Elderberry Syrup, How to Make this Immune Supporting Goodness!
Wow! With everything going on right now in the world, people are franticly looking for ways to keep themselves & their families healthy.
I’m not an expert on this “virus” stuff… But I do know that elderberry syrup or tincture works wonders on the regular flu or colds. So we take a daily maintenance dose and up that to 2-3 times a day if we feel a little off.
I won’t to go into the details of each ingredients’ beneficial properties, I’ll let you do that research. I just want to get this recipe out so you can make some. We usually have a supply in our farm store, but in case it’s running low you can make as much as you want!!
With this recipe, I had to stretch my elderberries by adding some wolfberries. Which are also high in antioxidants and immune boosting. But you can totally make this with straight elderberries (that’s what I normally do).
Elderberry & Wolfberry Syrup
1/2 c Dried organic elderberries (or 1 c. if not adding wolfberries)
1/2 c Dried organic wolfberries (aka. Goji berries)
3 c water
1 lemon sliced
4-6 cinnamon sticks (I use Ceylon)
3-5 whole cloves
1 whole nutmeg cut in half (optional)
2 inches of fresh Ginger sliced
3/4 c raw local honey
Place all ingredients in a sauce pan EXCEPT honey.
Bring to boil, then lower to simmer. Squishing the juices out of the berries during cooking.
Simmer for around 30 min. or until the syrup is reduce by about half.
Strain the syrup through a fine strainer. Once the syrup is lukewarm, stir in the honey.
Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for several months.
Adults and children over 12:
Take 1/2 - 1 TBS daily as prevention. If sick, take 2-4 times daily.
Children 12 and under:
Take 1/2 - 1 tsp daily as prevention. If sick, take 2-4 times daily.
***Raw honey is not for children under 1yr. You can make the syrup with maple syrup instead of honey!***
For elderberry tincture:
Fill a quart jar half full with dried elderberries.
Fill with 80 proof vodka 1 inch from the top.
Shake the jar periodically.
Let steep for a minimum of 8 weeks.
Prevention dose:
*Adults & children over 12 yrs: 1/2 to 1 tsp daily
*Children 6-12 yrs: 1/2 tsp daily
*Children 2-5 yrs: 1/8-1/4 tsp daily
***It’s up to you if you would want to give to children under 2. I just need to put on the label “not recommended”. With the miniscule amount of alcohol in 1/8 tsp, I doubt there’s a problem. But I’m no Dr. and I don’t play one on TV..
At the onset of cold or flu symptoms, take 2-3 times daily.
