Make your own Elderberry Syrup (cheaper than store-bought)

Does it feel like so many people are talking about elderberries right now? That’s because it’s been trending as one of the top-selling herbal remedies in the U.S. For good reason too! Have you ever wondered what exactly they are, and why you should be taking ‘Elderberry Syrup’ during cold and flu season? Today I’m going to share that with you, AND share my recipe on how you can make your own. It’s soooo much cheaper than getting it from the store and oh-so-much better for you. But first… 

What exactly is an Elderberry?

The elderberry is a ‘Sambucus’ fruit produced from the indigenous Elder tree or shrub. Elderberry has been used for years in folk medicine to treat cold and flu. It is a dark purple berry that contains chemical compounds called anthocyanidins, which are known to have immunostimulant effects on your body – or stimulate your immune system. The fruit is also rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Just one cup of elderberries contains 52mgs of vitamin C. That’s a hefty dose of naturally occurring vitamins! Because elderberries are also rich in three types of flavanols — naturally occurring compounds in plants with antioxidant properties — they have also been touted to help improve heart health. Its anti-inflammatory properties can also reduce swelling (think sinus infections). So. Much. Goodness. In just this plant!  

What is Elderberry Syrup?

Elderberry syrup is an immune-boosting natural supplement made by cooking down the elderberry, usually in its dried form, with water and spices, and finishing by adding honey as a sweetener at the end of the process. You can also choose to grow and harvest your own berries for your syrup. 

Common ingredients you may find in these homemade syrups, in addition to the elderberry, are:

1. Ceylon Cinnamon- contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial (kills fungus, bacteria) properties. 
2. Ginger – is full of good nutrients and bioactive compounds – similar to cinnamon. 
3. Cloves – are full of antioxidants and compounds that help fight free radicals which damage your body, and lead to disease and sickness. 
4. Raw Honey – is rich in antioxidants, and this high antioxidant profile of honey helps to prevent immune system damage and disease. It is also a natural preserver, so it’s good to have in your syrup to increase the length that it stays fresh and ok to consume.

Why should you use Elderberry Syrup for immune support and sickness prevention?

Why is it important to add this berry into your holistic medicine toolbox? Well, given the nutritional value of the elderberry, plus the added immune benefits of the other ingredients, it makes sense that it would support your body well, especially during a body’s infection. There are MANY tests and studies out there showing that Elderberry extracts and flower infusions help significantly reduce the severity and length of sickness. So this berry can be beneficial in helping with prevention AND immune support during an illness. 

Our experience with Elderberry Syrup

The story that started about 10 years ago of my husband Winston’s journey to restore his health after a rough bout with mono followed by years of chronic strep is for another day. BUT, his journey did play a large role in the research I’ve done over the years. And I now implement my findings into our family because of it. When we were in the midst of years of constant sickness with Winston, I was desperately searching for ways to heal his body and aid in repairing his immunity – which seemed to be absolutely non-existent for a while. Elderberry syrup was one of the more significant discoveries I made.

At first, I attempted to buy some commercially made, store-bought elderberry syrup…but I was SHOCKED to find that some of the more popular brands sold in common stores were filled with added fillers (especially added flavor and color), citric acid (which can be irritating to the digestive system or to allergy sufferers), and SUGAR (such as corn syrup or glucose syrup). I couldn’t believe it. The ingredient list on a product touted to support your immune system was full of refined sugar and corn syrup, which literally has the opposite effect on one’s body. 

It was at that point that I decided to do some research into making my own syrup. Not only did I find that making your own syrup is SO easy, but I also found that it is remarkably cheaper than buying it. And so so soooooo much better for you! 

How we’ve utilized it in our Home

I started making elderberry syrup and introduced it into our daily vitamins and supplements, especially during flu season or when our family was exposed to a virus. And we absolutely saw a difference in Winston’s immune system. And the longevity and severity of our viruses decreased! 

To this day, our family makes and takes elderberry syrup regularly. I’m not going to pretend like it’s something my children always love to take, (although I have heard from family friends that their kiddos love the taste, just depends on the kiddo) but the benefits are so good, we absolutely want it in our bodies. Especially when we are sick! I’m going to share the recipe I’ve created below! 

Where to buy ingredients?

Ok, so you’ve read about all the good things Elderberry syrup does for your body, and you’re ready to start making it yourself – YAY! 

So the next question is, where can you buy the ingredients? My favorite brand so far for organic dried elderberries is Frontier. I’ve found their berry to have the best flavor, the best quality, and the least amount of stems and sticks in the bag. I usually purchase them on Amazon here. You can probably find good brands of organic Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in your local stores or health food stores, but I usually just order online for ease so it all comes together in one box when I need it. Here is the link to the cinnamon I use, here is the link to the ginger, and here is the link to the cloves. Honey is my choice of natural sweetener, and local raw honey is best (especially for its added allergy relief for local friends). But if you can’t find local honey, I would recommend organic raw honey like this one here. 

Common Recommended Dosage

Just like any other natural vitamin or supplement, you’ll want to take it daily for best results in prevention (in addition to the usual immune supporters like good sleep, no refined sugar, etc). It is recommended that adults take 1 tablespoon daily, and children under 12 take 1 teaspoon daily. I’ve given it to my littles as early as around 6 months old – about the same age that it becomes appropriate to begin incorporating things beyond breast milk. However, if you’re feeling under the weather or know you have the flu or a sinus infection, up your daily dosage by taking your recommended dosage 3-4 times per day during the sickness. Lower it back to your normal daily dosage when you’ve fully recovered. 

Recipe

Begin by adding 5 cups of water to a large pot. Pour in a heaping cup of dried elderberries.

Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons Ceylon Cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon whole cloves.

Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until liquid has reduced by one-half. Strain in a fine-mesh strainer.

Allow syrup to cool for a few minutes, then stir in 8 ounces of honey. Pour into a glass storage container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 months.

Cautions

Although there are no known side effects from taking prepared elderberry syrup regularly, there are a few cautions with the dried berry itself before it is cooked. A fresh or dried Elderberry is possibly unsafe when uncooked leaves, stems, or fruit are consumed. The elderberry plant contains a chemical that produces cyanide in the leaves or other plant parts and in the unripe green fruit. This can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or more serious side effects if consumed in large quantities. Once the berry etc. is cooked it is COMPLETELY fine to consume. Just use caution when preparing it that it is cooked down properly, and that little hands don’t grab for the uncooked fruit. 

Some other benefits of the Elderberry, besides immune support

• Natural diuretic.
• High in vitamin A, making it good for the skin.
• High fiber content makes it a natural laxative. 
• Anti-inflammatory properties make it an effective allergy remedy.
• Elderberry extracts are rich in anthocyanins, anti-carcinogen properties. 
• Improved cardiovascular function, or heart health.
• Both the elderflower and the berry have traditionally been used to treat diabetes. Research has shown that extracts of elderflower stimulate your body’s secretion of insulin, lowering blood sugar levels. 

If you’d like more of the science behind WHY the elderberry is so beneficial to your body, click here, and here to read some more in-depth studies on them: 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464614002400

Conclusion

Elderberry is an absolute staple in our home when it comes to sickness prevention and immune support. We’ve had years under our belt using it regularly to know its effectiveness and we always keep it on hand as another tool and supplement for our bodies. Does it ever just make you so in awe to see how God created these wonderful plants that not only bring beauty to our world but also have so many healing properties, functioning, and uses for our bodies? What a gift!

In what ways has elderberry syrup helped your family? Comment below!