Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Cold season is upon us. I figured that I was immune because I have been doing everything to take care of myself with my nutrition, giving my body what it needs and working out. What I didn't put into account was that my husband is constantly exposed to germs, got sick and brought it home. In my attempts to keep the germs from hitting me or our kiddo, I ran myself thin. Being that I am pregnant I am limited as to what I can use to combat the germs, so I turned to a natural remedy. My friend suggested making my own elderberry syrup and so I made the easy to make recipe found on this blog: https://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/

                        


So what you will need is ...

• ⅔ cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces)
• 3½ cups of water
• 2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• ½ teaspoon cloves or clove powder
• 1 cup raw honey (we get from our farmer's market)

1. Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add honey!)
2. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
3. Discard the elderberries (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.
4. When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a quart sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.
5. Ta Da! You just made homemade elderberry syrup! Store in the fridge and take daily for its immune boosting properties. Some sources recommend taking only during the week and not on the weekends to boost immunity.
6. Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.