How to make Elderberry Syrup and kick the cold and flu season fast
I love to make this syrup when germs start to fester and someone starts to show signs of a cold.
Elderberries are a significant source of antioxidants, antiviral, and increases hemagglutination inhibition titers to influenza B, making these little berries a superfood to help fight against cold and flu symptoms. (http://abc.herbalgram.org/)
The combination of elderberries, raw honey, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon, make this Elderberry syrup really support the body and help you feel better faster. Plus the flavour is very yummy!!!
If you are lucky enough to have Elderberries growing local to you, amazing! They are usually harvested around late summer.
If you cannot find fresh elderberries, you can order dried elderberries to make the syrup. Starwest Botanicals sells a 1lb bag of organic elderberries which are great https://amzn.to/31WnGLm
As for raw honey, it is always best to buy local raw honey so that it has the benefits of the local air and plants to keep you at your best. You also want to make sure that it has not been heated, heated will have destroyed any of the enzymes that make the honey good for the body.
I always do a double batch when I make it, keep 1 jar in the fridge and store the other in the freezer until needed.
Ingredients:
2 cup dried elderberries (4 cups if using fresh or frozen elderberries) https://amzn.to/31WnGLm
8 cups of filtered water
10 quarter-inch sections of fresh ginger
6 cinnamon sticks
Small handful of cloves – about 15
1.5 cups raw unheated honey (https://amzn.to/2SuDVMC)
Method:
1. Put all ingredients except for the honey in a pot.
2. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. You want the water to have reduced.
3. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, pushing out all the juice from the berries with a wooden spoon.
4. Once the juice has cooled to under 110F/42C, you can then add in the raw honey. (Juice needs to cool down below these temperatures so that the enzymes are not destroyed.)
Store in a glass jar and use within a few weeks.
As this is a double batch, you can freeze half of it to use later, or cut the recipe in half to make a small amount.
I usually fill a shot glass 3/4 of the way, and give it to the kids 3 times a day on the first day, then reduce as they are better. They also get my DIY Ascorbic Acid gummies, Vitamin D drops and they get high-quality multivitamins, and Omegas daily.
If you don’t want to go through the making process, you can also buy already made Elderberry syrup.
SURO Organic Elderberry Syrup for Kids is one that I use to buy before making my own. https://amzn.to/3bJeXRh
They also have an adult syrup – https://amzn.to/31Zm1o9
Let me know your Elderberry syrup turned out!
Love, light, and health