Are you familiar with amazing benefits of the legendary Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry Syrup has a nearly legendary reputation, and for good reason. Read on…
Why use elderberries?
Elderberries are known for their immune-boosting properties, specifically their antiviral effects. They can be highly effective in preventing or reducing the severity and duration of viral infections like the flu.
The berries, along with their flowers and leaves, offer relief from upper respiratory infections and can help alleviate allergy symptoms too. You can read in depth about the Elder shrub here.
They can act as an “insurance policy” of sorts, during the cold and flu season, and the best part is, they taste good. Well the berries and flowers do, anyway.
While I won’t claim elderberry syrup is a guarantee against getting sick, studies have shown it can significantly reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of an illness.
Elderberries, in particular, have antiviral properties, they’re immunomodulating (meaning they balance the immune system), they possess anti-inflammatory properties, and they’re rich in antioxidants.
The berries have been shown to stop the penetration of a virus into our cell membrane, which stops it from replicating. Effectively killing the virus.
Gathering Elderberries for Elderberry Syrup
When it comes to gathering elderberries, my husband and I scout various locations during late spring for the elder flowers. This way we know where to find the berries in late August or early September.
Once the bright creamy white umbel of flowers are gone and replaced with the dark purple or black berries, they’re kind of hard to see. Once you know what the flowers look like, you’ll spot them easily in ditches and by rivers and creeks.
We carry a brown paper grocery bag and scissors or clippers when we go berry hunting. Usually a bag full or slightly more is enough to last us through the season.
What’s left after the cold and flu season, I use to make elderberry juice for jelly. While the jelly is delicious and effective, it doesn’t have the same potency of the syrup. Mostly because jelly is more sugar than the syrup is honey.
Where do you find elderberries.
In this picture you see why you scope them out when they are in flower. Those berries are really hard to see when the flowers go away.
Elderberry plants tend to grow near water. So you’ll find them near streams, creeks or ditches. Places where water will flow.
That’s why it’s essential to wear the appropriate clothes, even in the heat of late summer. Long pants (for protection against poison ivy), closed-toe shoes (to guard against snakes and brambles), and socks (to help prevent ticks). The good news is that once you locate a patch, you’ll likely collect all you need for your family in one spot.
When you’re out picking elderberries you want to be sure you know what you’re picking.
There is a bush I’ve seen people mistake for elderberries that are NOT elder. The bush that folks confuse for Elder is Poke weed. The berries of polk are toxic and should not be consumed.
So it’s very important that you know which plant you are foraging from when you forage. Please always use a field guide when you forage any plants.
Basic Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Here you’ll find a very basic elderberry syrup recipe. And below, you’ll find some tips to change it up a bit if you want.
Elderberry Syrup tips & tidbits
Elderberry syrup with the addition of a sweetener is not only good for adults but its also yummy to kids.
Some folks use honey as a sweetener for their syrup because it has its own benefits that add more than just taste. It’s important to add honey when the syrup is not too hot to avoid destroying the beneficial enzymes it contains. Heat can damage its potency.
When using honey, opt for the local, raw, and unpasteurized varieties. Be sure you check labels if you’re buying from a store to avoid buying “honey product” imposters.
Experiment with your syrup recipe by adding things like ginger, cinnamon, or clove. This is another one of those recipes like Fire Cider. There’s no one strict recipe, just your unique twist to a basic starter.
Do you know someone who could benefit from having a jar of elderberry syrup in their fridge this winter?
Share this post with them. They’ll surely appreciate your thoughtfulness.
