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January 24, 2020 in Easy Garden DIY· Garden How To· Handmade· Herbs· Unique Plants

Homemade elderberry syrup to prevent sickness with raw honey for flu, cough and cold

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I love getting sick said no one ever. 

 

Who has time to be sick? A week in bed? Yeah right. Sickness is life wasted feeling miserable. Let’s outsmart colds and flu by taking some preventative action today!

How about making some simple homemade elderberry syrup with dried elderberries, honey, herbs and spices for a delicious immune-boosting remedy?

Use this elderberry syrup medicinally or on pancakes, waffles or French toast.

This is my first year making homemade elderberry syrup. It’s also the first year I have yet to get sick and I’m hoping the trend continues!
​
My secret? One teaspoon morning and night of elderberry syrup. That and never touching shopping cart handles or using public restrooms. Eww.

There is significant proof that black elderberries (Sambucus nigra) can help ward off illness and speed up recovery for those already sick.

And don’t underestimate the power of raw honey to heal your body.

Liquid gold loaded with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. So elderberries and raw honey are the dynamic duo for health and wellness. 

Ready for a new adventure? Let’s make some homemade elderberry syrup together. My new go-to remedy to boost my immune system in the cooler months. 

What natural remedies do you recommend to beat sickness? 

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Benefits of homemade elderberry syrup using raw honey:

Elderberries naturally contain vitamins A, B, and C and stimulate the immune system.

 

Israeli researchers found that the complex sugars in elderberries support the immune system in fighting cold and flu.

One source, Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, of Hadassah-Hebrew University in Israel found that elderberry disarms the enzyme viruses used to penetrate healthy cells in the lining of the nose and throat.

​Elderberry syrup can actually prevent infection.

If taken after infection, it prevents spread of the virus through the respiratory tract.

In one clinical trial, 20% of study subjects reported significant improvement within 24 hours, 70% by 48 hours, and 90% claimed complete cure in three days. In contrast, subjects receiving the placebo required 6 days to recover.

Elderberry syrup provides the concentrated immune-supporting benefits of black elderberries in a scrumptious way.

My homemade recipe uses homemade elderberry concentrate with synergistic herbs like cinnamon and ginger and cloves, plus raw honey for an extra immune boost. 

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Why make your own elderberry syrup?

For starters, you’ll save a lot of money by making your own elderberry syrup. Not to mention bragging rights!

 

It’s tough to pinpoint exact savings because a lot depends on how much you spend on the raw ingredients for this DIY syrup~ the dried elderberry and the raw honey.

As a rough estimate, you’ll pay about half of what you would if you choose to buy.

But perhaps the biggest advantage is knowing the exact ingredients and the quality of those ingredients invested in your homemade elderberry syrup.

When I make my own syrup, I know that the water needed has been purified and filtered. No tap water! I also know that the elderberries are high quality and that the honey is 100% raw.

With purchased syrup, you don’t have this guarantee.

So of course, you can buy lots of natural elderberry syrups online and in most health food stores, but usually around $15 or more for 3-4 ounces. Emphasis on the more bit!

This recipe makes 32 – 60 ounces. Since I made a huge batch that will last all winter, the cost was about $25 with plenty of  dried elderberry for next winter.
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That said, if time is short, there are some great pre-made elderberry gummies and elderberry syrup that work nearly as well. The gummies in particular are quite yummy! 

Also, if you happen to have fresh or frozen elderberries on hand, just use double the quantity listed in the recipe.

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A quick note on customization

Like many recipes, this one is highly customizable. If you want to double the batch or half it, it’s possible.

 

That’s why the cinnamon, grated ginger and cloves are somewhat optional. But keep in mind, that those herbs and spices do have benefits in their own right.

Cinnamon has always helped me regulate my wacky blood sugar!

And honey may or may not be to your taste, but it can’t be denied that’s it’s liquid gold for your body. (See raw honey below).

​Your best bet? Taste this “recipe” as you go. As the elderberry boils down, taste it.

I found it to be quite sour. Not a bad sour, but I needed to add that honey to sweeten it up for my taste buds and those of my kids!

After you take a swig of just the elderberry juice your instinct will guide you.

Keep in mind that you can’t reverse the damage. So if you add too much cinnamon, there’s no going back.

Add a little bit. Taste then add more if need be. I ended up with a huge batch just to my liking for all winter. 

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Why is raw honey so sweet for heath and wellness?

Raw honey is honey in its purest state. And using raw honey is vital to maximize all nutritional and antioxidant value. 

 

The cheap honey found on most grocery store shelves is a far cry from the raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized honey from a local bee keeper.

Commercial honey products are often heated to high temperatures, filtered and sometimes  ruined even more with added color, flavor and other bad sweeteners. Think corn syrup! 

Many beekeepers say that they consider honey raw only if it has not been heated above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

​Once processing heat exceeds 105 degrees, the consistency of raw honey changes along with the taste.

​Raw honey is smooth and creamy, can be found in liquid form, and has no aftertaste, while highly processed honey often has a somewhat smoky aftertaste.  

All this processing kills the enzymes and antioxidant properties along with those immune-boosting abilities. 

And don’t be fooled by words like “natural” or “pure;” they mean nothing in regards to honey processing.

Raw honey also acts as a preservative making your syrup last longer. So if you omit the honey, you are essentially making elderberry juice not syrup.

​The juice will not last as long in the fridge so the shelf life decreases greatly minus the honey. 

A fact to buzz about!

“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left.” Albert Einstein

Did you know?

A honey bee visits 50-100 flowers during a collection trip! 

Let’s celebrate!

Honey bees actually do a dance when they get back to the hive to tell all the other bees where the flowers are! 

Honey ~ Best antique ever!

Honey never goes bad. Archaeologists found 2000-year-old jars of honey in Egyptian tombs and they still tasted amazing according to the sources! 
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Is your honey real?

Try the water dissolving test: Real honey will not dissolve readily in water, but adulterated honey will. Combine one tablespoon of honey and one cup of water and stir to test for authenticity. 

 

And if you’re up for a real adventure, do the flame test. If water has been added to honey, it will not burn. Place a cotton wick in a dollop of the honey and light it – pure honey will burn. 

Biblical bliss….

“My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.”

 

Proverbs 24:13

Ingredients and supplies for homemade elderberry syrup:

A simple elderberry syrup recipe made with dried elderberries, raw ​honey, herbs and spices for an immune boosting and delicious syrup. Can be used medicinally or on homemade pancakes, waffles or French toast. Recipe can be doubled as outlined below. 

 

*Remember to add the honey in 1/2 cup increments to your taste*

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 – 1.5 hour
Total Time 1-2 hours
Servings  32 – 60 ounces

  • 1 cup dried elderberries (2 cups fresh or frozen) 
  • 1 – 2 cups raw organic honey (local honey in a pinch.) 
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • 1 Tablespoon grated ginger (optional)
  • 4 cups filtered water
  • ​cheesecloth- lined strainer for draining ​​
  • 2 cups dried elderberries (4 cups fresh or frozen)
  • 2.5 – 3.5 cups raw organic honey (local honey in a pinch)
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • 2 Tablespoons grated ginger (optional)
  • 8 cups filtered water
  • ​cheesecloth-lined strainer for draining
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Step-by-step instructions on how to make homemade elderberry syrup:

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  • Pour the water in a large pot then add the elderberries. You can add your cinnamon, cloves and ginger now or wait until after you add the honey. (I waited to taste the elderberries to figure what was needed.)​
  • Bring to a boil for 5 minutes and then cover. Reduce and simmer on low between 1 – 1.5 hours until the liquid has been reduced to about half. 
  • Give it a good stir every time you walk through the kitchen. 
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool. About 30 minutes.
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  •  Mash the berries right in the pot using a potato masher or strainer. ​This helps get all the nutrients out of those berries! 
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  • Attach your cheesecloth on the top of a separate pot.​
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  • Pour or ladle through a cheesecloth-lined strainer to remove the berries from the elderberry juice. 
  • Compost your elderberries. Allow the liquid to cool until lukewarm. ​
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  • When juice has cooled to room temperature taste it. Sour…right? This is partly why we add the honey~ to sweeten it in a healthy way. Start by adding 1 cup of honey. Mix well. Taste it again. Then add the honey in increments of 1/2 cup. I needed 3 cups of honey total. Mix well! 
  • ​If you didn’t add cinnamon, ginger or cloves before, now is the time. Don’t add any spice you hate! Pick and choosing is fine. 
  • Store in air-tight glass Mason jars. I used 16 ounce jars. and ended up with a whopping 58 ounces! 
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Elderberry syrup dosage and taste?

Our family uses elderberry syrup as a preventative measure by taking 1 – 1.5 teaspoons morning and night December through March.

 

​Sometimes the kids only get 1/2 teaspoon if I’m short but they usually sucker me into  giving them the full teaspoon

If any of us does get sick, we double that. So adults take at least 2 teaspoons morning and night, kids take one teaspoon morning and night. If super desperate, I confess, I’ll even triple the dose with no worries.

Elderberry syrup has a unique flavor. You just have to try it for yourself! Berry-ish like none other. The honey sweetens it a ton. Certainly the cinnamon, ginger and  cloves do their part, too!

​After my kids take their teaspoon, they always ask for more! My older daughter said it was absolutely delicious.

It’s funny they never forget to remind me to give it to them morning and night!   

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​How long does elderberry syrup last in the fridge?

The short answer is that it really depends. Clear as mud…right!?

 

My preference was to put the finished syrup in mason canning jars while it is still warm creating an air-tight seal. This allows it to last much longer in the fridge, up to several months.

I store these at the back of my fridge where it is not only colder, but they don’t get in the way of all the day-to-day food I’m trying to access!

But as a general rule, it lasts about two weeks in the fridge. It’s a good idea to freeze what you won’t use up in that two-week timeframe.

It’s also smart to freeze extra juice in ice-trays if you have any extra in your fridge. Easy access and easy to use.

​Especially for the kids! They love elderberries ice treats!   

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​Is there a substitute for honey in elderberry syrup?

You may  prefer not to use a sweetener in this recipe or have a child under 1-year-old. Honey should not be given to babies under one year of age as they can develop a rare but serious condition called infantile botulism that can be fatal.

 

A mature immune system is not vulnerable to this low level of exposure, but the immature immune and gastrointestinal systems of an infant make babies more vulnerable to honey.

Some easy substitutes are:

  • Use maple syrup or nutrient-rich molasses in place of the honey.
  • Omit the sweetener and make elderberry juice over elderberry syrup. But be aware, the juice will be very tart and sour to your taste buds. 
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Can the elderberries be reused?

It seems so wasteful. Even to me. Tossing the dried elderberries out. So don’t. Compost them! Put them in your garden 

 

What you don’t want to do is attempt to reuse them for any subsequent batches of elderberry syrup you intend to make.

After they have been boiled or mashed, most of the nutrients have been removed. And you wouldn’t have it any other way! Because those nutrients are in your syrup.

There’s also some evidence that consuming large amounts of the whole berries can be a problem. So don’t the tempted to eat them.

Compost bin. Done. No guilt here. 

What natural remedies do you highly recommend?

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108 Comments

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Comments

  1. Heidi says

    January 4, 2021 at 1:12 am

    Thank you for this informative article. I make elderberry syrup and I swear if I take it when feeling like I may be getting sick, I either don’t get sick or am only sick a few days.

    Reply
    • Cathy McInturff says

      January 11, 2021 at 6:23 pm

      Great ideas!!

      Reply
  2. Betsy Pauzauskie says

    January 4, 2021 at 1:31 am

    I don’t have any natural remedies I use. However, my hairdresser swears by the non-natural method of smearing Neosporin in both nostrils at the start of each new day. She hasn’t been sick since she began this practice. I have yet to try her Neosporin technique, although it has been helpful for her. My oldest daughter does use elderberry syrup; and, it’s been effective for their family. I’ll have to ask if it has honey, as that is an appealing part of your recipe. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Liz Kilcher says

    January 4, 2021 at 10:37 am

    i gargle with salt water when i have a sore throat

    Reply
    • Alison says

      January 5, 2021 at 1:28 am

      Very helpful, thank you!

      Reply
  4. Sheila gagnon says

    January 4, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    i have never seen a recipe similar to my grandmothers thank you

    Reply
  5. Clifford Almany says

    January 4, 2021 at 3:24 pm

    Homemade Elderberry Syrup is Berry, Berry Medicinal.

    Reply
  6. Barbara K says

    January 4, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    Interesting I will have to try it!

    Reply
  7. Brittany Gilley says

    January 4, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  8. Chad Boyd says

    January 4, 2021 at 3:52 pm

    This sounds like a great natural recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
  9. paula burnham says

    January 4, 2021 at 3:55 pm

    Thanks for the recipe

    Reply
  10. Rena T Walter says

    January 4, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    This is worth a try! Thank you!

    Reply
  11. Anita Sue Hamilton says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    I am a weather obsessed person! Plus a charger what more could I want.

    Reply
  12. Jill H says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:02 pm

    My husband’s family swore by elderberry syrup, I would like to try this recipe. Thanks LaURA

    Reply
  13. Kathy Derrick says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Nancy Jachcik says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:34 pm

    Thanks for the recipe and the honey information I like using eucalyptus oils on my chest when I have a cold

    Reply
  15. Catherine Bradford says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    Thank you, I will have to try this!

    Reply
  16. Deborah Waddell says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    I grew up eating elderberries. I live in Florida now and there are none to be found not even in the freezer case at the grocery with the other berries and fruit. This recipe sounds delicious.

    Reply
  17. Linda Meranda says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    So many great ideas and information especially for the small time country gardener like myself. Keep it up!

    Reply
  18. Jamie L Grimes says

    January 4, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    I’ve never seen them in my stores. Where would I find them?

    Reply
  19. Janet Burke says

    January 4, 2021 at 5:05 pm

    Thank you

    Reply
  20. Julie Waldron says

    January 4, 2021 at 5:09 pm

    This sounds great, I’m for all natural! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  21. Tesa Shelton says

    January 4, 2021 at 5:11 pm

    I’ll have to add elderberries when I plant next spring.

    Reply
  22. Leigh Ann James says

    January 4, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    Great tips on elderberry!

    Reply
  23. Rita Sheppard says

    January 4, 2021 at 5:15 pm

    I’ve read that elderberry and honey are very good for you.

    Reply
  24. Ronnell Storie says

    January 4, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    Would elderberry wine help any for preventing sickness?

    Reply
  25. Mary Meadows says

    January 4, 2021 at 6:10 pm

    I love Honey! I swear by a teaspoon of Local Honey every day for my Allergies in the Spring!

    Reply