Elderberry syrup recipe with honey
You’ll love this simple elderberry syrup recipe come cold and flu season. With just 2 ingredients, dried elderberries and honey, it will cook up quickly and you’ll have fantastic homemade elderberry syrup to nip those illnesses in the bud.
As a mom of small kids they are constantly getting sick. As soon as the sniffles start, I start taking elderberry syrup to help keep myself healthy. Still working on getting my husband to take it. The honey will make it sweet enough that even the kids won’t mind taking it (just don’t give this or any products containing honey to children under 1 year of age).
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Elderberry syrup is a great, natural way to treat and prevent colds and flus in kids and adults alike. Even my daughter’s pediatrician recommended it as there are so few items out there that you can safely give to young kids.
You can buy the syrup at a health food store but by making your own you know exactly what went into it! This easy recipe is simple enough that anyone can make it themselves. Enjoy!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Homemade elderberry syrup for preventing the cold and flu.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried Elderberries
- 4 cups of water
- 1 cup of honey
Instructions
- Place 1 cup of dried elderberries into a saucepan with 4 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil and let simmer for 30-45 minutes. You want to reduce the cooked elderberry “juice” to only 1-2 cups of liquid.
- Once it has cooled slightly drain the warm juice from cooked elderberries into a separate container. Pour through a fine mesh strainer to keep any berry pieces from getting into your syrup.
- Pour your cup of honey into a large glass jar or bowl.
- Now pour your warm, but not hot elderberry liquid over your honey and mix well.
- Place your elderberry syrup into a sealable container and refrigerate. It should keep well for a couple months.
Notes
- For an herbal syrup, typically you want a 2:1 or 1:1 Herb to honey ratio. The more honey you have, the longer the syrup will be preserved. Some think the 1:1 ratio is too sweet. You can play with different ratios based on your personal preference.
- You want to use warm, but not hot liquid when mixing your honey and elderberry juice. This will help preserve the good qualities of the honey.
Recommendations for use
Check with your pediatrician for exact dosage for your age/size child. I give my kids 1 teaspoon per day during cold or flu season. If one of them is looking a bit run down or sick, I give them 2 teaspoons per day for a day or two.
Adults in the house take 1 tablespoon per day. Take that twice a day if you feel under the weather.