How to Make Elderberry Syrup
The more and more I study about herbs and natural remedies, the more and more I am amazed at all that God has provided for us. Not surprising news of course, since our blessings are always more than we can see, but it’s just such a different way of thinking in our modern society. So much of what he has given us responsibility over, we seem to have forgotten through the years. He has given us so many things that can help prevent and treat sickness as well as heal and restore our bodies. Case in point – elderberry syrup.
You can find it at any health food store, and many places carry it online. But did you know you can make your own? It’s so easy to do and very cost effective!
What you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup dried elderberries (or one cup fresh)
- 1 cup honey
- 2 cups water
- (mountain rose herbs also recommends grated ginger, a cinnamon stick, and a few cloves in their video all of which have warming properties that would be beneficial especially when you’re already sick!)
Take a 1/2 cup of dried elderberries,
place in a pan with the 2 cups of water, along with any other herbs and spices (I used a cinnamon stick this time) bring to a boil, and then let simmer (uncovered) for about 20 minutes.
Once reduced (about half – give or take. It doesn’t have to be exact science) pour through a mesh strainer
and then just use the back of a spoon to squeeze out any juice left in the berries.
Add in the one cup honey and stir until combined. (personally, next time I do this, I’ll wait for the liquid to cool down a bit before I add it in. Raw honey has so many great healing properties to it, I don’t want to damage it with the heat.)
Once thoroughly combined, just place into a storage jar and keep in the fridge!
It will last for a couple weeks in the fridge, so make only enough for those weeks as it can go bad. Cost wise, it’s hard to say, since I didn’t pay attention to how much the 1/2 cup cost me. But it couldn’t have been more than a buck or so. And the honey only cost me about $2.00 for one cup. So by my not so scientific calculations……it cost me about $4.00 for about 16 ounces. Much cheaper than the small $14.00 bottles at the store!
My husband and I have been taking a couple teaspoons a day, my toddler half that. From people I know that take it, some take up to a tablespoon at a time, so I don’t think it’s something you can overdue to much. Plus, the concentration will be a bit different with each batch due to simmer time, etc. Like I said, it’s not an exact science. If/when we become sick I’ll take the same dose every few hours to help deal with symptoms.
Benefits of Elderberry Syrup:
- Contains 3 different flavonoids. Flavonoids are effective against at least 8 different strains of the flu virus!
- Helps boost the immune system.
- It stops the production of hormone-like cytokines that cause inflammation.
- Studies have also shown that elderberry reduces excessive sinus mucus secretion, and some even suggest that elderberry can help lessen swelling of mucous membranes, improve sinus drainage, and decrease nasal congestion.
For some more info or to order your own, you can check out the info page at Mountain Rose Herbs.
This post is linked to :
Works for me Wednesday – cause making it at home works for me!!
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I’m with you, constantly amazed at everything God has blessed us with as far as plants, food, etc go and how beneficial they really and truly are. Everything works together, there is a purpose for everything, and without one element–everything would just fall apart. God is just Breathtaking!
Anyway–
We found an Elderberry patch in our field this summer that we had no idea about. We got too busy when they were ripe, and the birds beat us. I’ve never in my life eaten one before–but I’m stoked to know how beneficial they are! I’ll beat those birds next time!
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Wow, I had no idea it was so easy. You are right it is expensive at the store. So, I am guessing you could use this even when you aren’t sick as a preventative??
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
@Brandi, We are definitely using this for prevention! A couple tsp a day, hoping to keep sickness at bay.
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Where did you get your elderberries? Did they come from Mountain Rose, too?
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
@Rachel R., This first batch, I just picked up enough to try one batch, but I have an order with Mountain Rose herbs for a whole pound. Some friends and I went in an ordered tham together to get the 15% discount and share shipping charges.
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Can you get elderberries at a health or grocery store? I want to make this but would rather not have to order them! Thank you so much for sharing this..I am excited!
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
@Stephanie, I did pick some up at our health food store, but am ordering a pound of them from Mountain Rose as we speak. If your store doesn’t carry them, they might be able to order them for you.
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Where did you find the dried elderberries?
And how do you use the syrup? Just like a medicinal syrup, by itself?
Jessie
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
@Vanderbilt Wife, I got some at our local health food store and I’m currently ordering them from Mountain Rose Herbs. And we just take the syrup by the spoonful, although I’ve used it to sweeten yogurt as well.
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This is so great! I was just asking about ways to ward off sickness in my littles over on Keeper of the Home’s new forum and she mentioned your post!!! Thanks!
Do you know how much for a dose??
Thanks for this info! I’m hoping to try it!
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
@Babychaser, Us adults take a couple teaspoons per day and if we become ill, I’ll take the same dose every few hours.
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Babychaser Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
@donielle, And do you give it to the kids too??? how much?
Thanks!!!
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
@Babychaser, about a teaspoon or so. It’s not really something you can hurt yourself by taking really. People in Europe use them all the time in pies and wine! Someone I know is giving her kids a Tbsp at a time. So I’m starting out with a spoonful and going from there!
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I’m curious how you use it. Do you just take a dose (how much) a day? Or put it in something? (Like morning smoothies?)
Thanks!
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
@jeannette, Us adults take a couple teaspoons per day and if we become ill, I’ll take the same dose every few hours.
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donielle Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
@jeannette, Oh- also, we do just take it by the spoonful as it tastes quite pleasant, but it can be diluted in water, I’ve used it to sweeten plain yogurt, and some I know even just use it for syrup on pancakes!
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Thanks for this recipe! My healthfood store carries dried elderberries. I’m going to get some and try this. An elderberry bush (or 2) is on my list of things to get for my herb garden.
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donielle Reply:
October 30th, 2009 at 9:46 am
@Linda, Your welcome! We don’t have any wild ones around here either, so I’ll be planting my own in the spring. And hopefully I’ll have time to put in an actual herb garden as well!
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I’m excited to try this! I’ve heard that the stems are toxic – do you need to sort through the berries beforehand to remove the few stem pieces that are mixed in with the berries?
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donielle Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
@Katie, I’ve heard the same, so you may want to. I didn’t find any in my dried ones though.
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I’ve heard awesome things about this stuff – thanks for taking the mystery out of it! I linked to this post on my weekly roundup – my post is here. Thanks for sharing!!
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donielle Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
@Lenetta @ Nettacow, Thanks for the link!
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Awesome! I am so tired of paying so much money every two weeks for our elderberry syrup. I’m just wondering where I can buy the elderberries however. I’m pretty sure I have never once seen them at my health food store.
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donielle Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
@Melissa, I bought mine from Mountain Rose Herbs. I think it was 10$ for a pound of them.
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Awesome to know because I found them while surfing this morning, after reading this, and wondered if they were legit enough to give my money to. Thanks!
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donielle Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
@Melissa, Mountain Rose Herbs is awesome! I’ve ordered from them many times and it always comes when they say and it’s really good quality. (fyi, a shameless plug- if you click their ad from my site, I get a small percentage
But thats totally not the reason I like them! They are a good company too.
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I will click through your site since you’re the one that gave me the heads up.
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donielle Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 10:25 am
@Melissa, Thanks! Much appreciated as the little bit I earn off this site helps my family make purchases we believe will better our health. Purchases we otherwise wouldn’t be able to make. So thank you!
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This is a how-to I have been looking for. Thanks. I have been using ZAND elderberry and zinc herbalozenges for throat tickles this fall but have been wanting to give my own elderberry syrup a try. Next stop, the apothecary for some dried berries.
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donielle Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
@kia, So have you tried it yet? I have learned a couple things since then I thought I’d pass along quickly.
Start with 1/2 cup honey and increase it to taste.
Bring it hot enough to just BELOW simmering. For some reason it can get an odd flavor if it’s boiled. A crockpot actually works well too!
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