It's heading into the cold months and having some powerful home crafted Elderberry cough syrup in your fridge is always great to have on hand. I found a neighbor who grows organic Elderberries and bought 3 pounds from her, I was able to trade some soap for some cuttings too. Elderberries, aside from having a higher antioxidant flavanoid content of blueberries, they also have potent anti-viral properties making them good to have around. Important note about Elderberry: DO NOT EAT THEM UNCOOKED OR UNRIPE! ONLY USE BERRIES AND FLOWERS! NO LEAVES AND STEMS! Uncooked Elderberries are toxic, not hugely.. but you have good chance of some nausea and vomiting if consumed raw!
To read more about Elderberries, click here.
To read more about Elderberries, click here.
Ingredients:
2 quarts of fresh or frozen elderberries. rinsed without leaves and stems (don't worry about tiny ones)
Honey - try to find local honey as some believe local honey to be immune enhancing for your specific area.
2 TBS Fresh ginger peeled and grated
You can add other herbs to this syrup as well. I don't have any Echinacea in my garden this year, but hoping to add it next year.
Some other herbs and spices that can be added: cayenne pepper, ground cloves, etc.
2 quarts of fresh or frozen elderberries. rinsed without leaves and stems (don't worry about tiny ones)
Honey - try to find local honey as some believe local honey to be immune enhancing for your specific area.
2 TBS Fresh ginger peeled and grated
You can add other herbs to this syrup as well. I don't have any Echinacea in my garden this year, but hoping to add it next year.
Some other herbs and spices that can be added: cayenne pepper, ground cloves, etc.
Preparation: It's so easy!
STEP 1 Place all the berries into a sauce pan. Add 1/4 cup of water (seems like a tiny amount, but that is all you need). Cook berries over low-med heat. Simmer until all the berries are soft and have released their juices.
Step 2 Strain the berries RESERVING THE LIQUID!
I use a cheesecloth and pour the hot berries into the cloth letting it hang over the sauce pan and drain. when it is cool enough to touch, squeeze the remaining liquid from the berries in the cheesecloth into the pan. Compost the de-juiced berries.
Your strained elderberry juice will be in your saucepan now.
Step 3 Add the grated ginger.
Step 4 Heat mixture, stirring almost constantly. Bring to a simmer cook and stir until mixture is reduced to about 1/2 the amount.
**Step 5 Remember- you are making medicine! As you cook and stir imagine the healing properties of the elderberries and the ginger. Give thanks and honor to these plants and to Mother Earth for the gifts. Imagine the healing that will be bestowed on those who will drink this syrup. This important step infuses your intention into the syrup and helps the medicine-maker to stay connected and grateful.***
Step 6 Once the mixture is reduced to 1/2, measure the amount (I pour it into a glass measuring bowl) Take note of the amount of liquid you have and then return it to the saucepan.
Step 7 Measure the same amount of honey as you have berry mixture and add honey into the saucepan with the berry mixture.. Example: if you have 2 cups of reduced berry juice, then you will be measuring out 2 cups of honey to add to it.
Step 8 Stir in the honey until it incorporates into the berry reduction and becomes a syrup. As you are stirring, make sure to give thanks and honor to the bees for this sweet healing gift and again imagine the effectiveness of the medicine you are making and do this with love.
Once the honey is all mixed in, your Elderberry Cough Syrup is done!
STEP 1 Place all the berries into a sauce pan. Add 1/4 cup of water (seems like a tiny amount, but that is all you need). Cook berries over low-med heat. Simmer until all the berries are soft and have released their juices.
Step 2 Strain the berries RESERVING THE LIQUID!
I use a cheesecloth and pour the hot berries into the cloth letting it hang over the sauce pan and drain. when it is cool enough to touch, squeeze the remaining liquid from the berries in the cheesecloth into the pan. Compost the de-juiced berries.
Your strained elderberry juice will be in your saucepan now.
Step 3 Add the grated ginger.
Step 4 Heat mixture, stirring almost constantly. Bring to a simmer cook and stir until mixture is reduced to about 1/2 the amount.
**Step 5 Remember- you are making medicine! As you cook and stir imagine the healing properties of the elderberries and the ginger. Give thanks and honor to these plants and to Mother Earth for the gifts. Imagine the healing that will be bestowed on those who will drink this syrup. This important step infuses your intention into the syrup and helps the medicine-maker to stay connected and grateful.***
Step 6 Once the mixture is reduced to 1/2, measure the amount (I pour it into a glass measuring bowl) Take note of the amount of liquid you have and then return it to the saucepan.
Step 7 Measure the same amount of honey as you have berry mixture and add honey into the saucepan with the berry mixture.. Example: if you have 2 cups of reduced berry juice, then you will be measuring out 2 cups of honey to add to it.
Step 8 Stir in the honey until it incorporates into the berry reduction and becomes a syrup. As you are stirring, make sure to give thanks and honor to the bees for this sweet healing gift and again imagine the effectiveness of the medicine you are making and do this with love.
Once the honey is all mixed in, your Elderberry Cough Syrup is done!
I bottled my syrup into these 4oz bottles with droppers. I got them from Mountain Rose Herbs. The syrup will last in the refrigerator for 12 weeks.
The recommended dosage is 1-2 tablespoons 2-3 times per day when fighting off cold or flu.
It is definitely easy medicine and tastes good dripped on pancakes too! You can't do that with your average pharmaceutical chemical cough-syrup!
The recommended dosage is 1-2 tablespoons 2-3 times per day when fighting off cold or flu.
It is definitely easy medicine and tastes good dripped on pancakes too! You can't do that with your average pharmaceutical chemical cough-syrup!
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