{"id":201973,"date":"2021-11-16T09:47:47","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T14:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandartofherbalism.com\/?p=201973"},"modified":"2025-07-28T14:06:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:06:31","slug":"how-to-make-elderberry-syrup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandartofherbalism.com\/how-to-make-elderberry-syrup\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Elderberry Syrup"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Elderberries are among Europe\u2019s most esteemed remedies for colds and flu. Travel through any European country in wintertime, and you\u2019ll find a variety of Elder products lining pharmacy shelves. This large, handsome shrub has played an important role in the health and well-being of communities throughout history. In Old World tradition, an Elder bush was commonly planted at the edge of the herb garden as the \u201cprotector\u201d of the garden. Even its name, the Elder, denotes its place of status in the garden.<\/p>

History aside, to this day, Elderberries are some of the best medicine and food we have and can be found growing in gardens in the wild throughout most of temperate North America. It\u2019s prized not only by humans; the tender tips are beloved by deer, moose, and other grazing animals, and more than 35 native birds are known to feast on the ripe berries in summer.<\/span><\/p>

Elderberries make some of the best syrup and wine you\u2019ll ever taste! They also make great jams, jellies, and pies. Elder\u2019s berries have immune-enhancing properties, and they\u2019re often combined with Echinacea in immune-stimulating remedies for colds. The berries also have powerful antiviral properties and are helpful in treating viral infections including flu, herpes, and shingles.1<\/a><\/sup>Excerpted from Rosemary Gladstar\u2019s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/a><\/i> \u00a9 2012 by Rosemary Gladstar, published by Storey Publications. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elderberries contain organic pigments, tannin, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, sugar, rutin, viburnic acid, vitamin A and B and a large amount of vitamin C. They are also mildly laxative, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Flavonoids, including quercetin, are believed to account for the therapeutic actions of the Elderberry flowers and berries. According to test tube studies these flavonoids include anthocyanins that are powerful antioxidants and protect cells against damage. Infusions of the fruit are said to be beneficial for nerve disorders, back pain, and have been used to reduce inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder.2<\/a><\/sup>Sidor, A., & Gramza-Micha\u0142owska, A. (2015, October 1). Advanced research on the antioxidant and health benefit of elderberry (Sambucus nigra<\/i>) in food -a review. ScienceDirect. https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1756464614002400<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

To learn more about the health benefits and properties of Elderberry, read my blog post “Elderberry Medicine: Potent and Powerful.”<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How To Make Elderberry Syrup<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Syrups begin with a very concentrated decoction. Combine an herb (in this case, fresh ripe Elderberries) with water in a pot. Set the pot over low heat, bring to a simmer, cover partially and cook down the liquid to about half the original volume.<\/p>\n

Strain the herbs\/berries from the liquid. Measure the volume of the liquid, then pour it back into the pot. Add your desired amount of sweetener. Most recipes call for 2 cups of sweetener (a 1:1 ratio of sweetener to liquid), but I find that far too sweet for my taste.<\/span><\/p>\n

Warm the mixture over low heat, stirring well. Warm the mixture only enough that the honey combines with the liquid; keep the temperature below 110\u00b0F so that you don\u2019t destroy the living enzymes in the honey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remove from the heat. Pour the syrup into bottles, label carefully, and store in the refrigerator. The syrup will keep for 2 to 3 months. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Favorite Syrup Recipe<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This may be one of the best Elderberry syrup recipes on the planet! It\u2019s graciously shared by my friends Nancy and Michael Phillips, authors of The Herbalist\u2019s Way<\/i>.<\/a>3<\/a><\/sup>Phillips, N., Phillips, M., & Gladstar, R. (2005). The Herbalist\u2019s Way: The Art and Practice of Healing with Plant Medicines (Revised ed.). Chelsea Green Publishing.<\/span> Delicious enough to use just for sheer flavor alone, Elderberry syrup is also helpful for warding off colds and flu and speeding up recovery.4<\/a><\/sup>Zakay-Rones, Z., Thom, E., Wollan, T., & Wadstein, J. (2004). Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. The Journal of international medical research, 32(2), 132\u2013140. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/147323000403200205<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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5<\/span> from 1 vote<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Elderberry Syrup<\/h2>\n
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This may be one of the best Elderberry syrup recipes on the planet. It\u2019s graciously shared by my friends Nancy and Michael Phillips, the authors of\u00a0The Herbalist\u2019s Way<\/em><\/a>. Delicious enough to use just for sheer flavor alone, Elderberry syrup is also helpful for warding off or speeding recovery from colds and flu.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Ingredients<\/h3>