How to Make Delicious Elderberry Syrup

Making herbal syrups is one of my favorite ways to make healing remedies. Elderberry syrup is a staple in my family’s medicine chest. We drink a tablespoon a day to keep the doctor away. Thus far, we have been incredibly healthy since drinking a bit of this syrup and eating fermented foods and drinks. I am so grateful to know how to make this medicine and I would like to share my recipe with you.

Ingredients:

-2 cups dried organic elderberries (you can use fresh but will need less water).

-4 cups purified water

-1 organic sweet cinnamon stick

-4 organic whole cloves

-1/4 cups organic fresh ginger root

-1 cup raw local honey (or organic maple syrup or coconut syrup for a vegan/infant-friendly recipe).

-You can double, triple or quadruple this recipe depending on how much you want to make at a time.

Directions:

1. Combine berries and herbs with water in a pot and bring to a boil.

2. Reduce heat and allow herbs to simmer for 30-40 minutes

3. Remove from heat and let steep for 1 hour.

4. Strain berries and herbs using a funnel overlaid with cheese cloth undyed cotton muslin bag and squeeze out liquid. (Careful, liquid will likely still be hot!). Discard used herbs in compost. (Back to the soil from when’st it came!)

5. Once liquid has cooled to just above room temperature, add honey to stir to incorporate.

6. If using vodka or brandy to tincture it, add here and stir until it combines.

7. Bottle in sterilized glass bottles.

8. Voila! Enjoy!

Herbal syrups are highly concentrated so all you need is about a teaspoon or two daily to stay healthy all winter or year long! We take this all year long because the raw local honey is a great allergy support. Plus elderberries contain quercetin and bioflavonoids which are considered to be a natural anti-histamine.