Elderberry Syrup

This summer was the first elderberry harvest and I was stupidly giddy over it. I’ve been wanting to make my own elderberry syrup (mostly because it’s so dang expensive) and Jason surprised me with an elderberry bush in the Spring of last year. In June, I picked some of the elderflowers to attempt elderflower syrup (because I love a cocktail with elderflower). Then patiently waited for berries. Luckily, the birds weren’t too greedy and we had an abundance.

While they are a hardy berry, they are a lot of work to harvest and process. Only dark purple berries can be used, so I carefully, with the help of my 7 year old, removed berries while she sifted through to remove stems and green berries that snuck in. I also learned, that raw elderberries should not be consumed because they contain toxins unless cooked. I learned a lot from the Farmer

I have been a long-time fan of elderberry syrup and its benefits. Elderberries are known as a nutritional powerhouse containing vitamin A and C, antioxidants and antiviral properties. With school age kids, it’s inevitable that the cold or flu will make it’s way into our home. Sure enough, two weeks after school started, the girls start sniffling and coughing. Having homemade elderberry syrup, made with homegrown berries, no high fructose corn syrup, and the highest quality ingredients was a welcomed defense in my remedy arsenal. See below for recipe.

Resources: Old Farmer’s Almanac / Elderberries

• Elderberry Syrup Recipe

  Ingredients

  • 4 cups water

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen elderberries

  • 1 inch fresh ginger (or 2 tsp ground)

  • 1 cinnamon stick (or ½ tsp ground)

  • 1 TB cloves (or ¾ tsp ground)

  • 1 cup honey

  Method:

  • Bring water, berries and spices to a boil.

  • Reduce heat and simmer for 35-45 mins. It will reduce to about half.

  • Remove from heat, strain, then add honey, stirring until dissolved.

  • Store in fridge for 1-2 months.

  Notes:

  IMPORTANT —Berries must be cooked to be safe for consumption. Please read for more information.

  Syrup will have a cloudy appearance if using ground spices.

  Consider adding the rind of a lemon or orange for more depth in flavor and for more health benefits.

  Drink 1-2 oz a day or add to beverages to create a delicious spritz. See “Falling for These Cocktails” blog for the elderberry spritz mocktail recipe.