How to Make Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry Syrup is often used medicinally to boost the immune system.

Each ingredient is selected for it's medicinal value.

We make our elderberry syrup using wild Blue Elderberries, Sambucus caerulea, which are native to the Pacific Northwest and considered the best flavored of the North American native elderberry species. You won't find this growing commercially, as it grows 20-30 feet tall!

Most of the elderberry available online are Sambucus nigra or canadensis which are a dark glossy fruit known for their slightly bitter, tart flavor native to Europe but also found in North America. 

 

Elderberry syrups are folk recipes, and there are many variations as people's taste varies. You may adjust ratios of spice, or omit them if you prefer. This is the one our family uses. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried Blue Elderberries, Sambucus caerulea, available from canyonbotanics.com. If fresh or frozen, 2 cups.
  

• 1/4 c rose hips (optional source of Vitamin C), available from canyonbotanics.com

• 3 cups water

• 1 teaspoon ceylon cinnamon (optional)

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)

• 3 tablespoons fresh grated ginger (optional)

• 1 cup raw honey (optional)

Directions:

1. From fresh harvest, remove all stems, leaves and green berries. 

   These are toxic.

      

2. Place berries, rose hips (cinnamon, clove, ginger are valuable, but optional if      flavor is not tolerated) and water in pan. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half. 

      

             3.  Remove from heat, allow to cool until still warm enough to melt honey.   Add honey, if desired.

  4.  Pour liquid through fine mesh strainer. We like to use a fine fabric strainer that sits in our funnel allowing us to press to extract the liquid fully.    

      

              5. Funnel into glass jars, seal and refrigerate. Use within 1 week if not adding honey and spices, 2 weeks with honey.  

               

               

Click here for a full list of recommended supplies for tinctures, syrups, salves and sprays 

We hope you find this helpful! Please support our efforts by using the links on our blog to purchase supplies, sharing our posts, and sourcing your medicinal herbs from canyonbotanics.com  Thank you!

Gesundheit!