick fully open flowers on a warm sunny day in some of the recipes I've seen.

                              ETA - Jelliebabe I have just seen your photos on the other thread - those are not elderflowers and I don't know what you have used so I don't know if it safe to drink!
                              Last edited by Jeanied; 22-05-2010, 08:58 AM.
                              Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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