Elderberry syrup is an immune-boosting preventative and remedy for flus and colds. Elderberries are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds such as antioxidants, vitamin A, B, and C as well as antiviral and antibacterial properties. This recipe calls for other goodies as well such as cinnamon, clove, raw honey, and ginger root which are amazing in and of themselves.

Benefits:

Black elderberries: High in antioxidants, vitamins A, B, and C, antiviral and antibacterial
Ginger: Warming, stimulates circulation and cleanses the blood, breaks up congestions, anti-inflammatory
Cinnamon and cloves: antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory
Raw honey: High in antioxidants, anti fungal, antibacterial

Elderberry syrup is a gentle (but powerful) natural medicine that works for your body, not against it. It boosts the immune system rather than suppressing symptoms. It can be taken as a preventative or as an aid if you are sick.

Making elderberry syrup homemade is cheaper and allows you to have better control of the ingredients. Most store-bought elderberry syrups contain refined cane sugar, which is not really something your body needs when you’re fighting off germs. I find that to be a little counterproductive. I like to make mine homemade so I can add in a generous amount of raw local honey instead.

What you need:

2/3 cup of organic dried black elderberries
3 1/2 cups of filtered water
2 tablespoons of organic fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon of organic ground cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon of organic ground cloves or 1 teaspoon of whole
1/3-1/2 cup of raw, local honey (more or less to taste)

To Make:

STEP 1

Pour your filtered water into a saucepan and add in all ingredients except for the honey.

STEP 2

Cover with a lid and bring everything to a boil. Once boiling, remove the lid and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Allow to gently simmer and cook down for about 45-60 minutes, or until the liquid has been reduced by half.

STEP 3

After reduced, remove from the heat and allow the syrup to cool a bit until it can be handled.

STEP 4

Strain out the liquid from the berries, giving everything a good mashing to get out every last drop out.

STEP 5

Let the syrup cool until it is lukewarm and then stir in the honey. I don’t mind mine being a little less sweet, so I add in around 1/3 cup of honey. Some recipes call for 1 cup or even 1 1/2 cups, so you can play around and adjust it to your liking.

STEP 6

Store the syrup in a glass jar in the fridge or freezer. I like to use 4oz mason jars. This recipe makes enough to fill 3 or 4, so I keep one in the fridge and store the rest in the freezer until needed. This ensures a longer shelf life! (The syrup will get moldy/turn to alcohol in the fridge if not used within 2-3 weeks) I do not recommend canning elderberry syrup because the heat will kill the nutrients of the raw honey.

how to take:

As a preventative: 1/2-1 tablespoon once a day

If you are sick: 1 tablespoon every 2-3 hours
Do not give to children under 1 year of age. The above is adult dosage and may differ according to age. Please do your own research before giving to children.

FAQ:

“My syrup is thin, did I do something wrong?” Homemade elderberry syrup is going to be a lot thinner than store-bought. It’s not going to be thick and stringy like you may think of when you hear the word “syrup”. Adding more honey will make it thicker if you’d like.

“What can I do with the berries after the syrup is made?” We typically compost them, but making muffins or pancakes with the leftover berries has been suggested!

“Do I have to use local honey?” Local honeys contain pollens that are native to your area and can aid in seasonal allergies that are unique to your location, boosting your immune system all the more. Local honey just adds an extra benefit to the syrup, but you can certainly use any kind of raw honey.

“Where can I buy elderberries?” We have been purchasing ours from Mountain Rose Herbs for many years, but there are other great herbal brands that sell them as well, such as Frontier Co-Op and Oregon’s Wild Harvest. You may also find fresh elderberries at your local farms and markets.

This information has not been approved by the FDA and is not intended to cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent any disease. Always do your own research and talk to your medical health professional before introducing any new herbs into your daily routine. Be aware of any allergies you may have and herbal interactions with medications you take.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup