Elderberry Syrup, the Magic Elixir (With Recipe!)

Writing Contest Entry

date_rangeFebruary 15, 2022

Elderberry syrup is a tasty, immune-boosting treatment for colds and the flu. Here’s how to make this magic elixir.

Image by RitaE from Pixabay

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

I grew up thinking that elderberries just made a delicious pie. (And when I say “delicious,” I mean my all-time favorite pie. If you have never tried it, you really must!)

But in recent years, I have discovered that the true strength of these tiny berries is in their medicinal powers.

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They are chock-full of flavonoids, antioxidants, and vitamins. And, in my opinion, they are the most powerful tool we have to fight colds and the flu.

My mother, in her last few years, had a lot of heart problems and a significantly weakened immune system. But by giving her a tablespoon of elderberry syrup each morning, I helped her avoid colds and flu. Even the couple of times that she did develop cold symptoms, they were decidedly lessened by this magical (and tasty) elixir.

Elderberries can be purchased online from any number of sources, or the plants can be easily grown if you have space for a couple of larger bushes.

They mature quickly to about 6 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide.

If you’d like to make my elderberry syrup, here’s the recipe:

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

1 c. elderberries
1 tsp. cinnamon
5 whole cloves
1 Tbsp. powdered ginger
2 c. water
1/2 Tbsp. citric acid

Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until reduced by half (about 20-30 minutes). Strain. Add 1 cup of honey. To can this recipe, preserve it by hot water bath for 7 minutes. Makes 3 jelly jars.

You can also simplify things by using The Grow Network’s DIY Elderberry Syrup Kit, which provides you with everything you need to get started.

Make Your Own Elderberry Syrup With TGN’s DIY Elderberry Syrup Kit! Buy Yours Here!

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This article was an entry in our October–December 2014 writing contest and was originally published on December 9, 2014. The author may not currently be available to respond to comments, however we encourage our Community members to chime in to share their experiences and answer questions!

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Tags: Affiliate, amazon associate, antioxidants, cold, colds, congestion, cough, elderberries, elderberry, elderberry syrup, flavonoids, flu, home medicine, immune, immune booster, immunity, immunity booster, medicinal, medicine, nasal, purple, recipe, syrup, vitamins

Categorised in: Contest Entries, Cooking and Recipes, Homesteading Skills, Natural Medicine

This post was written by Writing Contest Entry

COMMENTS(12)

Gary G says:
December 9, 2014 at 6:37 pm
We have been buying Elderberry syrup for a few years and it truly is a miracle tonic. If we feel any type of bug coming on we take a tablespoon a few times per day and head it off. We have been talking about planting a couple of the plants and now with this recipe we will. Thank you very much for sending this along.
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Lourdes Brossy says:
July 4, 2018 at 12:58 pm
thanks for story and recipe! making syrup as soon as elderberries ripen. so excited!!! my go-to for oncoming colds is a teaspoon of minced garlic with tiny bit of honey + strong cup of homemade ginger tea [no honey though am sure it’s helpful; just like to minimize sugar of any kind] – makes a man outta ya! ha ha!
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1. bmaverick says:
  July 7, 2018 at 4:32 pm
  Like any process, taking freshly make syrup that is hot, need to cool to room temp. Then take the room temp to the regular fridge. Finally take it to the freezer. This should help eliminate the rapid temp changes that can be harsh for the syrup. Slow and steady cooling over time wins. Will freezing make it last longer? Or, canning practices with storing in a cold cellar/basem*nt suffice?
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elmareed108 says:
July 5, 2018 at 3:41 pm
See Also
Easy Weight Loss Vegetable Soup Recipe - On Sutton Place
Can the elderberry syrup be frozen without destroying it’s nutritional value?
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1. bmaverick says:
  July 7, 2018 at 4:34 pm
  Seems that the reply is located too close from the other poster. Here it is again …
  Like any process, taking freshly make syrup that is hot, need to cool to room temp. Then take the room temp to the regular fridge. Finally take it to the freezer. This should help eliminate the rapid temp changes that can be harsh for the syrup. Slow and steady cooling over time wins. Will freezing make it last longer? Or, canning practices with storing in a cold cellar/basem*nt suffice?
  Log in to Reply
2. tla.cls.mt says:
  December 13, 2019 at 3:44 am
  I often freeze my elderberry concentrate in ice cube tests prior to adding the honey.
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bmaverick says:
July 7, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Got 4 young trees started. Got them from an organic place in mid-state WI. These should do well being hardy for zones 4/5. Keep the tree trimmed like bush. These will grow VERY tall that even using a latter is not helpful.
PLUS …. DO NOT mistake Pokeweed berries for elder berry plants. Pokeweed berries grow in a similar fashion, but are deadly. Eating 10 pokeweed berries can land you in the hospital, more will put you closer to deaths door.
So, know that elderberry trees/bushes have a wooden stem/trunk, pokeweed is a plant stem similar to rhubarb, but round. It’s stem is reddish at the base and goes green further upwards.
Yes, elderberries are GREAT. Pokeweed is not.
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clairemarie183 says:
July 9, 2018 at 8:28 am
Thanks for the canning directions – that’s what I’ve been missing.
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paulanie says:
August 30, 2018 at 6:19 pm
I so appreciate this site and this type of offering. I’m so thrilled about having abundant, free elderberries from a nearby bush on a public trail, with an awesome sounding medicine recipe to follow!! I finally made the elderberry syrup today, and I’m having images of bringing the boy scouts or my yoga studio into the effort to make and sell elderberry syrup for a fundraiser (of course… the Environmental Health department may have some rules against this… food for sale without credential…). Whereas my husband and our friend can’t figure out why I’m making this effort at all… their interest just isn’t sparked. So – I’m saying I really appreciate being connected to you all who get energy rushes with similar topics as me!! It helps me feel there’s a world I can connect with, that I’m not crazy !
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Valorie says:
September 27, 2020 at 3:55 pm
Keeping this in the fridge and taking a tablespoon every other day is a sure way to help keep the bodys respiratory system strong and the immune system fully engaged. A MUST have staple in your personal pharmacy.
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pksalisbury says:
November 9, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Any idea if I can make a second batch from the same elderberries before I toss them? Seems a shame to waste such lovely berries.
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