Have you made or used elderberry syrup before? What are some of your favorite ways to use it or things to add in to the base recipe? Don't forget you can get organic dried elderberries from my friend and affiliate CeAnne from Farmhouse Teas here melissaknorris.com/elderberry
I couldn’t imagine life without elderberries my elderberry syrup has been in my family for generations, I make it every year for myself my family and my clients
@@dadawesome784 I have a black lace( it states it is self fertile or what ever. It is not. ) and I need to buy a Black Beauty to get berries. I had bought a lemony lace thinking that would do the trick , but this plant requires one that is specific, so be forewarned.
@pamb4105 if Heather is using it for tea then she'll likely be straining it out... but I have been drinking tea without fully straining it for years now and I am very healthy and no type of poison issue... sometimes the fda will tell us things are bad that are very good for us... like apple seeds and apricot seeds... apricot seeds cure cancer I know of many people who have used it
@@pamb4105 Chill out! They said they're using it as a tea, not eating the seeds for dessert. 😂 And it's (trace amounts of) *cyanide* in the *raw* berries, as well as the bark and leaves. Not arsenic.
I hope it's ok to post this. For those who are able to and don't have objections, a pantry shelf stable adult version can be made in larger batches by infusing vodka or rum with the berries for 6 - 8 weeks. Very simply, fill a quart jar 1/3 full with berries and cover with preferred spirit. Toss in a few dried juniper berries, or a spice bag, etc. Cap and put in a dark place. Invert daily or a few times a week. Strain, pressing berries to extract juice, return to jar or other lidded vessel, sweeten if desired, and store in a dark place. Adult dosage is 1 tbls daily during flu season as a preventive. Temporarily increase to two tbls if you suspect you're exposed. I can vouch for the effectiveness. To your good health!
I use brandy. Tastes better. When I strain out the berries at least 2 months later, I then simmer the berries, press thru a fine mesh & mix 1 cup of the brandy tincture with 1/4 cup simmered juice, spices & 1/2 cup raw honey. The rest of the juice goes in the freezer. For later use. My Foraging Instructor tells me that the tincture & simmering pulls out different constituents from the berries.
Meslissa I have used Elderberry syrup for a cough from allergies. It was store bought though. Now, I know how to make it. Thank you so much for this video. You are one smart young lady!
Another great video, I am so proud of you, and the wisdom u use in your videos. Makes me so glad you are on You Tube, Thanks so much. God Bless you and your family
I made tincture two pints w/fresh elderberries and have some 2oz dropper bottles to my step daughters. Haven’t bottled the last pint yet should be strong going on three months and I also added sage, thyme, rosemary and ginger.
I gather the super dark clusters when the berries are beginning to fall off. Spread them out on a large piece of cardboard for an hour and most of the bugs will bail out. Then I bag them up and chuck them in my deep freezer until I have about 5 gallons of clusters. Now take that large piece of cardboard and fold it 90° lengthwise to make a sort of trough. Elevate one end and put the low end in the top of a 5-gallon five gallon bucket. Now, slowly rub the frozen clusters between your hands and the individual berries will immedeatly break loose and roll down into the bucket, leaving the stems and debris behind, stuck to the cardboard. Also it is easier to extract the juice When the berries thaw as they are split open and softer. I actually learned this trick with an old patio door screen
I’m going to try this!!! My daughter has an undiagnosed illness this year and she can’t afford to be sick! Hoping we find out what it is soon but doing this for the entire family in the meantime. Thanks for the video and info on where to get the elderberries!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your video came just in the nick of time. I will be sharing it with my dear friend who will most definitely benefit from your demo and helpful information!
What would the dosage be for adults and what would the dosage be for kids? I need the dosage as a maintenance (if you suggest that) and the dosage when sick. Thanks!
Mine fruited the first year. Then blew up with berries after that. Luckily they are a wild here and everywhere. OMG. They are everywhere. I planted 5 and the birds have planted a couple more for me.
same, I didn't know what it was at 1st but fortunately didn't cut it down. now the 1st one is huge and I have 4 more in my yard that are very large. last year I started about 20 plants
@@despicabledavidshort3806 if you are wanting to be able to access the fruit cut them down to about a foot tall in the winter. You can use the sticks to start more by cutting 12-18" pieces in the ground
QUESTION: Since the honey +vinegar best properties would be destroyed by heating, why doesn't it also destroy the good part of the elderberry properties?
I have read on a canning fb page that it's possible to pressure can elderberry syrup as long as you have not added the honey. Then it doesn't have to be refrigerated. Add honey as you open a jar and then refrigerate. I have not tried this. What do you think about this?
There is no tested time for this that I've seen so I wouldn't do it, plus I don't know if the higher heat would have a negative effect on the medicinal properties. I'd rather go with this method and know it's safe
I'm not a medical professional but I have low thyroid and have been using this for several years. There are lots of herbs that help to boost the immune system I think you'll find this blog post and podcast episode helpful melissaknorris.com/herbal-home-remedies-for-cold-and-flu/
Not if you let the juice cool down. From what I have learned, you don’t want the juice hot, but you also don’t want it cold either, as the honey will not dissolve.
One of my herbal books uses leaves and bark for a tincture but says may cause stomach upset and too lower dose if that happens so I would think that would transfer to the syrup.
Everyone sings the praises of apple cider vinegar, but do other vinegars with the mother have all the same benefits? I've made my own plum vinegar, grape vinegar as well as the apple vinegar and they are all made the same way just different flavors.
Each fruit has different antioxidants levels of vitamins etc but raw vinegar does have benefits as well. The studies I'm citing from were done with apple cider vinegar.
I had read that elderberry might mess with insulin levels. My son-in-law has type 1 diabetes and wanted to know how to improve his immune system. Do you know if there is any reason a diabetic shouldn't take it?
It is a berry so any berry does have a certain amount of carbs as well as the honey. I haven't researched to see if elderberry specifically would effect levels more than any other type of berry, they're a tarter berry but it would depend on the amount of carbs and how managed his insulin levels are so you'd definitely want to do more research and have him talk with his dr/pharmacist
You'd need to know at what temp they were dried, if seeds are exposed to heat over 95 degrees F it often times affects their ability to germinate. I haven't tried growing them from seed.
You shouldn't add essential oils to this because there's no oil source in this and drinking essentials oils in water based is not advised as it can harm the liver, esophagus and do soft tissue damage.
I drink anywhere from 1-4 drops of essential oils in my water most every day. We mix our essential oils in our honey before adding to the elderberry syrup.
@@MelissaKNorris Thanks, I got 6 gallons of elderberry juice this year, all fresh fruit from wild plants. I will take cuttings in November from these bushes and spread these beautiful plants all through this area in wet areas, and I’ll plant a few on my lawn. I enjoyed your syrup recipe, adapted to fresh berries. I added no water, steam juiced elderberry syrup only simmered with a little ginger.
I have friends in Alaska that ear the red elderberries. They do them just like we do the purple and blue ones. The links you have on here ending with (elderberry) do not work.
Hi @Debbie all of my research shows the red berries are toxic but I'm glad they haven't had any ill effects. The links are working when I check them, what happens when you click on it? melissaknorris.com/elderberry
Can you spell the name of the correct Elderberries to get? The ones you mentioned @6:41? I don't know how to spell it and I am now a bit nervous about trying to forage, and/or grow my own elderberries. LOL! Edit: Only 6 weeks? One video I watched said 6-8 months in the refrigerator. They made syrup that they drink about an ounce of every morning but now I'm confused and paranoid. I don't want to be eating/drinking things that may be bad. Or even making refrigerator stuff that will go bad before I realize it. I know we can't can Elderberry syrup with honey because the heat destroys the medicinal properties of it. So.... now what....? :-( (Also, I have a deep seeded fear of expired food after many experiences with food poisoning.) LOVVVVE your channel so far!!!!
Have you made or used elderberry syrup before? What are some of your favorite ways to use it or things to add in to the base recipe? Don't forget you can get organic dried elderberries from my friend and affiliate CeAnne from Farmhouse Teas here melissaknorris.com/elderberry
Sorry Girl, never knew u could till tonight, thats why i enjoy your videos so much,
Melissa, how many plants do you need to grow to gather enough elderberries to make syrup? And do you grow Sambuccus nigra or Sambuccis canadensis?
I couldn’t imagine life without elderberries my elderberry syrup has been in my family for generations, I make it every year for myself my family and my clients
@@dadawesome784 I have a black lace( it states it is self fertile or what ever. It is not. ) and I need to buy a Black Beauty to get berries. I had bought a lemony lace thinking that would do the trick , but this plant requires one that is specific, so be forewarned.
I saved my solids and placed in ice cube trays...after frozen, pop into freezer bags. Use for teas, there is still alot of flavor left in the berries!
Great tip Heather!
Dang it I just threw mine out a few minutes ago. 😪 Gonna definitely do this next time❤
Noooo! The seeds have arsenic!
@pamb4105 if Heather is using it for tea then she'll likely be straining it out... but I have been drinking tea without fully straining it for years now and I am very healthy and no type of poison issue... sometimes the fda will tell us things are bad that are very good for us... like apple seeds and apricot seeds... apricot seeds cure cancer I know of many people who have used it
@@pamb4105 Chill out! They said they're using it as a tea, not eating the seeds for dessert. 😂
And it's (trace amounts of) *cyanide* in the *raw* berries, as well as the bark and leaves. Not arsenic.
I hope it's ok to post this. For those who are able to and don't have objections, a pantry shelf stable adult version can be made in larger batches by infusing vodka or rum with the berries for 6 - 8 weeks. Very simply, fill a quart jar 1/3 full with berries and cover with preferred spirit. Toss in a few dried juniper berries, or a spice bag, etc. Cap and put in a dark place. Invert daily or a few times a week. Strain, pressing berries to extract juice, return to jar or other lidded vessel, sweeten if desired, and store in a dark place. Adult dosage is 1 tbls daily during flu season as a preventive. Temporarily increase to two tbls if you suspect you're exposed. I can vouch for the effectiveness. To your good health!
elderberries -- good. Spirits -- good.
I use brandy. Tastes better. When I strain out the berries at least 2 months later, I then simmer the berries, press thru a fine mesh & mix 1 cup of the brandy tincture with 1/4 cup simmered juice, spices & 1/2 cup raw honey. The rest of the juice goes in the freezer. For later use.
My Foraging Instructor tells me that the tincture & simmering pulls out different constituents from the berries.
I believe that is called a tincture.
Do the berries need to be cooked?
@@amandahartung6287 No need to cook the berries. Nothing harmful can live in the vodka, and nutrients like Vit C will not be destroyed by the heat.
Meslissa I have used Elderberry syrup for a cough from allergies. It was store bought though. Now, I know how to make it. Thank you so much for this video. You are one smart young lady!
Another great video, I am so proud of you, and the wisdom u use in your videos. Makes me so glad you are on You Tube, Thanks so much. God Bless you and your family
Thanks so much Tilmon and His blessings right back at you. I can't wait to hear what you think after you make your first batch!
@@MelissaKNorris AHwould you settle for sugar syrup,? Made that when i lived back in the boonies
It makes fantastic wine and is shelf-stable for as long as it takes your neighbors to find out
I made tincture two pints w/fresh elderberries and have some 2oz dropper bottles to my step daughters. Haven’t bottled the last pint yet should be strong going on three months and I also added sage, thyme, rosemary and ginger.
What is. Considered a dose and how often to take while sick?
Good tips... I do make large batches from my own elderberry plants - and I just freeze it.
I gather the super dark clusters when the berries are beginning to fall off. Spread them out on a large piece of cardboard for an hour and most of the bugs will bail out. Then I bag them up and chuck them in my deep freezer until I have about 5 gallons of clusters. Now take that large piece of cardboard and fold it 90° lengthwise to make a sort of trough. Elevate one end and put the low end in the top of a 5-gallon five gallon bucket. Now, slowly rub the frozen clusters between your hands and the individual berries will immedeatly break loose and roll down into the bucket, leaving the stems and debris behind, stuck to the cardboard. Also it is easier to extract the juice When the berries thaw as they are split open and softer. I actually learned this trick with an old patio door screen
Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to make my own!
I’m going to try this!!! My daughter has an undiagnosed illness this year and she can’t afford to be sick! Hoping we find out what it is soon but doing this for the entire family in the meantime. Thanks for the video and info on where to get the elderberries!!!!
You're so welcome hope you guys find some answers!
Would love a tutorial on fire cider! :D
love making elderberry syrup every year. tasty medicine as well as pancake topper :-)
My oldest kid has a clotting disorder, too, so thank you for mentioning the ginger being possibly problematic!
I really love watching your videos and I have 2 of your books. Thank you for sharing with us.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your video came just in the nick of time. I will be sharing it with my dear friend who will most definitely benefit from your demo and helpful information!
The elderberry plants are really beautiful too.
Thank you for sharing! You do such a good job explaining!! 💞💞💞🤗
What would the dosage be for adults and what would the dosage be for kids? I need the dosage as a maintenance (if you suggest that) and the dosage when sick. Thanks!
Mine fruited the first year. Then blew up with berries after that. Luckily they are a wild here and everywhere. OMG. They are everywhere. I planted 5 and the birds have planted a couple more for me.
same, I didn't know what it was at 1st but fortunately didn't cut it down. now the 1st one is huge and I have 4 more in my yard that are very large. last year I started about 20 plants
@@despicabledavidshort3806 if you are wanting to be able to access the fruit cut them down to about a foot tall in the winter. You can use the sticks to start more by cutting 12-18" pieces in the ground
Where I live they are common on the roadside.
A lot of good info! Thanks
This was a master class. It wad so appreciated. Thamks much!
I made it this year...delicious too!
I love the videos but I wish there was a written recipe for the elderberry syrup because it would make it a lot easier.
Agreed.
QUESTION: Since the honey +vinegar best properties would be destroyed by heating, why doesn't it also destroy the good part of the elderberry properties?
Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Good job little sister keep going
Great video! I was wondering its safe for pregnant women and infants over 6 months old? If not, what are some safe ones to use. Thank you!
.
Can you dry the leaves to use later on?
I have read on a canning fb page that it's possible to pressure can elderberry syrup as long as you have not added the honey. Then it doesn't have to be refrigerated. Add honey as you open a jar and then refrigerate. I have not tried this. What do you think about this?
There is no tested time for this that I've seen so I wouldn't do it, plus I don't know if the higher heat would have a negative effect on the medicinal properties. I'd rather go with this method and know it's safe
Great information thanks
hmmm, wonder if that could be frozen in small.ice cube trays
If you make a tincture with the raw berries, how does that go when you are meant to cook them to get rid of the toxins?
I wouldn't tincture raw berries
I have some dried elderberries some where around here
How much to give to a person? And would you consume it daily? Or weekly? Love your channel!!!
Melissa thank you for sharing your knowledge. May I ask where I could purchase those measuring cups at? Thank you.
Walmart, Amazon all major grocery stores have these measuring cups
How much do you suggest taking if taking on a daily basis and how much do you take if you have a cold?
Usually 1 Tablespoon daily and when you're feeling symptoms registered herbalist Rosalee De La Foret recommends a Tablespoon up to once an hour.
I would love to know how to make you're and syrups!
Great Video ! One question though. How much alcohol do I use and what kind to keep out of the fridge
Melissa, how many plants do you need to grow to gather enough elderberries to make syrup? And do you grow Sambuccus nigra or Sambuccis canadensis?
We steamed our elderberries and Im wondering if the recipe would be the same?
can you use fresh berries, if so is it the same ratio 1:2? Also, how much of the syrup do you take daily for medicinal use?
Never mind I found my questions already answered in the comments. AWESOME!
YES LOVE IT STAPLE in my house
Can you take a little elderberry syrup everyday?
Some people do, I list how I use it in the blog post under dosing
If we want to turn it into gummies, how much gelatin do we add?
Hi any book for natural remedies that you recommend
Rosemary Gladstar has some good books. She is a really well known herbalist. I think she has some beginner books.
Is it true that Elderberries are Toxic until they are heated?
What cause mold to form in a jar of Elderberry Syrup?
Not enough honey or stored too long, the honey and apple cider vinegar help keep mold at bay and storing in the fridge
I have a thyroid issue. Is this ok to use and if so what else can I add to help my thyroid and boost my immune system?
I'm not a medical professional but I have low thyroid and have been using this for several years. There are lots of herbs that help to boost the immune system I think you'll find this blog post and podcast episode helpful melissaknorris.com/herbal-home-remedies-for-cold-and-flu/
@@MelissaKNorris Melissa have you checked on Wi-fi radiation and thyroid? PLEASE research that. Peace
Doesn’t adding the mother and honey when it’s still hot kill the good bacteria and antimocrobial properties?
Not if you let the juice cool down. From what I have learned, you don’t want the juice hot, but you also don’t want it cold either, as the honey will not dissolve.
Is this from the ragweed family? My friend had bad sinuses taking elderberry.
Why can't you emulsify the berries with the syrup? is there a reason?
You don't want the seeds
@@MelissaKNorris ok
If I'm cooking down fresh elderberries, is it ok to have the little green stems attached? I strained my juice twice.
One of my herbal books uses leaves and bark for a tincture but says may cause stomach upset and too lower dose if that happens so I would think that would transfer to the syrup.
Everyone sings the praises of apple cider vinegar, but do other vinegars with the mother have all the same benefits? I've made my own plum vinegar, grape vinegar as well as the apple vinegar and they are all made the same way just different flavors.
Each fruit has different antioxidants levels of vitamins etc but raw vinegar does have benefits as well. The studies I'm citing from were done with apple cider vinegar.
I had read that elderberry might mess with insulin levels. My son-in-law has type 1 diabetes and wanted to know how to improve his immune system. Do you know if there is any reason a diabetic shouldn't take it?
It is a berry so any berry does have a certain amount of carbs as well as the honey. I haven't researched to see if elderberry specifically would effect levels more than any other type of berry, they're a tarter berry but it would depend on the amount of carbs and how managed his insulin levels are so you'd definitely want to do more research and have him talk with his dr/pharmacist
Elderberrys fights against diabetes.
If they are dried organic, can you grow plants from them?
You'd need to know at what temp they were dried, if seeds are exposed to heat over 95 degrees F it often times affects their ability to germinate. I haven't tried growing them from seed.
Has anyone ever added essential oils like OnGuard to their syrup?
You shouldn't add essential oils to this because there's no oil source in this and drinking essentials oils in water based is not advised as it can harm the liver, esophagus and do soft tissue damage.
I drink anywhere from 1-4 drops of essential oils in my water most every day. We mix our essential oils in our honey before adding to the elderberry syrup.
I don't see the link to order the elderberries.
It's located in the show note section by clicking the little arrow under the video title 😀 Cheers!
click the "show more" below the video
can you use fresh elderberries instead of dried for this??
Yes, just adjust the water (you'd use a bit less if they're fresh)
I keep hitting your resources, but it doesn’t move down to the information.
Hundreds of wild elderberry bushes near me! Dry your own!
Not everyone has elderberry bushes near them, that's wonderful for you.
@@MelissaKNorris Thanks, I got 6 gallons of elderberry juice this year, all fresh fruit from wild plants. I will take cuttings in November from these bushes and spread these beautiful plants all through this area in wet areas, and I’ll plant a few on my lawn. I enjoyed your syrup recipe, adapted to fresh berries. I added no water, steam juiced elderberry syrup only simmered with a little ginger.
Doesn't boiling it destroy the vitamin C?
A small percentage but you're still getting plenty
I have friends in Alaska that ear the red elderberries. They do them just like we do the purple and blue ones. The links you have on here ending with (elderberry) do not work.
Hi @Debbie all of my research shows the red berries are toxic but I'm glad they haven't had any ill effects. The links are working when I check them, what happens when you click on it? melissaknorris.com/elderberry
Can you spell the name of the correct Elderberries to get? The ones you mentioned @6:41? I don't know how to spell it and I am now a bit nervous about trying to forage, and/or grow my own elderberries. LOL!
Edit: Only 6 weeks? One video I watched said 6-8 months in the refrigerator. They made syrup that they drink about an ounce of every morning but now I'm confused and paranoid. I don't want to be eating/drinking things that may be bad. Or even making refrigerator stuff that will go bad before I realize it. I know we can't can Elderberry syrup with honey because the heat destroys the medicinal properties of it. So.... now what....? :-( (Also, I have a deep seeded fear of expired food after many experiences with food poisoning.)
LOVVVVE your channel so far!!!!
Sambucus Nigra 😊
Need less words and useful information
Who's here because of the Wuhan Flu?