MAKING YOUR OWN ELDERBERRY SYRUP
Elderberry is an amazing immune boosting plant! Packed full of rich wild vitamins, it’s a sure aid to keep us going through cold & flu season.
There are three different types of elderberry, blue, black and red. The red variation is toxic and should not be ingested, in my experience foraging in the inland northwest, I’ve never seen this variation in the wild. Blue elderberry likes to grow near water and in soil that was disturbed, I find it most frequently near lakes and rivers, and along old dirt forest roads. Black elderberry seems to like really high elevations! I’ve only found it on or past high mountain saddles.
Both blue and black elderberry are amazing medicines, some claim that black elderberry carries more nutrients, including more anthocinanins (what makes up their dark color).
There are so many fun and exciting things to do with elderberries! Here at Lucid Lavender, I love to try an array of ways to keep this vital plant in our bellies during winter.
The most popular elderberry creations are; elderberry syrup, elderberry tincture, and elderberry gummies. Ive tried all three, and absolutely love them.
Here you will find a super basic elderberry syrup recipe! I like to experiment and play with my elderberry syrup, adding in different wild plants like rose hips and usnea, changing the portions of each ingredient, and cooking for different times. For me, this is so fun! And it gives me a whole new syrup every time I make it.
Fresh elderberries are always best to use! We have a huge abundance of elderberries in our area and there is absolutely no reason to be purchasing old dried berries if you live in the inland northwest. They are generally a very easy forage, quick to process, and store well in the freezer (freezing does kill a small amount of the plants nutrients, but not as much as drying.) other options if you’re wanting to make bulk batches is to water bath can the syrup, infuse the berries into organic apple cider vinegar (vinegar is a great way to keep plants for a long time, and most people end up putting acv into their syrup anyway!). Remember to stay creative- this is such a great adventure.
If you absolutely have to buy dried elderberries, I would do my best to find them organic, mountain rose herbs is a great source for high quality medicinal plants.
Ok so lets get to it!
Below is a downloadable pdf with a super simple elderberry recipe. This is for you to keep, print, post, or share with friends!I hope your elderberry adventures take you to the most beautiful out door spaces, and also keep you and your loved ones healthy and well.
All of my love,
Amber - Lucid Lavender