As late summer transitions into early fall, elderberries reach their peak, making it the perfect season to prepare a batch of homemade elderberry syrup. This traditional herbal remedy has been enjoyed for generations, not only for its rich, fruity flavor but also for its potential wellness benefits.
Elderberry Syrup Benefits
Research suggests that elderberries may help shorten the duration of the common cold and reduce the severity of its symptoms. Because of these potential benefits, elderberry syrup has become one of the most popular homemade herbal preparations for supporting overall wellness.
Elderberries are naturally rich in beneficial plant compounds, including polyphenols and lectins, which have demonstrated antiviral activity in laboratory studies, including effects against certain coronaviruses. While more human research is needed to fully understand these findings, studies have also linked elderberries to helping reduce the duration and severity of influenza symptoms.
Turning elderberries into a homemade syrup is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to preserve their natural goodness. The recipe is simple to prepare, has a pleasantly sweet flavor, and is often a favorite among both adults and children.
Preparing the Fresh Elderberries
If you are using fresh elderberries, it’s important that they are completely ripe. Any unripe or green berries can have some toxins present and should be discarded.
Elderberry stems and leaves also contain some toxic compounds, so removing as many of those as possible is advised.
The best way to remove the stems from fresh elderberries is to first freeze them in whole clusters. Then you can either pop off the elderberries with your fingers, or use a fork to comb them off.
Don’t worry too much about any tiny stems that may remain, just do the best you can! Any toxins that are still present will be removed during the boiling process.
Making the Elderberry Syrup
To make the syrup, put six cups of fresh black or blue elderberries (or three cups dried) into a large pot with six cups of water.
This is also when you would add in any of the additional optional ingredients I listed above.
Bring it to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer the elderberries uncovered for about one hour, or until reduced by nearly half.
It’s important to leave the pot uncovered while the elderberries are simmering, as allowing the steam to escape will help to remove any potential toxins that are present. It also helps the mixture to reduce.
If you feel like it is reducing a bit too fast, you can partially cover the pot while it is simmering.
Remove the pot from the heat and set aside to cool to a warm room temperature. You want it to be warm enough to dissolve the honey, but not too hot to preserve the raw honey’s properties.
Strain out the elderberries using a fine mesh sieve, pressing the berries to get any extra liquid out.
You can line the sieve or a colander with cheesecloth if you prefer, this also helps to squeeze out all of the liquid from the berries.
You should end up with at least one quart of elderberry and water mixture.
Discard the berries (put them in the compost if you have one). There really isn’t much you can do with them at this point, as all of the beneficial compounds are now in the elderberry and water mixture.
Add the raw honey and stir until it dissolves. I don’t recommend heating this again, as that would destroy the supportive compounds in the raw honey.
Ladle or carefully pour the elderberry syrup into quart jars (or these gorgeous sharing jars), placing the lid and ring to finger tip tight. Let it cool completely and refrigerate for up to 6 months.
Can I Freeze This Syrup?
Yes! Elderberry syrup can be frozen for later use. I always like to make a big batch in the fall, put some in the refrigerator, and freeze the rest.
This ensures that I will have enough to last through the whole season, even into early spring, without any spoilage.
Can This Recipe be Canned?
While technically you could probably can elderberry syrup, to do it safely you would need to be absolutely sure that it had the right acidity level first. It may require more acid, like bottled lemon juice, to be added first.
I generally don’t recommend canning elderberry syrup, as this would heat the supportive properties in the raw honey, rendering them inactive.
How to Use Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup is a powerful herbal ally!
I recommend adults take 1-2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup 2-3 times per day at the onset of a cold or flu, and throughout the duration of the illness.
You may also take it if you feel like you were exposed to illness, even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms yet.
I don’t recommend taking elderberry syrup daily as a preventative, as it’s been shown to potentially cause an autoimmune flare-up in some people with autoimmune disorders.
Elderberry syrup is not only extremely useful but also delicious and rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and flavonoids. It can be used in moderation as a treat on pancakes, ice cream, or stirred into cocktails, mocktails, or tea.
Is Elderberry Syrup Safe for Children?
Yes! Elderberry syrup is safe and an excellent herbal choice for children over the age of one.
Studies suggest raw honey is safe for children over 12 months of age. However, raw honey poses a risk of botulism in infants under one year old, so it should be strictly avoided.
Children over one year old may consume elderberry syrup in moderation. Some herbs may not be suitable for young children, so consulting a qualified healthcare provider before use is recommended.
While elderberry syrup is generally considered safe, dosage should be adjusted based on age and weight, and potential allergies should be taken into consideration.
Elderberry syrup can also be made into elderberry gummies or elderberry popsicles, which kids (and adults) love!
Elderberry syrup should not be given to children under the age of one due to the raw honey.
If you haven’t started making your own homemade herbal support yet, this is the perfect time to do so! And a great place to start is with elderberry syrup. It tastes delicious and has so many helpful qualities!
Ingredients
- 6 cups ripe fresh black or blue elderberries or 3 cups dried elderberries
- 6 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups raw honey
Instructions
- If you are using fresh elderberries, discard as many stems and unripe berries as possible.
- Put six cups of fresh black or blue elderberries (or three cups dried) into a large pot with six cups of water.
- Bring it to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer the elderberries uncovered for about one hour, or until reduced by nearly half. If you feel like it is reducing a bit too fast, you can partially cover the pot while it is simmering.
- Remove the pot from the heat and set aside to cool to warm room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- Strain out the elderberries using a fine mesh sieve, pressing the berries to get any extra liquid out. You can line the sieve or a colander with cheesecloth if you prefer, this also helps to squeeze out all of the liquid from the berries. Discard the berries. You should end up with at least one quart of elderberry and water mixture.
- Add the raw honey while the elderberry and water mixture is still semi-warm and stir until it dissolves.
- Ladle or carefully pour the elderberry syrup into quart jars, placing the lid and ring to finger tip tight. Let it cool completely and refrigerate for up to 6 months.
Notes
- It's important to leave the pot uncovered (or partially uncovered) while the elderberries are simmering, as allowing the steam to escape will help to remove any potential toxins that are present. It also helps the mixture to reduce.
- I don't recommend heating the elderberry syrup after the honey has been added, as that would destroy the beneficial compounds in the raw honey.
- Elderberry syrup can be frozen for later use in freezer safe containers.
- I recommend adults take 1-2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup 2-3 times per day at the onset of a cold or flu, and throughout the duration of the illness.
- For small children (ages 1-5), 1-2 teaspoons twice per day is good. That amount can be increased as the child grows.
- Elderberry syrup should not be given to children under the age of one due to the raw honey.
