• The elderflower umbels should be fully ripe, that is, the flowers should be open but not yet fall off too easily or even be brown.

Shake off the cones a little to get rid of any vermin.

Put the water, sugar and citric acid together in a saucepan and stir.

Wash the lemon and oranges with hot water, then cut them into pieces or slices.

Cut lemon pieces, orange pieces, vanilla pod into pieces, add thyme sprigs and elderflower to the pot and stir in.

Now cover the whole thing and let it stand for 2 days at room temperature. Stir every now and then.

Then bring to the boil and simmer for 3-5 minutes

Then pour through a sieve with a cheesecloth and put back in the saucepan.

Bring to the boil again, then fill into bottles. Close these tightly.