Elderberry Syrup Recipe

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Best Elderberry Supplement

This elderberry syrup recipe is easy and quick to make and can store in the fridge for 4-6 weeks.  It’s a great cold and flu season remedy to have on hand for your whole family.  The medicinal health benefits abound and the added bonus is that it tastes amazing.  When making homemade elderberry syrup, the more simple and less ingredients the better.  This recipe has only three ingredients and h2o.  It has no fillers or additives and is as pure, simple and clean as you can find.  Organic berries, organic raw unfiltered honey and lemon juice are the only ingredients in addition to the liquid base of spring water.  This is a great recipe to make with the kids  – it’s fun to make and it is empowering to harvest your own medicine.  Enjoy this elderberry syrup recipe – just in time for the winter!

I’m glad you’re here learning how to make homemade elderberry syrup. Stick around and see if anything else may interest you. If you like this recipe, you may love some of my other favorite recipes such as vegan cinnamon milkshake, amazing homemade gluten free wraps(3 ingredients), collard greens with quail eggs, or zucchini bread. 

I hope you do make this elderberry syrup recipe and that it helps you and your family through the cold season as much as it has for us!

Making Elderberry Syrup :

• 2 cups dried elderberries
• 2 cups raw honey, preferably raw and unfiltered
• 1 lemon (juiced)
• 4 cups water

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Instructions:

1. Add the water to a sauce pan, turn on high heat and bring to a boil.  Add the dried elderberries and lower heat to a simmer.  Simmer for 45 minutes.  
2. After the 45 minutes, strain the elderberries and let the liquid cool down.
3. While the liquid is still warm add the honey so it dissolves and can become thoroughly incorporated. 
4. Add the juice of 1 lemon. 
5. Divide into two jars, seal and refrigerate.  

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Notes:

• Using elderberry syrup for a cold or flu is most successful when starting to take the syrup at the beginning of the onset of symptoms.  Take a spoonful(approximately 1 tablespoon) 3-4 times a day.  Studies have shown a notable difference in the efficacy of reducing symptoms and shorten duration of illness when taking at the beginning of sickness.  Studies indicate the results of taking elderberry syrup at the very onset of symptoms lessen the duration of sickness by four days on average. 
• The elderberries need to be cooked before consumption. Raw or fresh elderberries are noxious to the digestive symptom and have an undesirably tart taste. 
• For instant pot elderberry syrup, add the water and dried berries to the instant pot and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. 
• Echinacea is commonly added to complement the elderberries in making an immune syrup for flus and colds.  To make this immunity syrup add 4 tablespoons of echinacea at the same time as the berries, cook and strain. 

Elderberry Medicine

What are elderberries?

Dark purple berries(nearly black) that are usually dried before use.   They are grown on the european or black elder tree in North America, Europe, parts of Asia and North Africa. 

The history of elderberry medicinal uses goes back thousands of years.  Immunity is the most recognized benefit but the benefits extend to healing skin injuries and burns. 

Egyptian cultures would even make elderberry wine or an elderly tonic for drinking enjoyment. 

Some of the most notable research for elderberry is in the vitamins and minerals that it contains.  The vitamins that register a high amount in lab work are vitamin C, A, B, potassium and iron.  Other elements are antioxidants, polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, amino acids, phytochemicals and minerals.  The syrup is used to promote health and protection from viruses and bacteria that cause flus, colds and infection.  It is also a great supplemental source of essential nutrients, making this syrup a great “multi vitamin” replacement. 

What are the physical manifestations of the elderberry syrup benefits ?

Reduction in inflammation, strength and vitality in immunity against colds and flus, are the most profound affects.  Some studies have shown that using elderberry has promoted healing for upper respiratory infections. 

Is elderberry good for pneumonia?

Some studies have indicated that elderberry showed significant improvement in the healing of upper respiratory illness and infections such as pneumonia. 

Why is making elderberry syrup the most common way to use these medicinal berries?

Through the process of making the syrup, the berries are cooked for an extended period of time. This is essential for using elderberries medicinally because consuming the fresh berries raw can cause stomach upset such as nausea, cramping, vomiting, diarrhea and inflammation of the GI tract .  One of the toxins that exists in the berries raw state is known as a glycoside but through the process of cooking, it is removed. There are other irritant toxic compounds that exist in the plants raw form. When heating the berries to around 180 degrees F, the toxins are eliminated.

Buy Elderberry Syrup :

There are many great companies that make clean high quality products today.  If you have a local natural health food store near you, look for a locally made product. I have found in my community that elderberry syrup is one of the products that has a lot of local options. If you don’t have access to local elderberry syrup I recommend the following brands that offer high quality pure elderberry syrup : Gaia, Vimergy or New Chapter.

Making Elderberry Tea:

Elderberry juice benefits (making a tea) are found to be as beneficial as the syrup product.  Health benefits of elderberry tea range from immune boosting to reduction in inflammation. The advantage to making a syrup is having it on hand readily available at any time in your refrigerator.  The syrup also tastes amazing and may lure you to the fridge for a spoonful. 

Canning Elderberry Syrup :

Canning your homemade elderberry syrup is very simple and is a great way to keep your syrup from going bad or needing to be refrigerated.  If you do not refrigerate your syrup it will start to develop bubbles and the taste will have a zingy effervescence as it will start fermenting. Follow the manufactures guidelines for your pressure cooker or instant pot and follow a standard process of filling bal jars with metal lids for preservation. 

I hope you do make this elderberry syrup recipe and that it helps you and your family through the cold season as much as it has for us!

Thanks for checking out this elderberry syrup recipe.  If you liked this one you may love some of my other favorite recipes such as vegan cinnamon milkshake, amazing homemade gluten free wraps(3 ingredients), collard greens with quail eggs, or zucchini bread. 

This is a great recipe to try if you’re a fan of making your own cold and flu remedies and enjoy tasty sweet syrups. If you do try this elderberry syrup recipe please rate it or comment below and if you made any alterations and want to let me in on your ideas on this recipe, I would love to hear about it!  If you would like to share or pin on Pinterest I am always thankful.  Check out my food journey on Pinterest at Molé in the Wall.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this Site is for general informational purposes only, to include blog postings and any linked material. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional health or medical advice or treatment, nor should it be relied upon for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any health consideration. Consult with a licensed health care practitioner before altering or discontinuing any medications, treatment or care, or starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program. I am not licensed medical doctor or other formally licensed health care practitioner or provider. The content of this blog and any linked material does not necessarily reflect the opinions of myself or the principal author, and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.