Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry has been treasured for centuries due to its immune-boosting properties, making it a perfect addition to your wellness routine.
Equipment
- 1 Steam juicer
Ingredients
- 2 lb fresh, ripe elderberries
- 1 cup honey (or maple syrup or date syrup)
- 2" piece fresh ginger root (shredded)
- Optional additions: cinnamon stick, cloves, turmeric root, thyme, sage, rosemary, etc. (get creative by adding any medicinal herb/spice you like!)
Instructions
- Remove stems from fresh elderberries.
- Place elderberries in the top part of a steam juicer. Steam for 30 minutes until the juice is running freely. Press berries lightly to release as much juice as possible.
- Draw off the hot juice into a saucepan. You should have about 4 cups of juice. Add ginger (and any additional/optional ingredients except the honey) to the saucepan.
- Simmer the juice with the ginger at a low temperature for 30 minutes until the juice is reduced to 2 cups. Remove the juice from the heat. Pour the juice through a mesh strainer to remove the ginger/other ingredients.
- Add 1 cup of honey to the strained, reduced juice and stir well to combine. Pour into prepared sanitized bottle with tight-fitting lid. Label.
- Keep refrigerated with lid firmly on. Will keep for several weeks in the fridge but also freezes nicely up to 6 months!
Notes
How To Use Elderberry Syrup: Adults can take 1 tablespoon of syrup at the first sign of a virus. Children who are able to have honey (over the age of 1) can take 1 teaspoon at the sign of infection. Take every 3 hours (up to 5 times daily) until symptoms are resolved.
Notes on Elderberries: Raw elderberries can cause stomach discomfort in some people - the problem is in the seeds. You must boil the berries for 30 minutes to remove the poisonous compound.
This recipe is courtesy of Amy from Amy's Miscellany (@amysmiscellany on Instagram)