We got very lucky this year and didn't really get sick until last week! We all came down with congestion and cough. I guess the conventional protocol would be to give my daughter a decongestant and Tylenol but I would never use any of that stuff. Running the humidifier and diffusing some essential oils really helped all of us but the thing that really helped us get over it fast was elderberry syrup. You can buy it in the store but its much cheaper and healthier to make it yourself. The recipe makes a lot and costs much less then the tiny bottles you can buy pre-made. Also, making it yourself you can make it with raw honey which has added health benefits. The store bought bottle is made with cane sugar which isn't beneficial at all.
How to make Elderberry Syrup:
1 cup dried elderberries
4 cups filtered water
1 cup raw honey
A 1-qt. mason jar with lid
Put the elderberries and water in a pot and heat until boiling. Once it boils let it cook for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it steep for 15 minutes in the pot. To make this easy, I created a Elderberry Syrup Kit, that contains all the herbs you'll need to make this.
Strain the liquid and pour into the mason jar. Let the liquid sit until completely cooled and then stir in the raw honey. To make it a thicker syrup, use equal parts honey to elderberry juice. Store in the refrigerator.
It's a pretty easy recipe and saves a lot of money! Usually an 8 oz bottle at a health food store is around $18-$20 and it's make with cane syrup, not healthy local honey.
Get my Elderberry Syrup Kit here.
Do you know anywhere that has them in stock?!
I don’t know much about elderberry but can I use it for my 2 year old?
The recipe calls for honey, is the a substitute I could use to be suitable to give my 9 month old?
I always get mine from Mountain Rose herbs, have you tried there?
You could substitute with any sweetener you like or vegetable glycerin
They’ve been out for a month or better 🙁
Great thanks!
Oh wow, that stinks!! I got a big bag a while ago and its lasted long.
What is the dosage on the syrup? Do you put it in something else or straight in the mouth?
Opinions vary on dosage. I do 1 tsp daily for maintenance and then if you are sick a tsp per hour.
How long does a batch last?
It lasts a long time but must be refrigerated. We use ours up quickly though – usually within a month. Should last longer then that though as long as its cold.
Making the syrup as we speak. Just out of curiosity, what do you do with the elderberries after you’ve strained the liquid? If there’s another use for them, that would be great. If not, they’ll do just fine in the compost bin, I’m sure. 🙂
I’ve wondered that as well. I did some reading on it a while back and found out that you’re not supposed to consume the berries themselves just the extract so I’ve always just composted them. Thanks for asking!
Eating the berries themselves are poisonous without cooking them. We have them in plenty here in Kansas and Oklahoma
From what I’ve read you’re not supposed to eat the berries themselves so I have just composted them. Thanks for asking!
Thanks for the info! I’ve only ever had it in tea, so it never occurred to me that it wouldn’t be safe otherwise. That will teach me about not reading up on things first!
Well, glad you asked! 🙂
Hi, I followed the instructions on making my own Elderberry Elixir I used less honey then advised it’s and it’s watery not thick at all is that normal? and becuase I didn’t use 1 cup of honey or more is the difference? i’m trying to avoid any kind of sweetness if I can i still put a little but even 1/2 a cup. Thanks
Yes that’s normal, especially if you used less honey. Some honey is thicker then others and the end result is not as thick as a conventional syrup you would buy at the store, it is thinner then that. The more honey you use the thicker it is…but that is not necessary
What about fresh elderberries?
Although I’ve never been lucky enough to have them I have heard you can use fresh elderberries. The seeds and branches are toxic though.
I made elderberry juice this summer from the abundance of fresh elderberries in my yard. I canned it in 8-oz mason jars. Can I use the prepared juice in this recipe? Anything I’d change?
That should be fine, I don’t see why not
Want to make the Elder berry syrup with fresh (frozen) berries. Seems like I would need to cut back on the water, since dried berries would used much of the water to reconstitute them.
I’ve never done that but you’re probably right. I’m sure you can crush the berries a bit too so you can get all the good juice out of them. Let me know how it turns out!!
There is hardly any liquid left after 30 mins.