Elderberry syrup is a natural daily supplement in our household as soon as cold and flu season starts. We try to use natural remedies for cold and flu season and prefer to make our own when we can. Last year was the first time I made homemade elderberry syrup. I was amazed at how easy and cost effective it was! 
This past summer we found quite a few elderberry bushes growing wild (here’s our post on how to identify and forage for elderberries). We were out picking huckleberries in the mountains but the elderberries aren’t ready to harvest until the fall. Unfortunately this fall we were in the middle of moving into our new homestead and didn’t have time to go harvest elderberries. Next year we plan to wild harvest elderberries so we’ll be able to make our homemade elderberry syrup for little to no cost!
Health Benefits of Elderberry Syrup
Despite being tiny in size, elderberries pack a big, healthy punch. Elderberries are considered an anti-viral natural remedy which is why elderberry products are consumed so readily during cold and flu season. Elderberries are rich in:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Iron
- Potassium
- Beta-carotene
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Bioflavonoids
- Antioxidants
Using Homemade Elderberry Syrup
During cold and flu season, I take 1 Tablespoon of elderberry syrup per day and Little A takes 1 teaspoon. We do this daily as a preventative. When I start feeling sick, I take 1 Tablespoon per hour. Little A takes 1 teaspoon per hour if she is feeling sick.
I make a big jar of homemade elderberry syrup at the beginning of cold and flu season in the fall. This typically lasts our family of three all throughout the cold and flu season. I keep the jar of elderberry syrup in the refrigerator and we take it everyday with our evening meal. Little A loves her “el-beay syup” and will ask for it if I happen to forget to get it out one evening.
How to make homemade elderberry syrup
Ingredients:
- Step 1: Place all ingredients except for the honey in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil then simmer for 30 minutes.
- Step 2: Strain the mixture. I place a piece of cheese cloth inside a fine mesh strainer and squeeze as much juice as I can from the cheesecloth. (We use this cheesecloth and this type of strainer)
- Step 3: Add the honey to the juice and stir until mixed well.
- Step 4: Place syrup in a glass jar and refrigerate to use daily. You may also can or freeze the syrup for later use.
Now that you have an easy, homemade recipe for elderberry syrup you can try making your own. You should also try our recipe for making elderberry jelly which is another way to naturally boost Vitamin C. Using homemade natural remedies during cold and flu season is a great way to keep your body naturally healthy for a low cost!
Sources:
- Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies
- Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West
- Healing Plants of the Rocky Mountains
Elderberry syrup is a big deal at our house too. I always love seeing the various recipes and different takes on herbal remedies, thanks for sharing yours!
I agree Kathie, I’ve seen a variety of recipes out there too. We love this one since the other herbs add an extra yummy flavor!
I love this recipe! we use it all the time at our house, too!
That’s wonderful you use elderberry syrup too, it’s amazing stuff isn’t it?
I know I can find it wild around our area, but I haven’t found a patch yet. I might have to break down and buy some dried berries soon. Pinning for later!
It wasn’t until last spring when I ventured out with my herbal identification book that I realized that I was seeing elderberry bushes all over the mountains we frequent. I always noticed them before, I just never knew what they were. Now that I know, I see elderberry bushes all over the place!
I know that we need to do this, but I just haven’t yet. How does elderberry taste?
I haven’t eaten fresh raw elderberries but heard they can be bitter. With the honey added in to sweeten the syrup it is quite delicious!
The flavor might vary with different species of elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), but the widespread common elderberry is not bitter. To me they taste like blackberries, just a little less sweet.
Thanks for sharing on Backyard Farming Connection. I love the mix of ingredients in your syrup. Elderberry syrups and juices can be used in cooking, too – it is great for its flavor, not just medicinal properties.
For anyone who wants to forage for their own berries but does not yet know how to identify or where to look for the plant, check out my post below. The post also links to my recipe for elderberry ice cream with dark chocolate hazelnut crunch.
http://ouroneacrefarm.com/foraging-for-elderberries/
This is on the short list of things to make in 2014. I think sourcing the elderberries has been my stumbling block. Pinning for later.
Pretty healthy stuff and delicious too.
Coming from Down Home Blog Hop! Come-by my blog.
Such a good one for cold and flu season! Pinning for later 🙂
Amber – http://www.herbalacademyofne.com
Thanks so much for sharing this great recipe. I am a big believer in natural healing and DIY products. You did a great job of providing the nutritional value too. Visiting from Wildcrafting Wednesday Link Up! Have a wonderful healthy day!
How cool–I recently planted elderberries!
Can you tell me how you went about planting? Did you buy plants or start from seed? Any special fertilizer or planting instructions? We have been picking wild one for the past few years here in Maine but they typically grow in ditches or other difficult to access areas. It would be great to have a few in my back yard for easy picking. Thank you.
We have the same issue here in MT trying to harvest wild elderberries- they most often are found on steep hillsides so harvesting is tricky. I bought several elderberry shrubs at a greenhouse in town this summer to grow our own at home. We also tried to dig out a wild elderberry shrub and transplant it at home but the shrubs we can find are all typically so big we can’t get enough of the root ball to transplant it well. That is why we bought some from the greenhouse.
Curious? Where in Montana are you?
Love elderberry syrup and I have made a similar recipe. Thanks for sharing at Wildcrafting Wednesday.
At last! Someone who unnedstards! Thanks for posting!
I keep hearing about this remedy but haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for sharing, this is great.
I’ve only had elderberry wine. I’ve heard great things about the syrups and jams so I’m eager to try them. We have them growing wild around us so I might just have to make that leap this year. Thanks for sharing! Found you thru the From the Farm Blog Hop.
This is great and it looks so easy. Thanks for sharing with us at The HomeAcre Hop!
Please join us again Thursday at:
http://summers-acres.com
~Ann
We have never tried a home-made remedy like this one before, but I may have access to some elderberries (if I get there first) and if I do get some I’ll try this.
Thanks! I’m into the use of honey as a sugar alternative. Would like to know, how long this syrup keeps refridgerated as describe?
Last year I made a big batch and kept in a jar in the fridge for several months until it was gone.
It’s a real plasuere to find someone who can think like that
When you say 6 cloves. Do you mean garlic or what? THANKS
Cloves, as is the spice cloves. Not garlic!!! Yikes.
The spice cloves 🙂
I’ve made this recipe several times but it always goes bad before I can finish it all even though I refrigerate it. Is there any natural preservative you might recommend adding to it to have it keep longer?
Do you simmer for 30 minutes with the lid on or off?? Thanks!!!
Good question! I put the lid half way on. This helps to keep some of the heat in but also lets the moisture out since you want to cook off some of the moisture so it forms more of a syrup consistency.
Do you water bath the syrup when you can it.
I’ve never actually canned elderberry syrup, we freeze it. If you want to try canning it, I would suggest not putting the honey in and adding that after you open up a canned jar of syrup. Heating honey to a high heat kills off a lot of the healthy aspects of honey.
Just made the syrup and the house smells wonderful. I was wondering whether I can make a second less concentrated batch of elderberry syrup from the strained elderberries. I am sure there is still a lot of goodness in them. Don’t feel like tossing them out. Please advise. Thanks for the recipe.
I’ve never tried that but if you try it I’d be curious to hear how it goes!
I have a pumpkin spice blend. Do you think I can use this in place of the herbs? The spice blend has ginger, cinnamon, cloves, lemon peel, nutmeg, and cardamom. Thanks! Can’t wait to try this!
That spice blend sounds delicious and would probably work great in elderberry syrup!
i have a high speed blender – wondering if i were to blend the whole mixture rather than straining off the liquid, could that intensify the healing properties? or would you recommend against doing that for any reason? thanks!
I’ve read that ingesting the whole berry can cause some digestive issues so personally I would not try it. All the elderberry recipes I’ve ever read use the juice from the elderberry but discard the rest.
I just wanted to comment on the edibility of the berries. We’ve recently moved to an extremely remote Indian reservation on the Idaho/Nevada border. They lover their elderberries out here. Natives have been eating them forever (it’s a main ingredient in traditional pemmican). A gal just told me yesterday that her dad’s favorite pie in the world is elderberry. The women still go out and gather them together to make jams to sell at the Christmas Bizarre (coming up tomorrow! I will be buying some!). I mash the berries when I make this syrup and put them all in, or sometimes blend it up. But that’s just me. Perhaps others would have some stomach upset.
Hello! and thank you for this recipe. A friend of mine makes elderflower/berry syrup with honey and it is wonderful stuff for colds, but I was not aware of the benefits for asthma and other ailments! We have quite a few elderberry “bushes/trees” growing on our property and they are ripe NOW! Gonna get some this weekend!Thanks again!
Also, I might have to try and make some Elderberry Wine!!!
I am planting elderberries for next year. I can’t wait to have this on hand. Thanks for sharing
My sister and I just bought a bottle of the syrup that includes orange peel and cardamom in addition to the spices you list–it is delicious! Because of the cost, we would really like to replicate it ourselves. How much cardamom and orange peel would you suggest adding to the recipe? Thanks!
Thank you for your fantastic website. I can’t wait to make the Elderberry Syrup from your great recipe. I actually heard about Elderberry Syrup on the Dr. Oz show. Now I can make my own. Thank you again. I have really enjoyed browsing and learning on your website.
Just what I was looking for. Our elder bushes have finally started putting out a pretty good harvest and we love the jelly. Syrup was next on my list to learn and here it is. 🙂
I finished making this about three hours ago. Followed recipe exactly using dried elderberry. The mixture is very watery, is this normal or will it thicken as times goes by?
Thank you
I just made my first batch of elder berry syrup today using your recipe. I was expecting it to be thicker then it turned out. I also had to substitute dry ground for the cinnamon, ginger and clove but it was well worth making. I love minced meat pie and to me that is exactly what it taste like. I will not have a problem taking this on a daily bases or as needed.
Thanks for sharing it with us,
Jeane
I’ve made this recipe several times but it always goes bad before I can finish it all even though I refrigerate it. Is there any natural preservative you might recommend adding to it to have it keep longer?