Elderberry Syrup: My Favorite Recipe

[@nailswithyvette]

Love Elderberries. This was the first “medicinal herb “ I ever worked with. I am blessed to live out in the middle of nowhere and I am able to park along the gravel roads and harvest. My daughter when she was young loved watching out for elderberries when we would drive anywhere. I am also blessed that my husband decided to get honey bees and we have our own honey. My favorite jelly is elderberry and we plan on attempting to make elderberry wine this year. I have said before I think the smell of elderberries cooking must be similar to liking cilantro or not. Seems you love it or hate it. Our whole family loves the smell of them cooking even if not cooked with other herbs. But then again our whole family finds that fresh ginger tastes like soap. Maybe it’s a genetic thing. lol. Thanks again for a wonderful video.

[@HeidiVillegas]

You are truly blessed!

[@saeroar]

I just needed to note that at 8:22 the bubbles simmering through the berries look like they are smiling and that is just the best.

[@jojow8416]

Heidi, thank you so much for providing this information. I have a small amount of dried elderberries and will simply soak them over night, then follow your instructions.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Perfect! :-) I'm so glad you have some!

[@witchofthewildwoods3496]

I just made a batch of elderberry syrup with cinnamon, cloves, fresh ginger, orange peel and a bit of cayenne. I will for sure add astragalus next time 😉.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Yum! That sounds amazing! Astragalus is such a good addition, and it even has a nice sweet-ish flavor too.

[@patriciaboatman8423]

Heidi, i've read not to put honey into hot liquids as ir kills the good. What are your thoughts on that?

[@HeidiVillegas]

This is very true---not all the good is killed, but it's definitely not raw any longer. It's the beneficial enzymes that are destroyed in heat, but the rest is fine. So, if you're making a syrup, what you're doing is choosing a "better" sugar by using honey...but yes, if heating, you're going to be missing out on the enzymes.

[@debhuddleston3450]

Heidi you out did yourself on this Elderberry Syrup. Oh my..... delicious 😋 plus it is good for us!

[@HeidiVillegas]

Thanks, Deb!

[@lynettetucker544]

Very interesting Heidi I enjoyed watching this video.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Thanks, Lynette! This is one of my old ones! :-)

[@shelleyharris8673]

Thank you, Heidi!!!

[@HeidiVillegas]

You are so welcome!💖

[@marilynroberts6644]

well, what do you know...! it sure is elderberry season isnt it ? you have a very pleasant and enjoyable way of teaching, and thank you for the additional herbal info you add in along the way. i dont measure either :)

[@HeidiVillegas]

Thanks, Marilyn!! I appreciate you saying this!

[@neatski8378]

If you don’t like honey, can you substitute it for another sweetner?

[@phiroseoduvankadanmohammed389]

Am from India, kerala. Can I make ds for bsns purpose...

[@carolhamilton5164]

I would have washed the honey jars out with the elderberry juice to be sure I got all that honey, as a awful lot sticks to the jar. I wouldn’t want to waste any of that honey.

[@HeidiVillegas]

I don't like to waste honey, either. Thank you for the great reminder!

[@pammyprice56]

I would of pulled the larger stems off before boiling due to toxic values , Plus I was wondering why you didnt twist the berry bag for all of the yummy berry juices ,but still looks great ;)

[@lynncobert8305]

Making this, thanks Heidi

[@HeidiVillegas]

That's great! It's super helpful for the immune system...

[@Mary-vf4yr]

Very good video thank you sister

[@HeidiVillegas]

Thank you, Mary!

[@sandrajacobs5107]

I would love to see the dried Elderberry syrup recipe pls

[@HeidiVillegas]

I'll make one for you!

[@LazyCookPete]

Excellent! Thanks Heidi 😋👍

[@HeidiVillegas]

You are so welcome!

[@joysmith6729]

I made my own with dried elderberries in Apple cider vinegar let it sort of ferment flipping it and burping it for four weeks then strained it heated it a little bit and added the honey not much honey it’s not too sweet I really like it I’m wondering how shelfstable it is?Also wondering how much honey you put in yours if you and your husband don’t like it sweet? I’m going to try this recipe as well. Thank you any help appreciated

[@HeidiVillegas]

As long as you have added no water at all to the product, you should have a very long shelf life. The nose knows! So always do a little test by smell----and if in doubt, toss it out! ***For the syrup, you want between 50% and 55% sugar content for a completely shelf-stable product.

[@lyndamayo4557]

I am enjoying your videos very much and am going to try make the elderberry syrup.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Good luck, Lynda! :-)

[@jacquelinewelch2033]

Hi Heidi, I've been making my syrup with dried elderberries and use rose hips rather than the spices. The flavor has been pleasant but I'm wondering if I'm doing my self a disservice. Thx for any insight

[@sarahj6243]

I'm curious about the amount of water. Could one add less water thereby reducing the amount of cook-time needed for reduction? Or is that cook-time needed to extract the beneficial properties? Thank you!

[@HeidiVillegas]

You do want a bit of cook time for extraction. :-)

[@orquideas1321]

Hello... What about the shelf life, can I store this syrup in my pantry ou need refrigeration? Thanks for the video!

[@HeidiVillegas]

If you use 50-55% sugar content in the recipe, you can assume it's shelf-stable for a few months. If you use less sugar as we do in our home, then I always refrigerate it just in case. But it rarely lasts more than a few weeks!

[@ahamoments132]

Thank you, Heidi :) Even though Elderberry is considered a weed over my way I am growing two plants.. they are tiny, but they still offered just a handful of berries. I will keep them to compact bushes so that I can easily access the flowers and the berries.. With the Elderberries, Heidi, I have read that they are toxic if not cooked or dried thoroughly. If I dry my own, how do I know at what point they are 'dry' enough to be used, please, if I am making a tincture rather than a syrup? Many Blessings to you x

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi! When I put them in the dehydrator, I test for doneness by eating one. If it's dry all the way through, we're good! :-) Just be careful not to over-dry them because they'll be crunchy and not as good.

[@nomparfait]

Great on frozen yogurt or ice cream!

[@rhondaellerbe3463]

What is the consistency, thickness? Enough to spread on toast or pancakes or does it run or soak in?

[@HeidiVillegas]

It runs and soaks in. :-)

[@mariejacques2887]

I just made a batch of Elderberry syrup but it didn't simmer down much. I boiled it lightly for 25 min. Will this affect the strength?

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Marie! Yes, it will affect the strength of the syrup because it's more diluted than if you had let it reduce a bit more. But...you can still use it and enjoy it! I like to reduce it by about half.

[@brandonthetford452]

Great video. We have 12 mature bushes in our backyard. Is it ok to boil the berries with some stems attached? Sure would make our lives easier! Lol

[@brandonthetford452]

We're about halfway done harvesting and already have almost 50lbs, de-stemmed 100% and frozen... But it took two of us DAYS to do.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Yes, a few stems and even leaves aren't going to hurt anything! The cooking deactivates any glycosides :-)

[@christydiehl7705]

What was the name of the root you added at the end? I tried to read it in the transcript but what is there doesn't look right.

[@HeidiVillegas]

It was astragalus root! :-)

[@auroracarrasco334]

Heidi, did you use powder herbs?

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Aurora! No, I used dried berries and dried herbs, cut and sifted small. I really don't like using powders in my tinctures or other preparations as I find they leave a "sludge" at the bottom. Also, if you purchase dried powders, I've found they are often more oxidized than buying cut and sifted. :-)

[@sandyebert5851]

I have green berries mixed in with my red, if I'm cooking them anyways, is it OK ? Or do I have to pick all them out?

[@HeidiVillegas]

As long as not too many are green, it's fine. Cooking will deactivate the cyano-compounds quite nicely! :-)

[@witchofthewildwoods3496]

@@HeidiVillegas I read recently that only black or dark blue elderberry varieties should be used internally as the red ones are toxic. Is that true?

[@dwighthuffman6599]

How do you keep the birds from getting your berries they got mine before they got ripe

[@HeidiVillegas]

We have SO much wild abundance in terms of plums, apples, cherries, seeds, and so much more here in the fall----the birds tend to save the elderberries for last!

[@Mary-vf4yr]

Sister me i ask what was 4 herbs you ad Ginger Cinnamon Clove And ?

[@HeidiVillegas]

There are so many you can add to this! I would suggest astragalus, as it also boosts the immune system and has a very nice flavor too.

[@Mary-vf4yr]

@@HeidiVillegas What is astragalus WR can we buy from

[@veronicamoorman2645]

What is the shelf life for being refrigerated and not

[@veronicamoorman2645]

Also I want to thank you for sharing your experience with us

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Veronica! If you're using the full 50-55% sugar content, it's shelf-stable for several months. In the fridge, it will last up to a year. If you use less sugar, it won't last as long.

[@cherylhavelka2542]

I can't find your Facebook group.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Cheryl! I archived it due to the censorship for natural wellness. I now have a Natural Living Community on a platform that is TOTALLY private, no ads, no distractions, and has topics you can choose to see in your feed, including herbs and essential oils. :-) You can join us free here: healingharvesthomesteadgroups.mn.co/share/7inzdYJOasWsU_3T?

[@cherylhavelka2542]

@@HeidiVillegas I found you on Healing harvest group! Love it. I wanted to tell the group that I have new tea tins that I got from a tea store going out of business. I have cases and if people wanted them it would just be like 2.00 dollars, plus shipping for a case of 12 really nice tins. Where can I post that? Or should I?

[@ladonnaowens710]

As my grandson would say, “you maked a mess”

[@HeidiVillegas]

LOL! Sometimes I sure do!