When cold and flu season start up, I love to have this immune booster on hand. But, I was sick of spending $15 plus on a syrup that lasted our family a week or less! After some trial and error, I developed this elderberry syrup recipe that my family loves. The beautiful thing about it is that once you buy the initial ingredients, you can make batch after batch off of them. (Save that money, honey!)
Elderberry Syrup Ingredient Benefits:
- Elderberries: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (it that helps prevent cell damage), contains anthocyanidins that boost your immune system. Elderberry is a great natural source of Vitamin C. The berries have been proven to be effective against colds/flu…just to name a few things.
- Ginger: a well known immune booster and stomach soother. The Gingerol in ginger is what gives it the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. Ginger has the ability to reduce oxidative stress in your body- which overall reduces the amount of free radicals (these are the bad guys that cause illness).
- Cloves: antibacterial/antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties. They also are known to help prevent cancer, relieve toothaches, and help control blood sugar.
- Star Anise: a hidden gem in this recipe as it adds some sweetness along with a powerful load of benefits. The thymol and terpineol in Anise are the active ingredients. They are powerful in fighting off respiratory illnesses. It contains high levels of antioxidants like quercetin (as do the other ingredients in this recipe). Star Anise has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties as well.
- Lemon: an excellent source of vitamin C, protects against infections, cancer, and aids in digestion.
- Raw Honey: is the final kicker to this recipe that adds in sweetness but also is another source of antioxidants through its phytonutrients. Honey is anticancer and anti-inflammatory. It helps soothe sore throats and contains beneficial prebiotics.
You might be you’re thinking- “if this girl says anti-inflammatory or antioxidant one more time….”, so am I. haha! But, I think it’s important to see that every single ingredient in this recipe is powerful. This was not an exhaustive list of the properties of each of these ingredients either. God made each and every one of them. He knew what He was doing when he created us and when he created this world. God gives us the tools to aid our bodies with something as small as an elderberry. He is so amazing!
Easy Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried Elderberries
- 4 cups Water
- 1-2 tbsp Chopped Ginger
- 1 tsp Cloves
- 8 Star Anise small handfull
- 1 Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1/2 cup Raw Honey
Instructions
- In a medium sized pot, bring 4 cups of water to boil and add the cup of elderberry. Drop in the rest of the ingredients- ginger, cloves, anise, and lemon. Place the lemon peels in as well. Lower the heat to a simmer for 40 minutes and cover the pot with it's lid. After it has simmered, remove from heat and strain the juice with a fine strainer over a medium bowl. I use a wooden spoon and press as much liquid out as I possibly can. Allow this to cool down for at least 15 minutes, then add the honey. Once the honey is completely dissolved, you're all set to add it into your favorite mason jar! ***(A good rule of thumb before putting anything like syrups, jams, or homemade medicine in a jar, is to wash it first. Then, boil it for 10 minutes to sterilize it.)***
Notes
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is not meant to be medical advice in any capacity. It is informative in nature, only. Please always consult your doctor for medical advice. Pregnant and nursing moms need to consult with their doctors as well before consuming any herbal medicine.
