Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins and are beneficial for boosting the immune system. We like to use a homemade syrup from dried elderberries daily in a single dose, and when we feel cold or flu symptoms coming on, we use more to help fight them off in a healthy way. I love to use the things that God created for their healing properties and health benefits!
We planted an elderberry tree in early summer to provide our own elderberries, but we won’t be able to reap the benefits of it until next year. In the meantime, we use these dried organic berries that can be ordered online from Amazon:
Making your own homemade elderberry syrup is easy and more cost effective than buying it already made. You can also control the source and quality of the ingredients you include. Here are the ingredients you will need:
- 1 cup dried elderberries
- 2 T. ground ginger powder
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 4 cups filtered water
- 1 cup raw honey
To make the syrup: Put dried elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and water into a saucepan. DO NOT ADD THE HONEY!
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Simmer for about 45, reducing the liquid almost by half. (Your house will smell so good!) Allow it to cool for a few minutes, then strain out the berries and stir the honey into the warm syrup and whisk to dissolve completely.
When completely cooled, store the elderberry syrup in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator. To use the syrup: Kids under 12 – Take 1 tsp. per day/Adults – Take 1 T. per day (if experiencing cold or flu symptoms, take 1 T. every 3-4 hours for several days.)