Elderberries are a favorite for natural health enthusiasts, for their healing and soothing properties for colds and flus. Elderberry syrup is a popular way to consume it, and is far healthier that over-the-counter cough syrup full of chemicals, sugar, and drugs.
They contain a high amount of vitamins A, B and C, which support the immune system and help fight off sickness. If taken before getting sick, they can help prevent an infection from spreading throughout the body, and if taken after getting sick they can help prevent the infection from spreading into the respiratory tract, making the sickness much worse.
You can find elderberry syrup at your local health food store, but it can often be quite pricey. Making your own is a great alternative, it’s easy and far more affordable!
- ⅔ cup dried black elderberries
- 2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cloves or clove powder
- 1 cup raw honey or maple syrup
- mason jar or bottle
- strainer
- Put all the ingredients except the honey in a medium saucepan with about 3.5 cups filtered water
- Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about 45 minutes. After 45 minutes it should have reduced to about half.
- Remove from heat, and gently mash the elderberries
- Strain
- Let the mixture cool
- Once it is fully cool, and the honey and stir well
- Pour into a jar or bottle
Keep your freshly made elderberry syrup in the fridge and take as needed. It can be taken daily as an immune-boosting supplement or when trying to prevent or heal sickness, although when you are sick, you will probably want to take or administer one does every 2-3 hours. A typical dose is .5-1 tbs for adults and .5-1 tsp for children.
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10 thoughts on “How to Make Elderberry Syrup”
Where in the world does a anyone find elderberries growing in this world of ours today? We picked them when I was a kid in western Pa. around the coal mine regions. Just seemed it was where they normally grew. Fred
They’re on bushes behind my house.
You can order them from most any Nursery
Yes! I’d also like to know where to find Elderberries; I live in Southern California.
Are Elderberries the same as Chokecherries?
And, is this medicinal concoction to be refrigerated or not?
This is very close to my grandmother’s recipe, but it was so very long ago I cannot remember if she put it in the fridge or not.
You all should be attentive to the “how to preserve” aspect, particularly for us old’uns.
Thanx
Sanpedrojoe
It says to keep it in the fridge.
Elderberries do not like to grow around people. You will find them close to forests, near road sides . Look for the spring flowers they are groups of little white clusters,leaves dark green oval tapered.
Then go back in the very late fall after a frost or the temp. drops. Picking time is limited.
Ah Yes! you must start in May and locate the blooming
elder bushes. Keep a pad and pencil in your glove box
and write down where you have seen them, almost impossible
to spot when the berries are ripe. Where to look?
Any country road with a deep ditch where it might collect
standing or running water.As the farmers would say,
they like to have their feet wet.
How do you tell difference between elder berry and polk berry?