Red Currant Cordial is a specialty in Europe and elsewhere.
The homemade Red Currant Syrup is prepared over a course of days, and that too without much effort!
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Learn how to prepare red currant cordial aka red currant syrup easily at home with fresh red currant berries.
The Recipe with how to step-by-step instructions is further below
We have been making Red Currant cordial since ever in Austria.
My grandmother used to make it, our neighbors do and so on.
This red currant recipe is an authentic family recipe.
Red Currant berry bushes commonly grow in people's garden's in the Austrian alps so it's not surprising that we were used to enjoying fresh ruby red currant in our youths.
If you don't know what to make of your Red Currant harvest, then just make this red currant cordial, it's the easiest and most effortless idea ever!
📜 Currant varieties
By the way, the humble, but tempting-looking, redcurrant berry also has a white, pinkish, and black "cousin" variety.
Black Currants have a very strong distinct taste.
The first flavor is more subtle but while chewing on the one you do get something like a slightly nutty and hard to describe the taste.
It's impossible to find another flavor like this in the plant kingdom.
White Currants are kind of transparent and are sweeter in nature.
I love them freshly picked from the tree!
The pink Currants are a cross between red and White Currants.
They are slightly tart but also sweet.
Red Currants are rather tart and quite sour compared to the other variations.
But they do look like real gems.
Red Currants are more suitable as a red currant jelly, red currant chutney, or any other preserves such as a cordial as the sourness helps in preserving the fruits.
Don't fret at the thought of preparing homemade red currant cordial, it's not that difficult and it won't take up much of your precious time.
To make red currant cordial you will only need 2-3 days in waiting time and that's it.
Ready to be bottled up!
Another plus point is that you will be able to enjoy this homemade cordial all year round with just water and ice or in cocktails/mocktails!
🧰 Equipment to prepare red currant cordial
- a big bucket with a lid
- a big fine sieve
- a funnel
- a couple of clean sterilized bottles
- a cooking spoon with a long handle to stir the mixture in the bucket
The plus point of making my red currant cordial recipe is that there is NO COOKING!
We let the fresh fruits sit in sugar and Citric Acid which helps the syrup to preserve longer (see further below for full instruction)
🗓️ When are Red Currants in Season?
Redcurrants grow on short poky shrubs and the usual harvest time is around July in central Europe.
A tart red currant is rich in Fiber, which regulates the digestive system of your body.
Since the redcurrant berries are quite sour, they are not that commonly eaten raw but we do enjoy sour fruits at home too.
🩺 Red Currants health benefits
Eating redcurrants raw can assist your health in so many other ways since the red currant is stuffed with vitamins such as Vitamin C, which supports the health of your immune system.
As we already know Vitamin C regenerates body cells and therefore may prevent cancer.
I am certain that you will enjoy our redcurrant family recipe.
The syrup makes a great unique gift for your family, friend, and neighbors.
In Europe Red Currant Cordial is considered a specialty and a small bottle is usually priced at about 10€ in the local farmers market.
👁️ More Berry Recipes:
Dear Reader, where do you get your red currants from?
Global Food Recipes
with Spices and Herbs
Free E-Book available for a limited time. Grab yours now and get instantly inspired!
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📖 Recipe
Red Currant Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
For the Syrup:
- 2.2 Pounds Red Currants
- 5 Cups Water
- ⅛ Cup Citric Acid
- 2.2 Pounds Sugar
- ½ Tablespoon Sorbic Acid
You will also need...
- Large Bucket with a Lid
- Sieve
- Funnel
- Spoon
- Bottles
Jill Colonna says
Helene, I would never have thought to make my own cordial. This looks so colourful and refreshing. This year our 2 redcurrant bushes let us down. Perhaps they're just getting old but let's hope in the meantime that they'll provide fruit for next year since I'd love to try this!
Judit + Corina @ Glamorous Bite says
Helen, we both love red currants and your syrup looks gorgeous!
J+C
Ramona says
Cordials are very common in Sri Lanka, but I have never tried to make one at home. This looks amazing. The color is really beautiful.
Kitchen Belleicious says
now that looks refreshing and sweet and just beautiful.
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous - the red currant syrup is such a pretty color!
easyfoodsmith says
Fascinated by such exotic berries. The color of the cordial looks so beautiful and I look forward to taste redcurrants some day 🙂
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Helene, I have not seen red currants for years! Yours looks so good! Yum. Very refreshing.
mjskit says
What a gorgeous post Helene! I love the picture of the red current and the syrup they make it very lovely. What a beautiful color! I do love making syrup out of fresh fruit, especially wild fruit. I'd love to find some red currents around here!
Laura @ Family Spice says
Those red currants look like little ruby jewels! Stunning! And what a beautiful syrup - I would love to have some of that in my house!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
What gorgeous color the syrup has! And you're right that this is an easy recipe. Now I need to find some red currants! Thanks for this.
Sissi says
What a wonderful idea to use red currants, which, as you already know, I also love and I have grown eating them straight from the bush 🙂 In my family red currant jelly is the most popular way to preserve them, but the syrup is definitely a fantastic thing too. I love tanginess in fruits and find it a pity that so many people turn their backs to tangy fruits... Acidity is the sign they are very healthy too!
Rosa says
Refreshing and divine! That redcurrant picture is lovely.
Cheers,
Rosa