Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Homemade elderberry syrup is very easy to make and costs WAY less than the store product! This recipe is a frugal way to help fight against the cold and flu season.
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. All information I share with you is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. I encourage you to do your own research; you are responsible for your own health and for the use of any remedies, treatments, or medications you use at home.
Homemade elderberry syrup is a must in my old farmhouse this time of year. With fall in full swing, and winter a coming. I like to be prepared with an arsenal of germ-fighting, immune-boosting herbs, tinctures, and oils. This syrup is just one of the ways I accomplish that.
I know I can’t completely prevent any of us from getting sick, but it does help to have some knowledge of the different herbs, oils, and medicinal foods that I can have on hand to fight off, diminish the length of, and relieve symptoms of the inevitable cold and flu season.
Why Make Your Own?
Have you seen the cost of elderberry syrup in the store? Let’s just say I’m not willing to sacrifice my date-night fund in the budget. 
When you realize that the only ingredients are some berries, spices, and honey, you’re like “I got this! I’m not paying $20 for 4 oz.!” Or maybe that was just me. In the middle of aisle 16. At the health food store. Once again embarrassing my tribe of teenager / tweenie boppers. And they know I really. don’t. care. Hee hee.
Health benefits of elderberries
These wonder berries, also called Sambucus nigra, are known as one of the top antiviral herbs on planet Earth. It’s been traced back to ancient Egyptian medicinal recipes, and Hippocrates (ya know, that ancient Greek known as the “father of medicine”?) revered it as his medicine chest for a variety of ailments.
One of the best reasons to make this syrup is that elderberries provide relief from colds and flus. A study showed that the use of elderberries shortened the duration of a cold and noticeably reduced cold symptoms. Also, another study showed recovery time in as little as 2 to 3 days from the flu with elderberry supplementation.
If relief from colds and flus wasn’t enough, elderberries contain vitamins A, B, and C. Also, they are a strong source of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects.
Where can I get these amazing berries?
I dream of planting my very own elderberry bushes someday. Hopefully this year! Where I live in the pacific northwest, wild elderberry bushes or trees can be found growing in the lush forests that surround the coastal regions of Oregon. We have the red and blue varieties mainly, growing in the coast range, as well as inland in the eastern regions.
Man cub readily finds them when he’s out hiking during hunting seasons. He finds refreshment in the blue, tart berries. Although, he has to beat the bears to them first.
So for now, I order my elderberries from Azure Standard or Amazon when my old standby is out. Which by the way, happens usually by the beginning to mid fall season. So stock up while you can! I like to order organic, dried sambucus nigra. The brands I trust and have used are Oregon’s Wild Harvest and Starwest Botanicals.
How to Use Homemade Elderberry Syrup
During the cold and flu season, our family takes a teaspoon everyday as a preventative measure. It tastes great by itself. I like to pretend I’m Mary Poppins and dose out each “spoonful of sugar” so to speak with a little serenading, which is met with endless eye rolls and retorts of, “Mooooom!” I smartly reply, “What?! Do I not sound as good as Miss Julie?” wink wink
On the occasions we have an illness, I up the dosing to a tablespoon three times a day. I notice that when administered right away, the symptoms are minimized as well as the duration. Can I get a hallelujah and an amen!
We’ve also used it to make a refreshing soda. Just because. With a bottle of sparkling water, you can have a delicious, fun drink that feels like a treat. The kids think so! I simply add a tablespoon of elderberry syrup to an 8 oz. glass of sparkling water on ice. So good, and good for you. Score for mom!
So many options here: pancake syrup, sweetener for oatmeal, drizzled over muffins or coffee cake, flavor boost in smoothies, and more!
How long will it last?
I have stored my homemade elderberry syrup in my trusty mason jars in the refrigerator for months. Months only because I had made it toward the end of the cold/flu season when an illness hit the house, and we only used part of it. Then forgot about it somehow. Because, let me tell ya, if my people know it’s in there, they continually bug me to have some. Anyway, later we found it still in the fridge during the warmer months and used it to flavor our water. It was still good—I believe—because of the honey that’s used in the syrup. Honey is a natural preservative and has antibacterial properties.
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Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
3/4 cup dried elderberries, Sambucus nigra variety
3 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
4 whole cloves
1 inch piece of ginger, sliced
1 cup of honey ***
Instructions
In a medium pot, bring water, elderberries, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to a boil on the stovetop.
Lower heat and simmer for 30 min.
Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the liquid off the contents and pour into a glass, quart jar. Use the back of a spoon to really smush out every drop of goodness!
Allow the elderberry juice to cool to lukewarm or room temperature (we don’t want to kill off all the beneficial constituents of the honey!).
Once cooled, add the honey and stir well to combine. Don’t worry, the honey will dissolve nicely; just keep stirring.
Store in the refrigerator.
DOSAGE: (Adults and children over 2) Take 1 tsp. daily as a preventative measure. At the onset of a cold or flu, administer 1 TBS. 3 to 4 times daily.
***I have used 2/3 to 3/4 cup of honey before when I needed to minimize sugar for a special needs diet. Still tasted good and kept for at least a month in the fridge.
Video Tutorial Homemade Elderberry Syrup
HOMEMADE ELDERBERRY SYRUP RECIPE
Materials
- 3 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 inch piece of ginger sliced
- 1 cup of honey ***
Instructions
- In a medium pot, bring water, elderberries, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to a boil on the stovetop.
- Lower heat and simmer for 30 min.
- Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the liquid off the contents and pour into a glass, quart jar. Use the back of a spoon to really smush out every drop of goodness!
- Allow the elderberry juice to cool to lukewarm or room temperature (we don’t want to kill off all the beneficial constituents of the honey!).
- Once cooled, add the honey and stir well to combine. Don’t worry, the honey will dissolve nicely; just keep stirring.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
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How do you stay healthy?
What kinds of remedies do you use in your household? It takes a village, so let’s share our ideas in the comments below!