Elderberry Syrup Preserved 4 Different Ways
In this post we are going to make elderberry syrup plus I’ll be sharing 4 different ways you can store it including a few methods on making it shelf stable
Elderberry Syrup Preserved 4 Different Ways
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I am not a Doctor & none of this is medical advice. It is here for entertainment & educational purposes only & it is up to you to talk to your health care practitioners first. The information shared is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a qualified health care provider before making any health decisions
Today we’re going to be making elderberry syrup. So let’s begin by talking about the herbal allies going into this syrup, then I’ll go over storage options as well as recommended dosage
I will be going over some of the different herbal actions of the chosen herbs so be sure to check out this post A Beginners Guide to Herbal Actions where I go into detail as well as give a few examples of each.
Elder
Botanical name: Sambucus spp.
Elder
Botanical Name: Sambucus spp.
Common Name: American Elder, Elder, Elderberry, European Elder, European elderberry, Black Elderberry, Pipe Tree, Bore Tree
Plant Family: Adoxaceae
Native to: Eastern North America
Naturalized to: North America, Asia
Botanical Description: Elders are considered a short tree that is typically shrub-like. Typical height is 5-12 feet tall, but they can reach heights of 30 feet or more. Elders bloom in June & July. They are extremely fragrant. They have a large flat topped flower head that has ¼” whitish star shaped blossoms. After the heads blossom they are followed by very juicy purplish-black berries. The branch stems have a pitted gray bark while the main stems are smooth & light weight. Elder leaves are pointed at the tips & serrated on the edges while being quite smooth on top, while having 5-11 leaves per stem with 7 being a typical amount
Parts used: All parts are usable, most commonly used are the flowers & berries
Taste:
Astringent
Bitter
Sweet
Sour
Energetics:
Drying & Moistening
Neutral
Tonifying
Herbal Actions of Concern:
Alterative
Anti inflammatory & Pro inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Antioxidant
Astringent
Expectorant
Diaphoretic
Immunomodulant
Nervine
Indications for Use:
Colds & flus
Sinusitis
Fever
Immune Support
Systems Affected:
Cardiovascular System: Flavonoids called anthocyanins help support healthy endothelial function as well as vascular tone
Immune System: boosts the immune system. Specific to the flu virus it helps deactivate an enzyme that helps the virus spread in the body as well as directly inhibiting viral replication. It also has the ability to activate pro-inflamatory & anti-inflamatory cytokines that help support the body’s inflammatory response
Mucus Membranes: providing a cleansing effect
Respiratory System: through the expectorant action helping to expel mucus in both acute or chronic conditions
Important To Note:
Never consume the berries raw
Talk to your Doctor if you have an autoimmune condition or are on immunomodulant medications
For this particular syrup we will be using the Elderberries, which are the fruits of the Sambucus plant. Elderflowers also make a nice addition.
Cinnamon
Botanical name: Cinnamomum spp.
Cinnamon
Botanical Name: Cinnamomum spp.
Common Name: Cassia, Ceylon cinnamon, Saigon cinnamon
Plant Family: Lauraceae
Native to: Asia, Sri Lanka, India, Burma
Naturalized to: South America, West Indies
Botanical Description: Cinnamon is a bushy evergreen tree with simple oval leaves that are green to yellow-green in color. The flowers are green in color with berry-like fruit that contains 1 seed & thick bark. It reaches heights of 30-60 feet
Parts used: Inner bark, flowers
Taste:
Pungent
Sweet
Energetics:
Drying
Hot
Tonifying
Herbal Actions of Concern:
Antimicrobial
Antioxidant
Antipyretic
Antirheumatic
Antispasmotic/Spasmolytic
Astringent
Diaphoretic
Expectorant
Nervine
Indications for Use:
Any time you have an illness or are convalescing
Systems Affected:
Circulatory System: stimulating circulation to the extremities
Digestive System: helping to stimulate digestion as well as warm the body from the inside out. It also supports absorption in the body
Respiratory System: clearing mucus while encouraging circulation
Important To Note:
Avoid large doses when pregnant
It can effectively reduce blood sugar so be sure to talk to health care team if you are diabetic
Cassia cinnamon might harm the liver when taken in large doses
Clove
Botanical name: Syzygium aromaticum
Clove
Botanical Name: Syzygium aromaticum
Common Name: Cloves, Caryophyllus, Lavangam
Plant Family: Myrtaceae
Native to: Maluku Islands
Naturalized to: Tropical areas in India, Jamaica, West Indies, Brazil
Botanical Description: Clove is an evergreen tree with smooth bark & grayish green or yellowish gray leaves with a strong aromatic scent with white flowers when in blood. The flower buds are small & reddish brown in color. Typical height for the clove tree is 15-30 feet
Parts used: Buds
Taste:
Pungent
Energetics:
Warming
Herbal Actions of Concern:
Alterative
Analgesic
Antimicrobial
Antispasmotic/Spasmolytic
Expectorant
Indications for Use:
Illness with congestion or spasmodic coughs. It may bring relief to symptoms of laryngitis, bronchitis or sore throats
Systems Affected:
Digestive System: improving appetite & easing digestive spasms
Respiratory System: antispasmodic action on the lungs can help ease congestion & stuck phlegm
Important To Note:
Avoid medicinal doses if you are pregnant or breast feeding
DO NOT USE if you have a bleeding disorder
Discontinue use two weeks prior to surgery
Ginger
Botanical name: Zingiber officinale
Ginger
Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale
Common Name: Jamaican Ginger, African Ginger, Cochin Ginger
Plant Family: Zingiberaceae
Native to: Asia, Malaysia
Naturalized to: Across the tropics
Botanical Description: Ginger is a herbaceous perennial plant with aromatic rhizomes.
Parts used: Roots
Taste:
Bitter
Pungent
Energetics:
Hot
Drying
Tonifying
Herbal Actions of Concern:
Antibacterial
Antiemetic
Antiinflammatory
Circulatory Stimulant
Diaphoretic
Indications for Use:
Colds with congested airways
When you experience any symptom that is made worse by cold & dampness but improved by heat
Systems Affected:
Circulatory System: clearing cold from the system by increasing peripheral circulation which causes vasodilation & sweating helping the body to clear toxins
Digestive System: acting as a stimulant to help clear congestion
Respiratory System: helping to clear congestion from coughs & colds
Important To Note:
May increase bleeding so use caution if you have a bleeding disorder
May interact with blood-thinning medications, diabetic medications & blood pressure medications
With all that being said the elderberries are the only necessary herbal ally you need to include, the others are just optional
If you have other botanicals you would rather include do so, I’m just sharing what I put in mine.
Elderberry Syrup Preserved 4 Different Ways
Methods for Storage:
There are a few different ways you can preserve your syrup & you will want to consider which method you want to use before making the syrup
In the refrigerator: The syrup should stay good for 2 weeks to several months. Discard if any signs of mold or spoilage occur.
In the Freezer: Should last for approximately for 2 years. Freezing in ice cube trays is a great way to proportion your syrup. Each cube in a tray is typically about 1 TBSP which will give you 3 doses per serving
With alcohol or a tincture: Add ¼ cup alcohol, vodka makes a nice neutral choice, for every 1 cup of syrup. When stored in the refrigerator it should last 1-2 years
Water bath canning: Process the juice in half pint jars for 10 minutes, being sure to make any adjustments for altitude. It is best to water bath can before adding the honey as the canning process may decrease the medicinal benefits of the honey. If you plan on canning yours be sure to add the lemon juice as elderberries have a similar pH to tomatoes so they are treated accordingly. The actual pH of elderberries can range but it’s common it sit at a pH above 4.6. By adding a small amount of lemon juice you will ensure your elderberry juice sits at a safe pH to water bath can. This is my favorite method to use.
When you go to use your water bath canned elderberry juice you will want to add equal parts of raw honey transforming the juice into a syrup at that time. Store any opened syrup in the refrigerator. If you wanted to help ensure it will last even longer you can add ¼ cup vodka or tincture to the syrup to help lengthen the shelf life, but it isn’t necessary
I personally like to make a double batch of this syrup so I always have some on hand, especially during cold & flu season but you can use this syrup as a daily immune tonic
One thing before we begin, elderberries can, will & do stain what they come into contact with, so keep that in mind. This is not the recipe I would whip out my brand new wooden spoon for unless you want it to be stained, ask me how I know……
Equipment:
Pot
Cheesecloth/muslin
Strainer
Spoon
Potato masher
Measuring cups & spoons
Grater or knife
Storage jar
Water bath canner & canning equipment, optional
Ingredients:
⅓ cup dried Elderberries OR 1 cup fresh or frozen Elderberries
1-2 Cinnamon Sticks, optional
5 Whole Cloves, optional
2 TBSP Fresh Ginger, grated, optional
2 cups Water
1 cup Raw Honey, see Notes & Substitutions below
2 TBSP Lemon Juice, optional for consuming fresh, necessary for canning
Instructions:
Simmer the elderberries & spices if using in water for about 20 minutes. Mash the berries as they start to hydrate
Carefully strain the liquid from the berries using a piece of cheesecloth or muslin. The liquid will be hot so you can either allow it to cool slightly or use the back of your spoon to get every last bit of juice out. Using a pair of vinyl or latex gloves will help protect your hands from the heat as well as from getting stained
If you are not water bath canning: allow the juice to cool to about 90F then add in the honey being sure to stir until completely dissolved
If you are water bath canning: prepare your canning equipment. Make sure you are pouring hot juice into hot jars. Process for 10 minutes, being sure to make any adjustments for altitude if required
Dosage:
1 tsp every day to help strengthen & support the immune system
1 tsp every 30 minutes to 2 hours at the first sign of an illness
Notes & Substitutions:
If you plan on using this syrup on a baby use Rice Syrup instead at the same amount
Comment down below & let me know what is your favorite herbal preparation to make in the fall?
Until next time, may you find Peace wherever you are!
Watch the video & tutorial HERE
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