How to make Homemade Elderberry Syrup

How to make Homemade Elderberry Syrup at home to help ease cold and flu season for adults and children. 

In the late summer and early fall when elderberries are in season, it's the perfect time to make some homemade elderberry syrup! Elderberry syrup is one of the best homemade herbal remedies and has powerful medicinal benefits. I love Elderberry syrup, but the store bought version is filled with so many preservatives and can be pretty expensive. Did you know that elderberry syrup is easy to make at home and you can control exactly what goes in it. 

No more preservatives, unknow ingredients, and no artificial sweeteners. Elderberries in their dried form of the Sambucuc nigra plant are high in antioxidant, have antibacterial and antiviral immunities and help boost your immune system to prepare for cold and flu season. They also contain vitamins A, B, C and are known to offer great healing benefits for the body. Elderberry syrup is most effective in lessening cold and flu symptoms, rather than preventing them.   

We use elderberry syrup year round to keep our immune system in check. Elderberry syrup is safe to take everyday as long as you take the recommended dosage. Which is (1) tablespoon a day for adults or up to 1 tablespoon 4 times a day (when sick). The dosage for children over the age of one year is (1) teaspoon twice a day (when sick).  

DO NOT GIVE TO BABIES UNDER THE AGE OF (1) BECAUSE HONEY IS ADDED

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE ELDERBERRY SYRUP 

• Distilled or Filtered Water
• Dried Organic Elderberries (I get mine on Amazon) 
• Raw Local Honey or Organic Raw Honey (Local is best)
• Cinnamon Sticks or Ground Cinnamon
• Fresh Ginger
• Fresh Lemon Juice: a great source of Vitamin C and serves as an acidifier, which helps preserve the syrup. 
• Arrow Root Powder: used as a thickening agent. 
• Jars to store your syrup (I use half pint mason jars)

HOW TO MAKE ELDERBERRY SYRUP 

In a medium pot on the stove, bring three cups of water, elderberries, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks (or cinnamon) and ginger to a simmer. Turn down to a simmer and remove the lid. Let it simmer on the stove for 25 minutes until the mixture has reduced down some. Remove from heat.

Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the liquid into a glass bowl or measuring cup. Use a spoon, squish out all of the liquid from the elderberries. Return the liquid to the stove and turn the heat on. In a measuring cup whisk together the remaining 1 cup of water and arrowroot powder. Add the arrowroot mixture to the elderberry syrup on the stove.

Cook for an additional 3 - 5 minutes or until thick (the mixture will get really thick). Remove from heat and let the elderberry syrup cool to just above room temperature, add honey and stir to incorporate (the honey will liquify the syrup a bit). Never add the honey when the syrup is hot or it will lose its benefits.

Pour the syrup into 1/2 pint size jars or bottles, covered and store in the back of the refrigerator for up to 3 months or freeze for up to 6 months.

Give the syrup a good shake before each use. When feeling sick take 1 tablespoon elderberry syrup up to 4 times a day for adults and 1 teaspoon syrup for children. Elderberry syrup is best used when you are sick rather than used to preventing an illness.

If you are under the weather and need a sore throat remedy try this Lemon, Ginger and Honey Concentrate. This simple homemade cold and sore throat remedy is made from fresh lemons, ginger and honey to soothe your throat and cough. Add to hot water or tea to use as a sore throat remedy. 

 

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