Elderberry Syrup (and Why We Love It)

When cold season hits, there’s something comforting about stirring a pot of elderberries, cinnamon, and cloves on the stove. The scent alone feels makes your house smell spiced and warm. Around our home, elderberry syrup has become one of those simple seasonal rituals, something we make each fall to help support our family’s immunity health and bring a little sweetness to the season.

Why Elderberry Helps

Elderberries are rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins, which support the body’s natural immune defenses. Some studies suggest that elderberry can help shorten the duration and severity of colds and flu by encouraging a healthy immune response, helping your body do what it’s already designed to do.

It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a beautiful example of how real food and simple ingredients can play a supportive role in seasonal wellness.

Why Add Honey

Honey does more than sweeten your syrup.  It’s a natural preservative and a soothing powerhouse. It helps coat a sore throat, offers gentle antimicrobial benefits, and gives your syrup a longer shelf life.

When you use local honey, you’re also adding a touch of your own region’s pollen, which may help your immune system stay balanced through allergy season. Just remember to stir it in after the syrup cools slightly to preserve those natural enzymes and benefits.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup at Home

Our Farm-Grown Elderberry Syrup Kits make it simple:

1. Pour the contents of the kit into a saucepan with 3 cups of water.
2. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer gently for about 45 minutes.
3. Strain out the berries and let the liquid cool slightly.
4. Stir in 1 cup of local honey (or maple syrup if you prefer).
5. Store in a clean glass jar in the fridge. It keeps for several weeks.

We take a tablespoon a day during cold season, and a few extra spoonfuls if something’s already brewing.

A few ways to enjoy it:

• Stir into hot tea or lemonade for a little immune boost.
• Drizzle over pancakes, yogurt, or oatmeal.
• Mix with sparkling water for a quick elderberry spritzer.
  

 A Simple Herbal Tip

If you’re brewing tea to go with your syrup, let it cool a bit before adding honey.  Too-hot water can dull honey’s natural goodness.

We hope you and yours stay warm and healthy this cold and flu season!