There is a cold going around our area and it has come home to our house. I’m not feeling it yet but the other half of the grove is under the weather. Stuffy, sneezing, and all-around miserable feeling. The modern routine of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are being used but I thought I’d try adding a little extra into the mix.
Online and in the local pharmacy they are really pushing this new OTC named Sambucol Cold and Flu. I’ve also heard from a few friends that they’ve been making their own version of the remedy at home. The following is from 1865. It is interesting but I think I’ll use my recipe below.
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After a little research I was able to find several mentions of using elderberry syrup as a “most excellent remedy for a cold”. The following recipe does deviate from the recipe above but the concept is still the same. Let us get all the goodness out of the berries and make a concentrated liquid. Back then they added a lot of sugar, but with this recipe, we will be using honey. Cooking it longer will also thicken the syrup. A few of the other syrup recipes look interesting too. Especially the Tea Syrup!
We’re going to give this remedy a try and fingers crossed that the cold passes sooner…one hates being sick.
Elderberry Syrup
An updated version of an elderberry syrup. This recipe takes an old recipe and completes the process using an Instant Pot. Elderberries are a good source of nutrients, which include vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, carotenoids, amino acids, and flavonoids. Elderberry juice is also rich in certain essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and several anti-oxidants. I am not a doctor so any advice in this recipe is from research. Please do your own research before ingesting any new foods.
Adults: Take 1 Tablespoon of syrup daily when healthy. Take 1 Tablespoon every 4 hours when feeling ill. Good for colds and flu.
- 1 c dried elderberries
- 4 c filtered water
- 1 c raw honey
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole cloves
- fresh ginger (1 inch piece) cut into quarters
In the Instant Pot combine together the dried berries, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and water. (Do Not add the honey at this time.)
Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes, then release pressure.
Remove the lid and go into saute mode. Simmer for 15 minutes or longer until the liquid is reduced by half. Stirring is not needed.
After the liquid is reduced, remove cinnamon sticks and mash berries with a potato masher or other instrument. Let cool to near room temperature.
Strain the berries and pulp using a mesh strainer. Into the juice mix in 1 cup of raw honey. Stir until honey is dissolved and mixed well.
Put in air-tight jars or bottles. Store in the refrigerator. I keep one of those little medicine cups nearby as it’s easier to dispense and not make a mess.
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