Elderberry Syrup Benefits
What is an Elderberry?
The elder plant, also known as Sambucus tree, has been used for centuries. The most common type is Sambucus nigra. The leaves and berries are the most commonly used components. Elderberries are dark purple berries, and when used for medicine they are cooked. This illustrious herb has recently been in the spotlight for its’ ability to boost or activate the immune system.
How to Consume Elderberries:
Why don’t people just pluck elderberries and eat them? Good question! Did you know that elderberry seeds contain high levels of cyanide-inducing glycoside? It can cause a buildup of cyanide in the body and can make you sick. Cooking the berries gets rid of this glycoside, rendering them safe to consume! This is why elderberry syrup is the most commonly used elderberry remedy.
What is Elderberry Syrup?
At its most basic form, elderberry syrup is a combination of water, elderberries, and honey (or, to make it vegan, another sweetener like maple syrup or agave). The elderberries and water are brought to a simmer, until they’ve reduced by half. Once it’s reduced, the heat is turned off. You let it cool and mix it with your sweetener (generally a 1:1 ratio).
Where Can I Get Elderberry Syrup?
You can make your own using our recipe:
3/4 cup of dried elderberries
3 cups of water
Cinnamon to taste (I like to use sticks)
Clove to taste (I use powder)
1 tbsp of fresh ginger
Lemon juice to taste
1 cup of honey (more or less, to taste)
Put everything but the honey, in a pot and bring it to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat, cover, and bring to a simmer. Let it simmer for about 40 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by half.
After this, allow it to cool and strain the liquid using a strainer, cheesecloth, or nut milk bag. Squeeze out every drop you can! I like to pour the liquid into a mason jar and add an equal amount of honey. Pouring it in the mason jar will allow you to see exactly how much liquid you have!
There you have it! Elderberry syrup! You can store in an airtight container for about 2 months. You’ll know if it has gone bad by the smell. It will smell slightly alcoholic or fermented.
You can also buy ours already made here: TFW Elderberry Syrup
Quick tips:
If you’re in a rush, you can use lemon juice instead of freshly squeezed lemons
Infants under 1 should not consume raw honey, you can substitute the honey for agave or maple syrup (it will alter the flavor and shelf life)
Nut milk bags are much easier to use that a strainer or cheesecloth, you can buy them on Amazon and wash and reuse them
Ginger can be hard to find at the grocery store, when I can find it, I will use a food processor and chop it finely then freeze it into tbsp sized pieces
Local honey has greater benefits than store bought or processed honey.
The Research:
Although elderberry is used for other illnesses and maladies like rheumatism, it is most commonly known for its’ upper respiratory symptom reduction and immune activating properties. Want to learn more?
Here are some studies validating elderberries’ efficacy:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30670267/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/
