Honey Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Food is medicine, and elderberries are a prime example of a powerful, remedial food. They have been used for generations to build immunity, and prevent disease. Elderberries come from the Sambucus plant, and grow in North America and Europe. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and offer a wide variety of health benefits (via Healthline). 

Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe for honey elderberry syrup and says, "You can buy many versions of elderberry syrup to be used as a daily supplement, but it is simple and inexpensive to make at home. I love teaching my clients ways to stay healthy with homemade remedies that are made from foods that have been used in many cultures for decades. Elderberry syrup is something you can take daily, or just take when you feel something coming on." Read on to learn how to make this honey elderberry syrup.

To make this recipe, you'll need to buy the main ingredient — elderberries. There can be toxins in the fresh berries, but luckily, these are killed off during the cooking process; dried berries are available online, which is what we will be using for this recipe. Along with the elderberries, we'll need some spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. To finish off our grocery list, we just need some raw honey, and water. "There are several types of cinnamon, and my favorite type to use [for] this is Ceylon cinnamon. It's sweeter, a little more floral, and is said to contain a higher antioxidant count," Hahn shares. "You can, of course, use standard cinnamon for this recipe," Hahn goes on to say.

To start off, grab a medium pot, and add the elderberries, water, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Turn up the heat to high, and bring the mixture to a boil. When it's boiling, lower the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. After the elderberries have been simmering for 30 minutes, pour them into a strainer that is positioned over a bowl. Press down with a wooden spoon to release all of the liquid into the bowl. Discard the elderberries.

When the elderberry liquid has cooled for about 15 minutes, mix in the raw honey. "It is important to wait until the mixture is cool because high heat will kill some of the beneficial properties contained in the raw honey. If you are using standard honey, you can skip the cooling period," Hahn remarks. Pour the mixture into a jar; the syrup will last for 3 months in the refrigerator, or 6 months in the freezer. "I like to pour the mixture into 6 4-ounce jars with lids, and put half of them in the freezer, or give them to friends," Hahn shares.