I have been watching the red elderberry bushes near my home closely for the past few weeks, anticipating their flowering. I absolutely adore elderflower vinegar and simple syrups and I have been eager to gather some flowers and get started with some spring favourites. Over the weekend I gathered some bunches of elderflowers, still blushing slightly pink here and there, and started a a few batches of elderflower vinegar. While I was at it, I also collected the last of the small spruce tips still wearing their little brown papers and made the tea for a spruce simple syrup. I had a teensy taste of the tea and it tastes great! Very citrusy and flowery, not too resiny or bitter. Very mellow. I think it’s going to make a tasty simple syrup. I wish I had gathered more in time for a jelly!