How to Make Elderberry Syrup
Simmered dried Elderberries with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, orange peel and then sweetened with honey. All of these ingredients are flu and cold fighting warriors! Each bringing their own unique flavor and immune boosting weapons. And it’s delicious! What’s not to love?!
Watch Elderberry tutorial here:
What are the Health Benefits of Elderberries?
Maybe you’ve noticed Elderberries as an ingredient in much of the cold and flu section in your health store. I’ve seen Elderberries in cough syrup, gummies, lozenges, teas and other medicines. Does that drop you a HUGE clue? Elderberries have essential nutrients that support the immune system. And Elderberries house powerful antioxidants known as anthocyanins.
When it comes to natural remedies, its best to start taking them before sickness arrives. It takes time to reap the benefits of nature. So, you should make this natural remedy in advance, and have it on hand.
Since this berry has been used for centuries, there’s so much to be said about its benefits. You can study more about that here.
Elderberry Syrup Ingredients
The ingredients chosen for today’s syrup are also immune boosting heroes. Here’s the line up!
Dried Elderberries
Dried Elderberries can be a great way to keep elderberries on hand all year round. Though you can defiantly use fresh Elderberries. BTW you should not ingest fresh elderberries! Fresh elderberries can give you the tummy troubles!
Cinnamon
You can use cinnamon sticks if you have them on hand or opt for ground cinnamon. Today I’m using ground cinnamon. Why wouldn’t you want to use cinnamon?! It’s delicious and smells AMAZING! Plus, it’s an antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. Very good for you!
Clove
You could also use whole or ground. This aromatic ingredient is also super good for you! Cloves can help battle cold and flu, indigestion and of course has incredible antioxidants.
Ginger
When I think of ginger, I think digestion! Ginger is an ingestion warrior! Among other health benefits, ginger also helps with respiratory health.
Orange peel
Ok orange is just yummy! Orange all around is great for immunity. The natural orange oils smell so good! Also known to help digestion.
Honey
Mothers have been treating sick loved ones with honey, for a very long time! My grandma would rub a homemade honey salve on her children’s chests when they were sick with a cough. Honey is great for soothing coughs, sore throats and other cold symptoms. Plus, it makes this syrup sweet and syrupy!
Swaps
The basic recipe for Elderberry syrup is quite simple. Elderberries, water and honey. You can add whatever you need or desire!
Some other healthy additions:
Turmeric
Nutmeg
Cardamom
Coriander
Cayanne Pepper
Saffron
How to Make Thick Elderberry Syrup?
Just add less water and simmer until you reach a thicker consistency. And remember that the honey comes after the cooking process. The honey will add more to the consistency as well.
Elderberry Syrup Recipe with Essential Oils
Maybe you don’t have all the fresh ingredients, but you do have essential oils.
Here’s a recipe for Elderberry Syrup with essential oils, How to Make Elderberry Syrup – Our Oily House. Laura has some wonderful recipes with essential oils.
How to Take Elderberry Syrup?
Elderberry Syrup is a very peasant tasting medicine. Adults can take it by the tablespoon once a day. Children under the age of 12 can take 1 teaspoon a day. Babies should NOT take this recipe of elderberry syrup because it contains honey. But you could substitute the sweetness with maple syrup.
If your feeling illness coming on you can take up to 4 tablespoons a day for adults. Elderberry Syrup is actually known for shortening the duration of the cold and flu. Bonus!
My favorite way to take elderberry syrup is, to store it in the freezer in an ice cube tray and plop a cube in my steaming hot tea. It adds a wonderful, sweet flavor to any herbal tea. It’s so soothing when you’re not feeling well.
Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried Elderberries (2 cups fresh)
- 2 teaspoons ground Cinnamon (or cinnamon stick)
- peel of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons ginger
- 1 cup raw honey
Directions
- In a medium saucepan, add dried elderberries, cinnamon, orange peel and ginger to 5 cups of water.
- Once boiling, bring down to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, turn off heat. With a potato masher, mash berries.
- Strain the mixture through several layers of cheesecloth, or a dark tea towel. Strain all that good stuff out into a bowl.
- After the mixture has cooled, add the raw honey.
- Store in mason jars or ice cube trays.
Notes: If you would like to add any other fresh herbs or flowers, they will need to be added after the cooking process. The syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks and the freezer for up to 6 months.
Here is the Recipe Printable:
Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Simmered dried Elderberries with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, orange peel and then sweetened with honey.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried Elderberries (2 cups fresh)
- 2 teaspoons ground Cinnamon (or cinnamon stick)
- peel of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons ginger
- 1 cup raw honey
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add dried elderberries, cinnamon, orange peel and ginger to 5 cups of water.
- Once boiling, bring down to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, turn off heat. With a potato masher, mash berries.
- Strain the mixture through several layers of cheesecloth, or a dark tea towel. Strain all that good stuff out into a bowl.
- After the mixture has cooled, add the raw honey.
- Store in mason jars or ice cube trays.
Notes
If you would like to add any other fresh herbs or flowers, they will need to be added after the cooking process. The syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks and the freezer for up to 6 months.
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