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Elderberries in a tree, ready to be picked for Elderberry Elixir

Elderberry Syrup Elixir Recipe

Avoid the flu and keep your whole family healthy this season with our homemade Elderberry Syrup Elixir.

Elderberries are said to be one of the most beneficial components to keeping the flu at bay, but the elderberry is so much more than that. Elderberries contain properties that help with numerous health ailments…but the memories of elderberries and my childhood is what I cherish the most. 

As a child I knew the elderberry was good. We’d boil them down into a sweet syrup and pour them on pancakes, and my mom would make me drink the bitter juice if I got the sniffles. Mama taught me they were good. I have memories gathering elderberries with my mom. She gathered seed for a local organic gardener, driving county roads and forest trails looking for the beloved elderberry. She also gathered rose hips, mountain ash and snow berry seed. My big brother and I would tag along, helping where we could.

When do you harvest elderberries?

I always know after the first heavy frost, it’s time to gather elderberries.  As a child, Mom would pack us a lunch, pack her buckets, ladder and special stick with a hook on the end to pull down the berry laden limbs. Once our supplies were gathered, we’d pile into the car and off we’d go.  

We gleaned berries until the buckets were full, then we’d sell them to the farmer and save some for our personal use.  Mom would make the dreaded bitter juice to keep us healthy, and now more than ever, I appreciate her efforts.

What are the benefits of elderberries?

As an adult, I have learned about the incredible benefits of elderberries. Aside from keeping the dreaded flu at bay, elderberries have the following health benefits:

  • Reduce inflammation in the joints
  • Regulate blood sugar
  • Aid in healing sinus infections
  • A natural laxative
  • Skin toner
  • Helps prevent cancer with  anti-carcinogenic properties
  • (Source)

Our Harvest

Elderberries are abundant in our area. They grow along roads, in yards and on old homestead properties. This makes gleaning and gathering easy. Not the picking, but the finding. I missed the berries last fall, so this year I was determined to gather my share. My husband (who lovingly set apart an entire day to spend gathering with me) and I started out one fall morning to gather elderberries, we have a friend who has a large bush at the edge of his yard, and he generously let us glean from his elderberries. We have a smaller bush also, out in the back of our property, so off we went with our buckets, ladder, and a garden tool to pull down the branches…oh, and the 7 year old.

We had a glorious time, laughing and giggling, taking turns on the ladder. We gathered about twelve pounds of berries from our friend and about 6 pounds from our bush, enough berries to make my winter elderberry elixir and some to share.

My mama taught me to always make enough to share, be generous, give gifts, share…all part of the heirlooms my mama is leaving to me.

Elderberry Syrup Elixir

Avoid colds and the flu and boost your immune system this season with our homemade elderberry syrup elixir. Keep your entire family healthy and strong.
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Author: Tammy Kralik

Ingredients

  • 12 cups of elderberry juice
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh organic ginger grated
  • 1 Tablespoon organic cinnamon ground (or 1 cinnamon stick, grated)
  • ½-1 cup local raw honey

Instructions

  • Wash and clean the berries by rinsing them under cold water. Clean the leaves out then clip the berries off the large clump.
  • If using a steamer juicer, don't bother removing the berries off the entire stem, however if you're using a pot, then you'll want to take the time for this step.
  • Place the cleaned berries in the strainer portion of the steamer and allow the water to boil. Squish the berries with a potato masher a few times, then empty the juice into a large pot.
  • Add the ginger and cinnamon, boil for 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and add honey, stir to dissolve.
  • Ladle the hot liquid into hot sterile jars. (I like to use small jars, usually 1/2 pint)
  • Have your rings warmed in boiling water, wipe jar top, lid, then ring your jars.
  • Invert jars for 20 minutes.
  • Turn back over and jars should seal. (I believe this is referred to as  the “Russian” method of canning.)  
  • Feed the pulp to the chickens! I haven't found a use for elderberry pulp other than chicken feed, if you have one, please share!

Notes

  • It is advisable to hot water bath the elixir for 15 to 20 minutes.  I don’t because I don’t want to boil away any more nutrients than I already have.  But again, this is just the way my mom taught me, please do what is best for you and your family! Do your own research and find your family’s best practices.  
  • Other ways to extract juice, are to boil the berries and then press through a sieve or cheesecloth.
  • Elixir is done and shelf stable until you need it.
  • I usually take 1-2 Tablespoons if I am exposed to the flu or feel the sniffles coming on for 3-5 days. 
Elderberry Syrup Pinterest Pin

Additional Elderberry Tips:

  • “Ripe, cooked berries of most of the Sambucus species are edible. However, you should not consume raw berries or other parts of the plant since they contain a cyanide-inducing chemical. Eating uncooked berries can result in diarrhea and vomiting. Generally, commercial preparations don’t cause adverse reactions at recommended dosages.
  • Occasionally, elderflowers and elderberries cause allergic reactions. Discontinue use if you have a mild allergic reaction, and seek medical attention if you have a serious allergic reaction.
  • You should not give elderberry products to a child before consulting your pediatrician. If you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, don’t take it.
  • If you have an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ask your doctor before taking elderberry because it may stimulate the immune system. If you have any other ongoing health concern, speak with your health care provider before taking it as well. People with organ transplants should not take elderberry.
  • Elderberry appears to have few side effects when used properly for short periods of time (up to five days).
  • If you currently take any of the following medications, you should talk to your health care provider before taking any elder plant products: Diabetes medications; Diuretics (water pills); Chemotherapy; Immune-supressing drugs, including corticosteroids (prednisone), and medications used to treat autoimmune diseases; Laxatives; Theophylline (TheoDur).” (Source)

Other Uses for Elderberries

You can also make elderberry syrup, elderberry jam, and mix the juice with other fruits to make fruit leather.  I also make a few batches of just elderberry juice and honey, leaving out the ginger and cinnamon.  I use this the same as the elixir, but have the option of making jelly or syrup if I want.

Our adventurous morning of picking yielded much more elixir than I anticipated, enough to share and be generous. I enjoyed handing my mama’s heirlooms down to my 7 year old. Gleaning berries and warm memories on a cool fall morning. Memories created as we picked berries, laughing and enjoying the company of my dear husband, watching our buckets fill up as we pulled branches into reach.

It is my greatest desire to share what my mama taught me, how to glean berries, how to use what you have to enrich your life, how to pass down heirlooms worth treasuring…how to share.

Enjoy and be well this winter!

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Showing 16 comments
  • Avatar
    Sarah
    Reply

    I’ve heard you can tincture the pulp also! I’ve heard it may not be as potent but still beneficial. 🙂

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      I’ve not heard that before, Sarah! What a great use of the pulp if that works! I’ve heard you can take the juice and mix it 50/50 with a food-grade alcohol for a tincture, but I have yet to try this. Thanks for sharing!

  • Avatar
    sylvia starling
    Reply

    I purchased 4 bottles for Winter today and something I never noticed before on the neck of the label…contains sulfates, fd&c blue#1and red#40 has that always been there and how does it affect the Elderberry…

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      Hi Sylvia! This is precisely why we like to make our own Elderberry syrup. We try to avoid artificial colors and sulfates. I couldn’t say for sure how it affects the elderberries, but my concern would be why the color is needed at all? When I make my syrup it is a deep rich purple, no food coloring needed. That leads me to believe the elderberries used for the product you bought might not be as high quality? Or perhaps they were bleached for some reason first? It’s my recommendation to stick to a homemade version and make it in smaller quantities (or freeze the extras) so it doesn’t go bad before it’s used up.

  • Avatar
    Sandy Morris
    Reply

    Hi! I live I Eastern Washington State and elderberries are a sacred herb to me as well as many Native American tribes. I have been keeping my family and friends healthy for many years now, and since there was an incredible bumper crop of them this year, I have processed many extra pounds to sell.

    You b asked what to do with the pulp. Yes, the chickens love it, but last year I started drying it in my dehydrator just like the berries, and using it for tea, tinctures, and syrups just like the dried berries. Yes, it is minus the juice it had originally, but it’s also more concentrated because it’s mashed and has less water content. The friends I gave it to who tried it had the same great results with immune strength and getting over a cold. I’m glad I don’t have to throw it away any more! My chickens are gone now anyway!

    Love your blog!

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      Wow, thanks so much for this info Sandy! No more tossing the mash to the chickens or in the compost for me! 🙂

  • Avatar
    Cindy Rees
    Reply

    I live in Ohio. We have Elderberries, but they grow along roadsides on short bushes. No need to pull them down. The flowers smell very sweet, and the berries come out in smaller clusters. Our berries get ripe (deep purple) during summer, and are all gone by fall and frost. We use them the same way.

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      That’s so great Cindy! Short bushes sure would be easier to pick than our tall trees! Enjoy that elderberry syrup! 🙂

  • Avatar
    Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
    Reply

    This is great! I love elderberries and this is totally the time of year for us to taking this elixir.

  • Avatar
    linda spiker
    Reply

    I love elderberry syrup. It’s been a while since I have made any though. Thanks for the recipe and the reminder!

  • Avatar
    The Food Hunter
    Reply

    I’ve never had an elderberry or seen them for that matter.

  • Avatar
    Carol Little R.H.
    Reply

    Elderberry medicine is a big part of my winter medicine strategy. I make a similar syrup, plus tincture, infused vinegar and well.. it’s a long list!

  • Avatar
    Shelby @Fitasamamabear
    Reply

    I love elderberry syrup! It’s amazing for preventing colds. I wish they were more popular in my area 🙁

  • Avatar
    Nicole
    Reply

    I just purchased dried elderberries and found your recipe. I’m going to be making a big batch and hopefully keep my family healthy this winter! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      Awesome Nicole! Glad you found us and yay for healthy families! 🙂

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