Pink Champagne - Homemade

I have come across various uses of seasonal flowers. Here some ideas on How to use Rose Petals, that have not been treated (best from your own garden, so that you know they have not being sprayed).

You can use Elderflower instead, or experiment with other flowers or herbs and spices (add the spices after fermentation). .

When you pick your flowers, make sure they have not been sprayed/treated and pick them up on a sunny day half-way through the morning or midday so that they have dried out from the morning dew.

Discard any brown/blemished flower. If you need to collect them over few days, place them in a plastic sealed bag, in the fridge until you have enough.

HOME MADE PINK CHAMPAGNE

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rose petals (untreated)

• 3 litres water

• 375g sugar

• 2 Lemon juice and zest

• 1 tablespoons white wine vinegar.

Method: In a glass bottle/jar, dissolve sugar in hot water.  Once it has cool down a little and all the sugar is dissolved, add all the other ingredients water, add rose petals, lemon slices, vinegar. Store in a cool, airy  place for 6 days.
If after 2 days you don't see any fermentation happening, add a pinch of yeast and stir well (Bakers or Champagne yeast).
After about 6 days, the sugar will be converted into alcohol (low percentage) and you will see the typical bubbles produced by fermentation. 
Strain into screw cap bottles which have been sterilized, squeezing liquid from the petals as you go. Serve lightly chilled or with ice cubes for a refreshing drink.

You can use 9-10 elderflowers instead of rose petals for elderflower champagne.
Instead of white vinegar, you can use Kombucha.