Dehydrating Elderberries and How to Make Elderberry Powder

Elderberries are coming into season! If they're not available quite yet in your area, they will be soon! There are ways of preserving elderberries to get you through the winter months, such as syrups, oxymels, and even infused honey. But one great thing to do with your elderberries for long term storage is dehydrating them...and turning them into powder. Here, I show you how to do this, and considerations and uses for your elderberry powder! #herbalism #herbalist #elderberrysyrup #heidivillegas #healingharvesthomestead
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor nor a veterinarian. I'm an herbalist and aromatherapist. The FDA doesn't evaluate herbs and essential oils, and that means that nothing I say or write is ever meant to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease or illness. It's for information only, and please do your own research before using herbs or essential oils. And of course, seek medical attention for serious needs.

[@SocietyOfTheSpectacl]

Do you bother to seperate the seeds ? Perhaps by crushing the seeds through a sieve ? I heard the seeds can cause nausea in some people ?

[@rgeergonzalez8687]

Does the poison in elderberry go away after being dehydrated? Also whats the temperature and time for dehydrating in an oven? Thank you

[@irisfrady6586]

Good question

[@OntarioGardener]

No, dehydrating berries does not remove toxins. It is recommended that you bring berries to a boil and simmer berries for 20-30 min before eating.

[@jesseharrell80]

If you don’t cook the berries, how are you ridding them of the cyanide? This can kill people.

[@HeidiVillegas]

There's not actually cyanide per se in the raw berries. What there is, though is a cyanoglycoside, which when taken in HUGE amounts might be mildly toxic for some people. This presents in gastric distress, usually. There are many fear mongers out there that would have us believe that certain herbs will kill people because these days it's all about the dollar and Big Pharma/government/health insurance/AMA wanting the people to NOT trust the herbs. During the tincture process, there's just not enough of this chemical extracted to bother most people. I've been making and taking raw elderberry tincture for many years, with no issues. As a child, my dad took us foraging for elderberries in the late summer, and we ate them raw off the bushes with no problems. **Also, there has never been a documented death due to eating elderberries that I'm aware of. :-) Hope this helps!

[@AnastaRay]

@@HeidiVillegas Bingo! I believe it is all fear mongering too 👍

[@joleeni]

I want to thank you as well. I wanted to know how to powder them to use with slippery elm and make cough drops for the dreaded cold and flu season we are about to go into. Your post and this video will help me accomplish this and has also answered all of my questions about the nausea safety issues and fears I had. Bless you for sharing this!

[@HeidiVillegas]

Glad I could help!

[@susanrobinson408]

I dehydrated elderberries for the first time this year. They were very dry, but still had a sticky or tacky feel to them. Are they dehydrated enough?

[@HeidiVillegas]

They'll be a bit tacky. This is ok. They shouldn't be leaching fluid, though.

[@lrfolkins6692]

Thank you. Thank you. What coffee grinder do you use?

[@HeidiVillegas]

Just a regular Mr. Coffee! :-)

[@cassiemahlstedt2808]

Can you pulse in a blender then tincture without worrying about the seed:cyanide?

[@HeidiVillegas]

I wouldn't pulse the fresh fruit, Cassie, although it's likely to be just fine. I do tincture fresh berries in alcohol, though, and never had a problem. For the dried elderberries, yes, you can pulse the dried, as the cyano-compounds are deactivated by the dehydration process. :-)

[@carolcurley7840]

Great video, thank you. Do you wash your elderberries first before either freezing or dehydrating. First time visiting your channel and now subscribed.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Carol! Thanks for subscribing! If I forage for them in a non-dusty place, I don't bother rinsing. Otherwise, a quick rinse is just fine!

[@eatclean2live750]

Hi Heidi, I bought some dried elderberries and want to make syrup and capsules. Do I need to cook the dried berries first and then dry them out before I grind them to make the capsules? I heard that they can contain cyanide if they are not cooked? Many thanks

[@ireneherring9299]

That was going to be my question. Did you find out whether they needed to be cooked for the making capsules?

[@marilynroberts6644]

if you see this my dear girl, any specific proportions for filling capsules.? iam used to syrup using berries, but i could only find powdered form ...and that was a great video. tfs.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Marilyn! Just use the 00 size capsules, and take a couple two or three times a day. I'm really not a big fan of the capsules, but in a pinch, they're great! You could also sprinkle some in your smoothie or on oatmeal or yogurt too! :-)

[@marilynroberts6644]

@@HeidiVillegas iam so grateful for your response...green blessings to you from tucson arizona.

[@SunnyDeeTee]

What are some ways I can use the powder? Stir in water? Make a tea? Thank you for this great idea!

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Sunny! :-) You can add the powder to teas, smoothies, on your oatmeal, and any other way you like. Try a bit out first, on a small scale. For a very few people they can cause stomach ache, but I've never actually met a person who's had this happen to them. You can also put the powder in capsules as well!

[@SunnyDeeTee]

@@HeidiVillegas Awesome. Thank you!

[@fetikalunga]

If I want to infuse it with sea moss gel, can I just add the powder to the blender vs making a tea form?

[@cjzanders5430]

Thanks for this.

[@ChicoDaUno]

Peace . Love the video . Should you rinse them before dehydrating them ?

[@irisfrady6586]

What is the time and temperature for drying the elderberries?

[@HeidiVillegas]

That will depend on the method you use. I have an Excalibur dehydrator, so I lay the berries out on parchment paper, then set the dial to the fruit setting or just under. Then, just keep checking until they're nicely dried.

[@joannalexander8942]

What kind of coffee grinder did you use…

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Joann! I just used a simple little Mr. Coffee grinder that's dedicated to my herbs.

[@coko3124]

Thank you for this tutorial. Can I buy dehydrated EB and powder them myself? I don't have a dehydrator.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Yes, absolutely, you can do this! You can also purchase elderberry that's already powdered for you, too.

[@coko3124]

@@HeidiVillegas Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate it kindly! Yes, I know you can buy the powder. To be honest, it seems like it's a lot more expensive so I'm glad I can do it this way too. Just one more question for you. Let's say the elderberries that I get are not completely dehydrated or they might be a little bit wet. What would be your suggestion for drying them all the way to the point where I can powder them without a dehydrator?

[@lileelisamc.4722]

so there is no problem powdering the seed that is in the dried berries?

[@HeidiVillegas]

I personally have had no issues with this at all. And I know of others who regularly use elderberry powder as well. :-)

[@barbaralaborde5336]

You mentioned putting something in dried berries to keep them even longer. What was that, please, and where can I purchase that?

[@HeidiVillegas]

Oh, that was probably oxygen absorbers! They're pretty useful if you're not vacuum sealing.

[@lrfolkins6692]

I live in a desert type region in Idaho(10” rain /yr) would I still need desiccants??

[@irisfrady6586]

Interesting question?

[@HeidiVillegas]

I love interesting questions!

[@YO-DASISTMICH]

Great video! Would take the powder just like the elderberry syrup (without the sugar)?

[@cjzanders5430]

People aren't really saying the powder tastes better than the juice. I would expect the powder to be even more potent than the juice or syrup since you're saving the entire berry and not heating it up another time. I wish i didn't throw away my food processor. All I make is the juice without syrup.

[@HeidiVillegas]

It would be a bit stronger, actually, so you don't need to use as much! You can also tincture the powder in alcohol for a nice extract!

[@danilochavez4167]

You can use it to make syrup but you have to take into consideration to use less water since you don't need to simmer it for a long time until reduce the syrup by half, you use less water and less time to boil the other ingredients. Also you need less less elderberry since the powder is more concetrated. Also, the powder doesn't have almost any taste so when you add it to something, it is only for the medicinal properties.

[@YO-DASISTMICH]

@@HeidiVillegas Thanks for the reply!