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?
Benefits of homemade elderberry syrup using raw honey:
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.
Why make your own elderberry syrup?
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.
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.
A quick note on customization
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.
Why is raw honey so sweet for heath and wellness?
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!
Did you know?
Let’s celebrate!
Honey ~ Best antique ever!
Is your honey real?
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….
Proverbs 24:13
Ingredients and supplies for homemade elderberry syrup:
*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
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Step-by-step instructions on how to make homemade elderberry syrup:
- 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.
- Mash the berries right in the pot using a potato masher or strainer. This helps get all the nutrients out of those berries!
- Attach your cheesecloth on the top of a separate pot.
- 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.
- 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!
Elderberry syrup dosage and taste?
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!
How long does elderberry syrup last in the fridge?
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!
Is there a substitute for honey in elderberry syrup?
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.
Can the elderberries be reused?
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.
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.
Great ideas!!
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!
i gargle with salt water when i have a sore throat
Very helpful, thank you!
i have never seen a recipe similar to my grandmothers thank you
Homemade Elderberry Syrup is Berry, Berry Medicinal.
Interesting I will have to try it!
thanks for the recipe!
This sounds like a great natural recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for the recipe
This is worth a try! Thank you!
I am a weather obsessed person! Plus a charger what more could I want.
My husband’s family swore by elderberry syrup, I would like to try this recipe. Thanks LaURA
Thank you!
Thanks for the recipe and the honey information I like using eucalyptus oils on my chest when I have a cold
Thank you, I will have to try this!
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.
So many great ideas and information especially for the small time country gardener like myself. Keep it up!
I’ve never seen them in my stores. Where would I find them?
Thank you
This sounds great, I’m for all natural! Thanks for sharing!
I’ll have to add elderberries when I plant next spring.
Great tips on elderberry!
I’ve read that elderberry and honey are very good for you.
Would elderberry wine help any for preventing sickness?
I love Honey! I swear by a teaspoon of Local Honey every day for my Allergies in the Spring!
Interesting recipe, Im going to give it a try,Thank You!
Very good advice. We are going to have to follow suit and make this yearly too.
When I was a kid we had an abundance of chokecherries on our farm. Mother made chokecherry syrup and wine. Our job as kids was to pick all those cherries. Dad would put us in the bucket of the farmhand and tell us to pick until our baskets were full. He’d move us around from bush to bush. I remember thinking how BIG my basket was and how darn small those chokecherries were. It took a lot to fill the baskets.
I learned a lot by reading this post thank you for sharing.
this is great information did not know about this at all
Thank you
Sounds like a great idea.
Never knew what to do with elderberry syrup, thanks for the ideas
I love elderberry jam! Thanks so much for this suggestion!
This is good to know. Vitamin C and D pills are already part of my diet with the pandemic
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. During the winter I seem to get sore throats and coughing.
👍
thank you for this i am def going to try it.
This seems like a healthy alternative for wellness.
I’m definitely going to try this out!
Seems like it would help…not sure I like elderberry
Never tried this before but it sounds good .
What is an elderberry? I would love to try this recipe.
Great article and very timely. Thanks
Old is new again. Thanks for the recipe
My grandmother would make elderberry jelly.
This sounds great. We don’t have elderberries around here or I would be tempted to make some syrup.
ty for sharing the recipe and review ,i have heard such wonderful benefits from elderberry ,i will try!!
I never had elderberry jam before, wouldn’t mind trying some.
The only natural remedies I use are hot lemonade for congestion and also chicken soup with lots of broth. I would really like to make the elderberry syrup and try it. I’ve never seen elderberries at a grocer. I will be on the lookout!
I like to predict the weather.
I definitely will try this
Thanks again!
So where to you get the elderberries?
This sounds too tasty to work lol! But I’m definitely going to try!
I knew about the honey but not the elderberry thank you.
I’ve never used natural remedies but want to try this! I usually buy cold-eez
I’ve never tried elderberries, but I love honey! I have a friend who does beekeeping and sells local honey.
Thanks for the recipe!
I want to study about plants and know what where purpose is to help us. The earth is an amazing place.
Been hearing a lot about elderberry, and been wanting to try it. Seems like a good recipe to start with
I love the old medicinal cures that are homemade and they do work!
Interest article. I’ll keep a look out.
Great recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Elderberries and honey sound like a winning combo! Thanks for the information and easy-to-follow recipe!
so delish
This sounds like something my aunt would do. It is probably better that commercial stuff.
Thanks!
We take emergency – c and I recent bought some elderberry syrup to try. It’s really tasty! I would love to try making some, I will have to look and see if I can find them locally (AZ) or on Amazon. Thank you for this great recipe with step by step instructions 🙂
I always thought that I was giving my kids natural honey 🍯
Boy was I wrong!! I used to mix honey and lemon 🍋 for my kid’s minor sore throat and coughs.
Albert Einstein even knew the importance of bees 🐝 I will have to find out where I can get the real honey and elderberries.
It never hit me that that honey was in a verse in the Bible!
My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.”
Proverbs 24:13
How awesome!! I do believe in the Bible. Thank you for sharing!
I have commented before but I have yet to try this. We will be moving ear an Amish settlement and am wondering if they have elderberries!
I don’t know how this happened, but I grew up thinking elderberries were poisonous.
Very interesting ,thanks.
I love natural remedies
Interesting article
good combination, a healthy alternative-all natural.
Great recipe, my great grandmother use to make elderberry wine and we drank the last bottle of it at my wedding so very long ago now.
Great recipe will definitely try this if I can get the elderberries
Sometimes the garden you grow is within yourself….
I’ve never tried using cheesecloth, only a sieve. That’s a great idea! Love elderberry syrup, especially this time of year.
I personally have never tried this but I have friends who swear by it!
I guess I will throw in the towel and try it as I get sick at least twice a year!
This is a recipe that I can do! Love natural remedies they work so much better and shorten the illness! Thanks for the great information!
Essential oils especially for congestion and sleep. Love the article!
Sounds interesting. I’ve been thinking about trying to make my own now I’ve got the recipe! Thank you!
I want to grow some elderberry in my garden so that I can make some syrup from it.
I have got to make this for my whole family!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you for the elderberry recipe.
I love elderberry syrup and have used it for years!
Would love to try this
Adding the raw honey to a warm drink like this always makes me feel better
Very happy to hear of all the benefits and truly grateful for the recipes
Sounds like something we could use at cold and flu season and the kids love honey too.
looks yummy
looks great
Thank you. I have to try this.
Love this. Can’t wait to make it. Where do you get the Elderberry?
I used to pick these berries for my “Pap” (my grandfather) when I was a little girl.
Very interesting! I have been wanting to learn a bit more about Elderberries, so this is helpful!
Very informative post! I never knew elderberry has so many healing qualities.
Knowledge of the many varieties of natural remedies has unfortunately been pretty well lost in this country, but there is a reason that ‘old wives’ tales’ often worked for some ailments.
I love the giveaway and would like to try making the syrup.
My Mom and Grandma used to pick and prepare syrup, I wish I would have learned from them.