I’ve talked about my love of gathering natural materials to use in my home decor.  Another thing that I like to do is forage for edibles.  I am not talking about eating plant stalks and roots.  I am talking about real foods like blackberries, apples and elderberries.  I use them to make delicious food such as Blackberry Syrup and Apple Crisp.  I gather the Elderberries each year to make a batch or two of Elderberry Syrup.

The elderberries grow wild for the picking up and down the valley at my cabin.  I usually just pick a small amount to make my family a jar of syrup.  Last year however, we ran out of syrup halfway through the winter season and so I had to buy some elderberries.  There was a shortage of elderberries at the time.  So this year I decided to pick extra and freeze them so come January I will have a stash available if I need to make more.

So why would you want to make elderberry syrup in the first place?  Elderberries are a good source of Vitamin C and a variety of antioxidents as well as fiber.  Keep in mind that when you make elderberry syrup you are removing the pulp so there will not be any fiber in the syrup.  If you have an abundance of elderberries, they can also be used to make jams and pies which would provide the fiber.

I believe that eating a whole foods diet is going to provide the important nutrients that our bodies need.  That is one of the reasons I enjoy growing a garden.  To provide more healthy fruits and vegetables for our diet.  And when you grow your own food you know what was used to produce it…compost, water, an occasional dose of fertilizer and lots of TLC.  I also enjoy growing herbs, not only for their flavor but for their nutritional content as well.  So it’s the same with elderberries.  They are nutrient rich, especially with substances that have been linked to good health.  And they taste delicious.

5 Ways to Use Your Elderberry Syrup…

1. Take a tablespoon once or twice a day when you’re feeling under the weather with a cold or flu.
2. Mix a few tablespoons into club soda or plain water for a refreshing drink.
3. Add several tablespoons to a glass of mulled wine during the winter months.
4. Mix a tablespoon into a cup of wassail or spiced cider during the holiday season.
5. Drizzle a tablespoon into your breakfast smoothie.

Can elderberries cure a cold or flu?  No studies show that it can cure anything but there are studies that link it to shortened times of illness.  And elderberries have been used for many years as an immune system booster.  With it’s nutritional content it certainly can’t hurt your health and the syrup is definitely tasty.

Related:  Build a Cold Fighting Arsenal

Now a few words of warning…

Elderberries do contain several substances that can harm you when the berries are eaten raw.  The raw berries can cause nausea and vomiting as well as a cyanide-like poisoning.  This is definitely something we want to avoid.  These chemicals are in the berries, leaves and bark of the elderberry tree.  So when using elderberries, be sure to remove the leaves and stems and never eat the berries raw.  Cooking the elderberries thoroughly will completely eliminate the harmful chemicals.

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Elderberry Syrup

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 30 mins

Total Time

1 hr 40 mins

 

Use this syrup regularly to provide important antioxidents and help strengthen your immune system.

Ingredients

• 8 cups elderberries, fresh or frozen
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1/2 cup honey

Instructions

1. Place rinsed elderberries in a pot with the water.  Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer for an hour. 
   

2. Remove from heat and use a potato masher to thoroughly mash the berries.  Strain through a fine mesh sieve pressing the berries to remove as much of the juice as possible.
   

3. Return the juice to your pot.  Add the spices and simmer for about 30 minutes to concentrate the juice.  You will end up with about 2 cups worth of juice.  Stir in the honey. 
   

4. Pour into a sterilized container.  Cool slightly and refrigerate.  Take 1-2 tablespoon of syrup each day when you come down with the flu or a cold.  The syrup will last for 2-3 months in your refrigerator.  I like to use 2 smaller containers and freeze a portion for later.
   

So what if you don’t have access to an elderberry tree?  You can purchase dried elderberries at the Health Food Store or online at Amazon.  Use 1 cup dried elderberries to 3 cups water.  You might need to cook the mixture a little longer to get down to 2 cups of syrup but otherwise it will produce a nice syrup as well.

One thing that you might consider is planting an Elder tree in your yard or garden if you don’t have access to one.  They’re really very pretty shrubs or trees that attract birds and other wild life.  And you will have regular access to not only the berries but the elder flowers as well.  The flowers also can be used in many delicious, healthful ways.

So go elderberry picking this weekend.  Then make yourself a batch of this delicious syrup to help keep you healthy all winter long.