Immune supporting Homemade Elderberry syrup
One of the first things we did when we started to change to a more healthy and natural life was make our own elderberry syrup. I had read that elderberry syrup was a great way to support your immune system to avoid getting sick or to help while you are sick. There are some really great companies that sell elderberry products, but at a cost that didn’t exactly meet our budget. We are a family of five and a bottle of elderberry syrup goes fast during the school year. So I searched for a homemade recipe.
This elderberry syrup can be customized to your taste and is a natural and yummy way to support your immune system. We give it to our whole family. Starting a few weeks before school starts and continue taking it throughout the school year. We do about a teaspoon a day for all of us (my youngest is 2). If we are sick we take it a few times throughout the day.
We stop taking elderberry syrup unless needed throughout the summer. We get plenty of sun during the summer that we really don’t need to take elderberry syrup and it’s a nice break for our bodies.
Sourcing ingredients-Don’t stress
Try your best to source good ingredients for your elderberry syrup. I would suggest organic, and non GMO products. We try to always do things the cleanest we can. Sometimes I get overwhelmed trying to remember all the things I should feed my family and shouldn’t. It honestly can be very paralyzing for me. I was reminded the other day that imperfect progress is still progress. The people who are trying and failing are learning and growing. If you have the spices to make this elderberry syrup but they aren’t organic, make it anyway! I’ve learned the hard way not to let this throw me off my goals. Use your products and the next time you need to order something buy the cleaner brand. Feel good that you are making progress and doing something good for yourself and/or for your family.
How to make Elderberry syrup
Ingredients
- Dried elderberries
- Water
- Ground cinnamon or cinnamon stick
- Ground ginger or minced fresh ginger
- Ground cloves
- Honey
I would highly recommend using raw organic honey that is sourced locally to you. Look for dried elderberries that are organic and non GMO.
Instructions
Add all ingredients except honey to a large pot and stir them together.
Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat to simmer until reduced to half. About 15-30 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. You want it to be warm enough to melt the honey, but not kill the beneficial components of the honey.
Using a mesh strainer drain the liquid.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup honey depending on how sweet you like it. We use almost a full cup.
Mix until combined.
Store in glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Dried Elderberries
- 4 Cups Water
- 1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon or 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 1 Tsp Ground Ginger or 1 TBLS Minced Fresh Ginger
- ½ Tsp Ground Cloves
- ½-1 Cups Honey
Instructions
- Add elderberries, water, and spices to large pot (do not add honey)
- Stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium heat
- Reduce heat to medium low and let simmer until reduced to half. About 15-30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Strain berry mixture using a mesh strainer
- Add ½-1 cup honey. Stir to combine.
- Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months
