Elderberry Syrup Kit

Description

Syrup is a tasty way to take elderberries, which are a well-known approach to flu care. Commercial Sambucol costs about $2/oz. This kit will make about 24 oz of syrup. You will need to add sugar or honey; the exact amount depends on your desire for a shelf-stable product vs. something less-sweet that you’ll keep in the fridge.

Ingredients

Dried black elderberries, hibiscus, ginger

Contraindications and Cautions

Uncooked elderberries have been known to cause rashes and digestive purging. This syrup requires long simmering, which neutralizes the compounds responsible.

In a very small portion of the population (1%, according to McDonald), these reactions persist even with cooked elderberries. Try a teaspoon and discontinue of you have issues.

Instructions:

Download Elderberry Kit Info Sheet

1. Put the contents of the kit and 3-4 cups  of water in a large pot.
2. Let soak overnight.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer until reduced by half. This may take several hours. (You can use a slow cooker.)
4. Strain the liquid into a clean pot or bowl. Squeeze the berries to get all the goodness out!
5. Add sugar or honey as desired. DO NOT GIVE HONEY TO CHILDREN UNDER 1 YEAR OF AGE due to the risk of botulism poisoning.
   1. If you want this to be shelf-stable, you’ll need to use 7 cups of white sugar. Only white sugar in these massive quantities will preserve the syrup without refrigeration.
   2. If you are willing to keep it in the fridge, you can use less sugar or use honey instead. Most recipes call for an equal amount of honey and elderberry liquid. I personally still find this too sweet, so I use half as much honey as elderberry juice (or a little less). It will last several weeks, but not indefinitely, in the fridge. If it smells like wine, vinegar, or mold, throw it out without tasting.

Suggested use: 2-4 tablespoons 2-4x/day in early days of a flu infection