Elderberry syrup is an easy to make home remedy known to boost immune system, reduce cough & cold symptoms and shorten the duration. Which makes it great for back-to-school and cold & flu season!!
NOTE: Raw/uncooked elderberries can be poisonous. Cooking eliminates this toxin. Do NOT consume raw/uncooked berries. We used dried, and cooked 25+ minutes.
Makes 1.5-2 cups
INGREDIENTS:
-1 cup dried organic elderberries
-4 cups filtered water
-2 thumb-sized pieces of fresh ginger, sliced (or 1 tbsp dried ground)
-1 cinnamon stick (or 1 tbsp dried ground)
-2 tbsp cloves (or 1/2 tbsp dried ground)
-1 cup honey
Optional: 3-4 star anise (add at start), 1 tbsp orange peel (add at cooling stage)
How To:
Combine all but honey in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil
Reduce to simmer, and simmer for about 25-30 minutes (until liquid is reduced by half)
Remove from heat and add orange peel, if using, and let cool until no longer hot (warm is fine and actually helps the honey dissolve easier)
Strain, then add/whisk in 1c honey
Store in glass container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (if you don’t think you’ll use that much by then, you can freeze some, or reduce the batch size).
This recipe results in a very spicy/gingery syrup. If you want it less gingery, use only 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger or omit completely. The REQUIRED ingredients/amounts are the dried berries, water, and honey, but you can play with other add-ins for other immune boosting effects or desired flavours.
Some people add apple cider vinegar, or hawthorn berries, sumac, etc.
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