Love the Earth Love the Creator
Elderberry Syrup
It's that time of year again, time to make some delicious elderberry syrup. This herbal syrup is not only a delightful way to flavor your tea, but also a great way to support your immune system. There are many different recipes for elderberry syrup. I am going to share the one my family and I enjoy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried organic elderberries
- 4 cups water
- 2-3 tsp. organic dried ginger root
- 1 organic sweet cinnamon stick
- 2 cups raw, local honey (or organic maple syrup or agave for a vegan/infant-friendly recipe)
Directions
Combine berries and herbs in a pot and add water. Bring water to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Allow herbs to simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and let steep for 1 hour. I like to line a strainer with cheesecloth or a clean undyed flour sack towel
and strain the berries and herbs. I carefully squeeze out the liquid because its still hot, otherwise wait a bit until it has cooled it bit more for you to handle it. Discard used herbs in compost. Once the liquid has cooled to just above room temperature, add the honey and stir to incorporate. I like to add the raw honey when its not to hot, so the honey keeps all the benefits of being raw. Bottle in sterilized glass and store in the refrigerator. This recipe should keep in fridge for at least 2 months, if not longer. My family and I usually take 1-2 tsp. a day during the sniffle season.
My favorite soap recipe coming soon!!
I would like to share some great resources that I have found on my herbal journey. I have taken quite of few online schooling/classes about herbalism. Some I have enjoyed more than others. One of the schools I really enjoyed was Herbal Academy. One of my favorite books is Rosemary Gladstar Medicinal Herbs A Beginner's Guide This was one of my first books that I purchased at the start of my herbalist journey, and I still reference back to it. Anything by Rosemary Gladstar is amazing. She has a wonderful school as well; The Science and Art of Herbalism . I love her teachings and I highly recommend her.
