Every fall, I try to make sure that I make an extra large batch of Elderberry Elixir. Elderberry is a highly medicinal plant and is a go-to herb for many people throughout the cold and flu season. If you'd like to read more about the benefits of Elderberry, you can do that here and here.
I've made lots of different remedies with Elderberries over the years, including tinctures, syrups and gummies, but the one I love most is also the easiest: Elderberry Elixir.
Following is a quick tutorial on how to make Elderberry Elixir.
Here is what you will need:
Elderberries (I prefer dried)
Raw Honey
alcohol (brandy or vodka)
clean glass jar with tight fitting lid
stirring spoon or chopstick
Step 1
Fill your jar 1/3 to 1/2 of the way with dried berries.
Step 2
Next, fill your jar 1/3 of the way with honey.
Step 3
Then, fill the rest of the way with alcohol. I didn’t have brandy on hand, which would have been my first choice, so I used vodka. Make sure to leave a bit of headspace.
Step 4
Use your chopstick or stirrer to release any air bubbles. Add more alcohol to top off if needed.
Step 5
Place the lid on tightly and label with name and date. Keep in a dark, cool place. Make sure to give your mixture a shake every now and then and your elixir will be ready to strain in about 4 weeks!
When you strain the herbs out, the resulting liquid is your elixir. The strained herbs can go in the compost.
As an option, you can add other herbs to this elixir along with the elderberries, if you like. I like adding herbs with high Vitamin C content such as rosehips or Lycii berries, as well as warming herbs like cinnamon, ginger, or cloves. The options are endless!
I take one teaspoon of Elderberry Elixir every day through the cold and flu season to prevent illness. If I do end up coming down with something, I increase the dosage to one teaspoon 3 or 4 times a day. I find that in doing so, I get sick much less frequently and if I do catch something, I recover much more quickly.
What is your favorite Elderberry recipe?
