Homemade elderberry syrup to fight the flu (or just for good eating)

Homemade elderberry syrup to fight the flu (or just for good eating)

If you have access to elderberries, fresh or dried, consider making your own elderberry syrup. Use the elderberry syrup in tea, baking, or eat it right off the spoon for some of its immune-boosting properties. (Read more about elderberry syrup and the flu here.) We are lucky enough to have local access to as many elderberries we could possibly ever process. We use the fresh berries to make syrup, but the process for fresh and dried berries is basically the same, you just add a bit more water if you are using dried berries.

This recipe makes about 3 cups of the syrup. If you are making large batches and canning them, you will want to consult with some canning-ready and tested recipes.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup Ingredients

• With fresh berries: 1 cups berries, 1/2 cup water
• With dried berries: 1/2 cup berries, 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup honey (or more to taste)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 5 cloves
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh ginger

Homemade Elderberry Syrup Steps

1. Combine berries, water, and spices in a pot.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce heat to simmer.
3. Simmer for about 30 minutes until the liquid is reduced by about half.
4. Strain mixture through a strainer or sieve.
5. Add honey and stir until the honey is dissolved.

Your syrup will keep in your refrigerator for a month or more. If you make it in large batches, consider freezing part of the syrup in smaller freezer containers for easy use.

Original article and pictures take www.freshbitesdaily.com site