Making Elderberry Winter Tonic
Making a winter tonic with elderberries for your family is really pretty simple. I used to pay a ton of money for this very same medicine each year before I knew how to make my own. These instructions are for fresh elderberries, but you can also use dried ones, in case there aren't any elder trees in your area. Even if you need to buy the berries instead of collecting them for free, it's a much cheaper option for getting this great medicine, and totally worth the small effort of making it. And one more thing... it's delicious.
What You'll Need
Elderberries
Fresh Ginger, grated: 1 Tablespoon per cup of berries (or 1 teaspoon if you are using dried ginger)
Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon per cup of berries
Ground Cloves: 1/4 teaspoon per cup of berries
Raw Honey, preferably local: 1/2 cup per cup of berries
What to Do:
1. Gather the elderberries, or order dried organic elderberries online and skip to the 3rd step. Look for clusters of black berries on red stems to ensure that they are fully ripe.
2. Use a fork to pull the berries from their stems, collecting them in a pot. Pull out as many small bits of stem as you can, but don't get obsessive about it. Give them a little rinse.
3. Add water-- 1:1 cups water-to berry ratio for fresh, and 2:1 for dried.
4. Add ginger, ground cinnamon and cloves.
5. Bring to a boil on the stove, then reduce heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes, then allow to cool.
6. Strain the liquid from the berries using a sieve, pressing on with a wooden spoon to get all of the juice out.
7. Add raw honey-- local, if possible for the best health benefits-- to the elderberry liquid. Stir until well mixed, and decant into jars. Store in the refrigerator.
Take a teaspoonful daily during cold and flu season, or use it in delicious ways: as a pancake syrup, mixed into yogurt, as a drink mixer... There are so many ways to enjoy it, so even if you never get sick, it's a fun thing to have on hand.
Wishing you robust health through the cozy months...
This post was shared at: Fat Tuesday, Homestead Barn Hop, Party Wave Wednesday.
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
Take a teaspoonful daily during cold and flu season, or use it in delicious ways: as a pancake syrup, mixed into yogurt, as a drink mixer... There are so many ways to enjoy it, so even if you never get sick, it's a fun thing to have on hand.
Wishing you robust health through the cozy months...
This post was shared at: Fat Tuesday, Homestead Barn Hop, Party Wave Wednesday.
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
Thanks for this!! I give my Son elderberry syrup that we bought but would love to make my own. Do you know if this is safe to take while pregnant?
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Eileen. I know that almost all herbal supplement bottles have the disclaimer not to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. I personally would take it, but you should probably talk to your naturopath/ doctor and do a little research to see what you feel is best.
DeleteDefinitely talk to an herbalist. However, my midwife who is also an herbalist told me that elderberry is fine for pregnancy.
DeleteI would like to try this! I have several questions, though - for the ginger, should it be sliced thinly? How much honey do you put it in it? (Just to taste?) And can my 17 month old boy take this? Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle,
DeleteLet's answer some questions! Yes, you can thinly slice the ginger. Mine was grated with a microplaner, and I'll update the post to say that-- but I have just chopped/ sliced mine up in the past. Honey is according to how much berries you're using. If you are using one cup of fresh berries, then use 1/2 cup of honey. It's not an exact science though, so if that seems too sweet to you, you can do less. And yes, this is safe for children and babies, according to what I have looked up. This is the article that was most clear: http://voices.yahoo.com/fight-colds-flu-elderberry-safe-children-2277291.html
I'm glad you'll try it! It's good medicine. :)
Just don't use it for babies under a year because of the honey!
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DeleteThanks for leading me down the road to try something new.Although we missed elderberries (this year,next year I WILL get some.) I have a freezer over full of red currants,their juice is good for colds too. So this year I am going to use your recipe but use our red currants.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for inspiration.
Oh, good idea using the red currants! I'm glad you'll try it-- it's fun brewing your own medicine. Made me feel like a good witch. :)
DeleteWe bought some elderberry bushes this year so they aren't producing yet...I'm excited to try this although I recently read something about how elderberries are poisonous if they aren't Cooked and that leaves and twigs are also. They said not deadly but nausea causing. What do you know about this?
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi,
DeleteI have heard this concern about elder before... In Europe, people don't seem quite as concerned about it, and I wonder if it has to do with the species-- but I have never heard anyone recommending eating the leaves, bark or stems... I read that some people who made whistles out of the green branches got sick. (Random, right?) I found the wikipedia entry for Sambucus Negra, which is what grows here and might also be what you have planted. The ripe berries are just fine, and everyone says to avoid the unripe ones. Interestingly, the bark and stems are said to be poisonous, yet, are also used as medicine, particularly for bronchitis. If you have any doubts or concerns, just be sure to pick very ripe berries, and then cook them for whatever you're doing-- the smell is wonderful!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus_nigra
Just wanted to add-- it's the stembark and roots that are used for making medicines for bronichitis, not the tree bark. The article said "all green parts are poisonous" and the stems turn bright red when the berries are ripe, so perhaps they don't fall into the toxic category.
DeleteThanks! I'll check that article out!
DeleteI have a batch from last year in the fridge. Still good or start over?
ReplyDeleteNikki, honey is an excellent preservative, but everything has its limits. Give it the look, smell, taste tests, in that order. Throw it out right away if it looks moldy or smells bad. If it looks and smells good, give it a taste. If it's still good, then go ahead and use it!
DeleteVery interesting blog! One of my friend is suffering from Dry cough. I will definitely suggest her to use this Dry cough syrup.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
WHERE if possible buy elder berries? I live in California, but was raised in Georgia USA. I put this location due to being several stares with Georgia. There elderberry bushes every where. WOULD LIKE buy dried elderberry. If possible. Thank you 💞
ReplyDelete