Elderberry is a dark purple-colored berry from the European elder tree used to formulate medicine and shouldn’t be confused with the Elderflower, Dwarf Elder, or American Elder.
Some people take the berry by mouth for the flu (influenza), common cold, and many other ailments, though there’s not enough scientific evidence to support its uses.
Although, aside from their medicinal use, elderberries are also great for making wine, tea, jams, syrups, pies, and jellies.
All About Elderberries
Elderberries As a Natural Remedy
Elderberries have been used as immune support for centuries. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting these berries’ benefits in fighting the common cold and influenza. There’s some research stating elderberry’s potential to reduce flu symptoms, but the evidence isn’t strong enough to recommend using it as a sole cure for flu.
Bear in mind that many teas, tinctures, and syrups contain elderberry flowers, elderberry extract, and other ingredients such as echinacea, which can also impact your immune system.
What Are the Benefits of Elderberry?
Elderberries are receiving plenty of attention due to clinical research showing some elderberry extracts and lozenges may aid in reducing flu-like symptoms and duration if administered within 48 hours of onset. However, that doesn’t mean it prevents or cures flu.
The berries and flowers of the elderberry plant are chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants that may boost the immune system. Elderberries could help lessen stress, tame inflammation, or even protect your heart. Some medical experts recommended taking elderberries to help ease and prevent cold and flu symptoms.
Do You Want to Know What More Elderberries Can Do? Here’s What They Treat!
- Constipation
- Joint and muscle pain
- Infections affecting how you breathe
- Headaches
- Fever
- Kidney problems
- Epilepsy
- Minor skin conditions
- Stress
- HIV and AIDS
Calling out to all those people who are tired of constipation after a long weekend or may have constant kidney problems. Try out Elderberry syrup recipes that can be made at home and reap the multiple benefits it brings to the table. Now cure your headaches with a spoonful of syrup or have it during stressful times to calm your nerves down. Are you wondering how to make elderberry syrup at home? Keep reading!
Are Elderberries Safe to Eat?
Certain elderberries aren’t safe to eat, so be sure that the ones you purchase are safe. Cooked dried black elderberries are deemed safe to consume as long as you cook them entirely and get them from a safe and reliable source. You can also pick the fruits of elderberries for chickens to eat, though you have to be careful, especially if your flock has access to a tree or a bush.
The National Institutes of Health National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that the stems, leaves, unripe and raw berries, and other parts of the elder tree are toxic, so you should avoid those. They also warn against taking significant amounts of elderberry flowers because they may also contain the same substance.
The recipe that we have here for you only uses the black elder (Sambucus nigra L) or also called the Euro Elder or black elderberry, so make sure you have that before you start making the syrup!
Elderberry Nutrition
Elderberries contain the following nutrition
- High in dietary fibre (10.2 g per cup)
- Vitamin C (52.2 mg per cup)
For all those wondering what one cup of elderberries contains, here’s what they have:
- 26.7 grams of carbs
- 0.7 grams of fat
- 1 gram of protein
They have low concentration of fats and carbohydrates which is excellent because they can be consumed as a healthy alternative especially if you are looking to eat healthy. Use elderberries as a snack and get started on that healthy diet!
How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Making homemade elderberry syrup is pretty easy. You can either use dried elderberries or fresh black elderberries for this recipe. The latter can be used to make pies, beverages, or jams using the muddled fruit or the juice. However, it’s vital to note that these foods may not contain the essential concentration to get the syrup or extract’s clinical effect.
You’ll need dried elderberries, honey, water, cinnamon sticks, and fresh ginger for this recipe. Making the elderberry syrup will take just a few steps and around an hour to finish. Additionally, you can make it for a percentage of the cost of purchasing a bottle of elderberry syrup. To make an elderberry syrup, you need the following ingredients, and follow the measures that we have listed here for you!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup dried elderberries
- 3 cups water
- 3 -inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup honey
Grab these and follow the instructions we have listed here for you and make the best elderberry syrup at home with ease!
Instructions
To make elderberry syrup at home, follow the 5 steps below!
1. In a small saucepan, place elderberries, the water, ginger, and cinnamon, and then bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered for about 45 -60 minutes until the mixture decreases by half.
2. Remove the pan from the heat. Allow the fruit and spices to steep and cool slightly. With a fork or a potato masher, mash the elderberries to extract as much of their juice as possible.
3. Strain the elderberry juice into a bowl or jar using a fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or nut milk bag. Throw away the spent berries, cinnamon sticks, and ginger.
4. Whisk in the one-third cup honey until thoroughly combined. With that, your elderberry syrup is done! Store the syrup in a sealed bottle or jar in the refrigerator.
5. The elderberry syrup will last for at least a week or even longer, depending on the amount of honey you put in and perhaps how often you open the bottle or jar.
Using these 5 simple steps now make elderberry syrup at home, it is easy to make but make sure you follow each and every instruction we have written here for you. Follow them in order and make the best syrup for you and your family to enjoy.
How Much Elderberry Syrup Should You Take?
The amount of elderberry syrup you should take depends mainly on how strong your syrup, extract, gummy, or lozenge is. Using about two teaspoons every day may be helpful when you have an active cold. However, it would help if you discussed this with your personal health care provider, as it might be a different case for you.
Though there are people who take the elderberry syrup daily, it’s not necessarily recommended because it hasn’t been studied for long-term everyday use.
FAQs: How to Make Elderberry Syrup at Home
How long is homemade elderberry syrup good for?
For all the people wondering how long can your homemade elderberry syrup last for? Then keep in mind that a good 6 months in an airtight container with a tight lid will be perfect.
Is Homemade elderberry syrup better than store bought?
When it comes to making elderberry syrup, it’s better to go for homemade ones rather than store bought ones. Store bought ones may last you for weeks but may not be as healthy as the one that you make yourself at home. It’s preferable to go for the homemade rather than store bought.
How do you extract elderberries?
For all the people looking to extract the elderberries, here is what you need to know:
- Mash your elderberries using a potato masher and for those who don’t have one can even use a fork. This will be helpful in extracting as much juice as you want to.
- The next step is straining the juice, put the strainer on the top of the bowl or jar and strain the juice. You can use a cheesecloth or even a mesh sleeve to strain the juice.
- Now throw away all the mashed elderberries
- You can also add in honey and can combine them properly to use. Later for better taste and hint of sweetness.
Is it OK to take elderberry syrup everyday?
When it comes to taking elderberry supplements, yes you can have them everyday! You can even have it twice or thrice a day, but make sure you do not overdose and take more than the recommended amount. Elderberry is a medicinal plant which caters to multiple health issues especially cold and flue. Ask your doctor before having the syrup.
Conclusion
From benefits to queries, we have answered all you need to know about making elderberry syrup. Their benefits and how they are consumed may most of for cold and flu, you may not even know but elderberries may have been curing your seasonal cold and flu. They are excellent for people with breathing problems, to increase immunity, excellent in toning down inflammation which eventually helps heal the heart too. Try these elderberries and you can even snack on them on a daily basis, make sure you do not overdose and eat them in the advised bracket.