How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Learn one of the easiest ways to take care of your family during cold and flu season. With a few simple ingredients, you can make an old proven natural remedy- homemade elderberry syrup.

I learned about elderberry syrup in the fall of 2013. My son was born prematurely at 31 weeks and came home in October at 36 weeks. That fall, I was terrified of him catching anything and having to end up back in the hospital or worse. A friend of mine mentioned that she was using elderberry syrup as a preventative to the common cold and the flu. She told me she was making her own but I could buy it at a health food store. So there I was at Whole Foods buying elderberry syrup monthly that first year to make sure I would stay well. I remember it was $30 for a month’s supply. The next year I learned how to make it on my own and today I will share how you can make your own homemade elderberry syrup.

What are Elderberries?

Elderberries are a berry from the Sambucus tree that are apart of the Adoxaceae family. The Sambucus Nigra is the most popular in Europe and the Sambucus Candensis is the most popular in North America. Elderberry bushes can grow between 6-12 feet tall. It takes about 2-3 years before the berries are produced from the plant. Elderberries hold a wide variety of medicinal benefits.

Ingredients Needed to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup

• Organic dried elderberries
• Honey (Raw, if possible)
• Ginger
• Clove
• Cinnamon
• Water

Directions on How to Make

Step 1: In a medium sauce pan, combine water, dried elderberries and spices. DO NOT add honey as the heat destroys the medicinal properties.

Step 2: Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 45 minutes. The water will reduce to about half of what was in there. This is a very important step to avoid any potential cyanide poison.

Step 3: Remove from heat and let cool. Then, pour through a strainer or cheese cloth into a glass jar or bowl. You can discard the elderberries. DO NOT EAT THE RAW ELDERBERRIES.

Step 4: Pour honey in and stir.

Step 5: Pour syrup into a mason jar or any type of glass jar sealed and store in the refrigerator. This combination will make about 12 oz.

Benefits of Elderberries

• High in vitamins A & C
• High in the antioxidant quercitin
• Contains antiviral properties to fight colds and flu
• Strong in anthocyanins which are antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties
• Good source of phenolic acids which are antioxidants that help reduce damage from oxidative stress
• Can be a diuretic

Is Elderberry Syrup Safe to Make?

Yes, but you must follow the recipe exactly to make sure it is properly prepared. The uncooked berries contain cyanide so properly boiling them then simmering for 45 minutes will insure safety. You never want to eat raw elderberries. As a precaution, make sure to remove any stems, sticks or unripened berries before cooking. Please follow the recipe step by step and you should be good to go.

How to Take When Sick

As a preventative, an adult can take 1 tablespoon daily during cold and flu season. A child would take 1 teaspoon. During illness, an adult would increase to 1 tablespoon every 3-4 hours. A child during illness would increase to 1 teaspoon every 3 hours.

I’m pregnant, is it safe to take?

I am not an ob or midwife so please ask them before using. Everyone is bio-individual. I will share that I have used during my second and third pregnancies as a preventative without any issues.

Raw Honey not Good for Infants

A small disclaimer, if giving elderberry syrup to a baby less than a year old, you need to omit the honey. Due to the potential risk of botulism, honey is not recommended for infants 1 year and under. In this case, you can use maple syrup as a swap or just forgo altogether. Honey especially local raw honey is antibacterial, antifungal and it’s phytonutrients give it antioxidant properties.

Why Make It At Home?

The cost making it at home will save you bundles. Remember when I said it was $30 for a months supply for just me? You can make it at home for half the cost and the whole family can enjoy. Also, I know the ingredients when I make it from home. Alot of store brands have fillers or added sugars. I know the only sugar in mine is raw honey.

How To Store

Elderberry syrup is best stored in a mason jar with a sealed lid in the refrigerator after making. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months. If you want to freeze, I would do it in an ice cube tray. This way it is in smaller individual size pieces to take out when needed. If you were to try and freeze in a mason jar or as a bigger batch, the concentration will be different as the honey will freeze at the bottom.

Where Can I Purchase Elderberries?

My favorite brands are Starwest Botanicals and Frontier. Both brands are organically certified and can be purchased through Amazon. Also, iherb carries organic elderberries too. Lastly, be on the lookout in your local area for elderberries as they grow all throughout the United States.

***These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All information in this blog post is to be used for educational purposes.***

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