Guys... I know that some have had trouble figuring out my Elderberry Syrup recipe as I posted it over the years. I think this will be easier for most. If you've ever made jam or jelly, you CAN make this in well under an hour! It IS that easy. Heck, if you've ever followed a recipe of any kind, you can make this!
If you have any questions, ASK!!
Summerthyme
(if you're starting with dried berries, to get "juice", put 1 cup of berries in a quart jar and pour 2 cups of boiling water over them. If they soak it up, add a bit more. Stash in the fridge or a cool, dark place for 24-48 hours. Then strain, and squeeze every bit of liquid you can out- you can twist the berries in a muslin towel and get most of it) You'll need three "jars" of the stuff to get enough for 7 cups. )
Elderberry Syrup Recipe
7 cups elderberry juice
8 ¾ cups honey
3 cups 80 proof vodka
Warm the elderberry juice to “hot, but not boiling” temp… between 150 and 180°F should be plenty. Stir in the honey and stir until it’s completely dissolved and blended.
Remove from the heat, and stir in the vodka.
Pour into sterile jars or bottles (sterilize them by boiling for 5-10 minutes in boiling water, then let drip dry upside down until filling)
Cap and LABEL. Store in a cool DARK place (or bottle in dark brown glass)
Standard dose for adults would be:
Prophylaxis (prevention) 1 tablespoon 2x a day. If there is active flu in your office or family, double that, or take more often.
Treatment: 1-2 tablespoons every 3-4 hours
Children under 12: half the adult dose
Toddlers and infants: Talk to your doctor! But, lacking that, 1 tsp at similar intervals to the adult dose should be adequate.
There is NO way to overdose on this! Put it in juice, jello, pour it over ice cream- any way you can get the kids to take it is fine.
Alternatives:
If you do not want to use any alcohol in the syrup, use
7 cups elderberry juice
14 cups honey
Proceed as above, ignoring the reference to the vodka.
If you don’t want to use honey (probably best to NOT use it for babies under 1 year)
7 cups elderberry juice
11 ½ cups sugar
I have been reading these posts about elderberries but have never seen an elderberry bush in my life...until today. Costco had dozens of Sambucus Nigra (black elderberry) bushes for sale with the other shrubs. I bought one for the heck of it, though it probably won't bear berries until fall--if it will even live in our climate. It just seemed too coincidental so I had to get one.
Does anyone know if this is the right kind of elderberry?
If you're interested in getting a bush, check your Costco. I'm in northern Nevada and found them at the Carson City store.
I just dug out my 6 year old stash of elderberry tincture . It still tastes awful,
must be good for me. My body is saying "I'll get well soon, I promise.
Just don't make me drink anymore of that stuff !"
I did find some I made with brandy that is little better than the vodka stuff.
I also made a super vitamin C cough syrup with Acerola cherries, brandy and honey.
Really yummy and works good. I just covered a quart of cherries with brandy and let them
sit for a month ,then added a little honey.
Bumping for this year's iteration of flu...
Summerthyme
ST - do you have any idea how long the berries and vodka only mix is good for? I have several brown bottles stored in a cool dark place from 2010. Think it's still good??
TIA
Jax
Could you use chokecherries instead? we have zillions of chokecherries.
Kathy in FL
The Acerola/brandy cough syrup is better if you don't squeeze the cherries . Just let them drain for several hours.
Have you tried making anything else with your cherries? Mine are really sour.
Acerola is a fruit. It is rich in vitamin C, and also contains vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. People use it for medicine.
Acerola is used to treat or prevent scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Acerola is also used for preventing heart disease, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), blood clots, and cancer.
Some people use it to treat the common cold, pressure sores, bleeding in the eye (retinal hemorrhages), tooth decay, gum infections, depression, hay fever, and collagen disorders. Athletes use acerola for improving physical endurance.
How does it work? The health benefits of acerola are due to its vitamin C content.