Elderberry syrup made from dried elderberries is one of the most popular natural home recipes people turn to during cold and flu season and the cooler months.
Elderberries contain vitamins and other plant compounds, and they can be used in a number of home recipes. The best known is the simple elderberry syrup.
A Natural Recipe for Cold and Flu Season
Common colds and the flu can make you quite miserable. This is especially hard for parents who see their children feeling unwell. Many people use natural home recipes for comfort during these mild illnesses. Sambucus nigra, or black elderberry, is traditionally used for this purpose, and some studies suggest it may help support the body during the recovery process and ease some of the discomfort.
Elderberry Benefits
Elderberries contain vitamins A, B, and C, which may help support the immune system. Researchers from Israel have studied the complex sugars found in elderberries, and several commercial formulas are based on them.
The Israeli researcher Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, of Hadassah-Hebrew University, has studied how elderberry compounds interact with flu viruses. In one small clinical study, people who took an elderberry extract reported feeling better sooner than those who were given a placebo. More research is needed, and results vary from person to person.
A Simple Way to Enjoy Elderberries
To get the properties of black elderberries along with a delicious taste, you can make elderberry syrup. Here is a homemade recipe for this tasty syrup. It uses homemade elderberry concentrate, ginger and cinnamon as complementary herbs, and raw honey. The recipe includes substitution suggestions for honey in case you can’t or don’t like to use it.
Why Homemade?
First of all, it is much cheaper, as 4–8 ounces of elderberry syrup usually cost more than $15 in most health stores or online. With this recipe, you can make 16 ounces of elderberry syrup for less than $10. You can also customize the recipe according to your flavor preferences.
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
This simple syrup made with dried elderberries, herbs, and honey can be taken on its own during cold and flu season, or used as a topping for homemade waffles or pancakes.
- Serves: one quart
- Time for preparation: 5 minutes
- Time for cooking: an hour
- Total time: an hour and 15 minutes
Required Ingredients
- Dried black elderberries – three ounces (2/3 cup)
- Fresh or dried ginger root – two tablespoons
- Water – three and a half cups
- Cinnamon powder – one teaspoon
- Raw honey – one cup
- Cloves or clove powder – half a teaspoon
Preparation
In a medium saucepan, add the water along with the black elderberries, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves (but not the honey). Bring to a boil, then cover the saucepan and lower the heat to simmer for about 45 to 60 minutes, until the liquid has reduced by nearly half. Then remove from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Use a spoon or other flat utensil to mash the berries. Strain the mixture into a glass bowl or jar.
Discard or compost the elderberries and leave the liquid to cool until it becomes lukewarm. Once you are sure it is no longer hot, add the honey and stir well. After that, pour the syrup into a 16-ounce glass bottle or a pint-sized mason jar.
There’s your homemade elderberry syrup. Keep it in the fridge. Many adults take half to one tablespoon a day during cold and flu season, and according to some sources it is taken every day except on weekends. Some people take it more often, every two to three hours, when they already have a cold.
For children, ask your pediatrician first before giving elderberry syrup. If symptoms are severe or do not improve, see your doctor.
How Long to Keep the Syrup in the Fridge
Usually, the syrup lasts up to 2 weeks in the fridge, so you can freeze whatever you won’t use during that period. Another way is to freeze small quantities of the syrup in an ice-cube tray and then defrost as needed. Properly canning the finished elderberry syrup or the juice concentrate is another way to extend the shelf life.
Harvest Your Own Elderberries
First, make sure you have the right plant before you start growing your own elderberry bush. You can consult a local herbalist to find and harvest elderberries. Keep in mind that you should only collect the ripe berries, and not the leaves or stems, as they can be harmful. The berries should always be cooked before use.
Where to Order Elderberries
You can order them online from Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs.
What Is the Syrup Used For?
Many people take a small daily amount, half to one teaspoon, during the peak cold and flu season, and some take a little more when they feel a minor illness coming on. You can also use it as an ingredient in recipes like panna cotta, where the sweetener is replaced by the unique and complex flavor of the elderberry syrup.
Can You Substitute the Honey in This Recipe?
Honey should not be given to infants younger than one year. Here are several simple substitutes:
- Nutrient-rich molasses or maple syrup
- Another option is to simply omit this ingredient
- You can prepare an elderberry tincture by mixing the concentrated syrup with an equal amount of brandy, vodka, or other food-grade alcohol instead of sweetener. Of course, this is for adults only, and not for kids
Can You Use Powdered Elderberries?
When you can’t find whole elderberries, you can use powdered ones. Use half a cup of powdered elderberries in the recipe.
Can You Reuse Elderberries?
Boiling and mashing the elderberries removes most of their nutrients. Therefore, reusing them is not recommended.
Other herbs that are traditionally used during cold and flu season are garlic, calendula, cat’s claw, olive leaf, oregano, echinacea, licorice root, astragalus root, and ginger.
Do you know any other homemade recipe for cold and flu season? Would you try this elderberry syrup recipe? If you do, feel free to share your experience in the comments below.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to your doctor about any health concern.