Floral Ferments
And a Master Class in Fermentation Techniques by Dr. Julia Skinner. Video (27:00)
Elderflower Cordial: This recipe is from Julia Skinner's book, "The Fermentation Oracle." It involves using elderflowers to create a cordial that can be made with either vodka or apple cider vinegar and adjusted for sweetness to taste.
Fermented Carrots with Rose Petals: Julia discusses using whole dried rose petals in fermented carrots, highlighting the combination of flavors between carrots and rose.
Color-Changing Pickles: This recipe uses blue butterfly pea flowers to create a brine that changes color during fermentation. The brine can be used for pickling vegetables like carrots.
Goldenrod Vinegar: Made by infusing goldenrod flowers and leaves in vinegar, this recipe is noted for its unique flavor profile.
Goldenrod Salt: Fresh goldenrod flowers are packed in salt to create a flavorful addition to various dishes.
Herbal Salts and Sugars: Julia mentions making salts and sugars infused with various herbs and flowers, such as basil flower buds.
Dr. Julia Skinner
Food writer, culinary educator, writing coach. Her book, Our Fermented Lives, is out now. Other writing and endeavors at : juliacskinner.com / @bookishjulia / rootkitchens.substack.com The Culinary Curiosity School: @culinary.curiosity.school / culinarycuriosityschool.com Writing coaching + support for creatives: rootsandbranches.squarespace.com / @yourrootsandbranches / yourrootsandbranches.substack.com and Food and history-focused research and consulting: root-kitchens.com / @rootkitchens / rootkitchens.substack.com
Hey, I'm Julia. I am the founder of the Culinary Curiosity School, and I am also a food writer. I've written about all kinds of things: fermentation, history, and even about tea.
Today, we're going to talk about tea and floral ferments, and I'll share some of my favorite foods with you. One of them is an elderflower cordial from my book, The Fermentation Oracle. You can still see the flowers in it—I haven’t strained them out yet.
I want to begin by sharing an interpretation from the fermentation oracle. The card is called, appropriately, "Share Your Gift." The interpretation reads:
"The first flush of spring elderflowers is one of this magical plant's many healing gifts. Elder offers protection and nurturing, plus the gift of delicious healing medicine. What gifts are you sharing freely, and what are you holding back? How can you balance service to the community with your own boundaries, rest, and solitude?"
I think this is such a beautiful way to begin a conversation about preparing food. Plants give us so much—medicine, nourishment, and connection—while also supporting broader ecosystems. A healthy plant doesn’t expend all of its energy producing flowers and berries for others; it balances its resources. Similarly, we too can balance what we share and what we preserve.