Making Elderberry juice is the fastest, easiest and most pure processing method for maximum immune health benefit. Before I bought a steam juicer, this is how I made elderberry juice: Place an amount of frozen berries on a baking sheet to scan for unwanted visitors, and to remove any remaining thicker stems. Place cleaned berries in a stainless steel pot with no other ingredients. Bring to a gentle simmer for five or ten minutes, or just until the berries look 'tired.' (Most recipes suggest strong boiling to remove toxicity of seeds, but my experience is that a gentle simmer up to 110 degrees F is enough, and overcooking compromises the nutritional value.
Once cooled, mash the berries with a potato masher and pour through a sieve, cheese cloth, or cone strainer. I typically use a sieve and the flat bottom of a jar to extract the juice. My first pressing is the pure juice. After the first press, the mash starts to become dry, so I add a bit of water for a second, even third pressing. Pour strained juice into ice-cube trays. Freeze and transfer ice cubes to zip lock bags for fresh immunity-building juice all winter long.
Elderberry Juice 102: Steam juicing -- the European Way For centuries, Europeans have foraged for elderberry each fall and used a steam juicer to process berries and/or fruit into juice for the winter. I finally decided to try it in the fall of 2016. After much research and one product return, I settled on the Norpro Steam Juicer from amazon ($100), and I've never looked back. The old mother country still has a lot to teach us here in the wild frontier! So simple and efficient. The best part is the berries are steamed, not boiled, and the juice filling your sterilized wine bottles or Mason jars is hot enough to seal without additional water baths, making the berries minimally processed and optimally healthful. The steam juicer is divided into three compartments, or vessels. To start, I fill the bottom compartment with water. When it is simmering hot I place 5 lbs. of berries in the top compartment. Within about twenty minutes, the juice comes out of the hose in the middle compartment, and runs into my sterilized bottles or jars.
After several seasons of experimenting with recipes for syrups, juice and tonics and more, this is what I've learned:
Steam juicing is the easiest and most optimal way to reap the health benefits of elderberry and/or aronia
Elderberry (and/or aronia) Shrub is a must-have tonic spanning the spectrum from medicine to cocktails (see below)
Incorporating a few loose frozen berries into pies, baked goods, salads, and more adds color, texture, health and excitement to familiar recipes
A Note About Tinctures For all recipes calling for elderberries (or aronia berries), consider tincturing the cooked pulp rather than composting it. Tincturing offers yet another generation of use for the berries, and another product to ward off winter viruses.
Making and Using a Tincture You will find lots of information on tinctures on the internet, but here is a simple introduction to the process. After straining the pulp from your elderberry syrup or shrub recipe, pack the pulp into clean wide mouth quart Mason jars to about three-quarters full. Fill the jars with 80-100 proof vodka, cap them with screw top lids, label them, including date, and place in dark cupboard. Every day or so, invert or shake each jar to mix the berries and vodka thoroughly. After four to six weeks, strain and compost the pulp. The resulting dark liquid is elderberry tincture, or extract. Take a teaspoon to a tablespoon in water three to four times a day at the first sign of cold, flu or pollen allergy. I add a splash of tincture to my nightly shrub tonic.
The tincture retains its potency for at least two years. You can also make a batch using vegetable glycerin for family members who don't want to use alcohol -- especially children -- but the glycerin-based tincture should be used within a year.
Dried elderberries can be used to make your tincture, soaking them in water before tincturing. If you want the benefits of elderberry tincture without the bother of making it, health food stores and/or Whole Foods carry numerous tincture products. My favorite Maine suppliers for tinctures and other herbal products are Kathi Langelier's Herbal Revolution, and Deb Soule's Avena Botanicals.
Shrub is an ancient term for a vinegar tonic that dates back to pre-colonial times. Fruit shrubs were taken on board cargo ships as a way to keep fruit preserved for long voyages, allowing sailors to reap the healthful benefits of fruit plus apple cider vinegar. It is often preserved with lemon, vinegar or alcohol, so it can cause one to perspire, which is cooling in the summertime. Shrubs are made with fruit, apple cider vinegar (ACV) and honey. They are a wonderful remedy for congestion and sore throat, and make an excellent health tonic for the body. Almost any fruit can be used. Using an ounce or two of shrub tonic as a base and adding spirits, such as rum, brandy, or vodka take the tonic to whole new level of health and pleasure. Don't hesitate to add some tincture to your shrub tonic too!
What I like about the elderberry shrub is its versatility. It is medicine when taken straight by the tablespoon, and pleasure when mixed with sparkling water, Pellegrino or Prosecco, a dash of lime juice, bitters, vodka, rum or wine. As a refreshing summer drink, an elderberry shrub tonic can't be beat -- a great way to take your medicine! I like shrub tonics so much that I drink them year round as a mocktail or cocktail. There are lots of recipes on the internet, but the recipe I like is basically a 1 : 2 ratio of fruit to apple cider vinegar. After fermenting and straining pulp, add the same or less amount of honey as ACV, depending on your sweet tooth.
• 2 cups elderberries • 1 quart apple cider vinegar • 1 quart honey, or sweeten to preferred taste Optional: spices, such as star anise or ginger, cloves, cinnamon
1. Wash and pick over the berries. Put berries in a nonreactive stainless steel pot. Pour vinegar over berries, cover and bring to a low simmer for 20 min. to half an hour; or until the berries look dull and 'tired.' Remove from heat and let stand overnight, or up to 2 weeks as the vinegar becomes totally infused with the berries.
2. Mash fruit-vinegar pulp, and strain through sieve, cheesecloth or muslin; or extract juice by pressing or squeezing with hands until the pulp feels dry-ish.. Add honey and blend well. Bottle in dark sterilized glass jars with non-metal lids. Label contents in bottle; keep out of reach of children. I sterilize and use the quart size ACV bottles and store in a dark cupboard.
3. Store in a cool, dark place. Use within 1 year.
Elderberry Oxymel If you appreciate the flavor and health benefits of honey and apple cider vinegar, consider both shrub tonics and oxymels, another vinegar sipping drink that uses herbs instead of fruit. See Mountain Rose Herbs http://mountainroseblog.com/herbal-oxymels-methods/ for an oxymel recipe for – "from the Latin oxymeli meaning 'acid and honey' has been made and used in many ways throughout the ages and it’s a recipe that can be adapted to suit your health and herbal needs." -- Mountain Rose Herbs
Liz Wiley's Elderberry Syrup 2 Quarts of fresh or frozen elderberries 1/4 oz. freshly grated organic ginger, or 2 Tbsp. dried 1/2 tsp. organic cloves 1 tsp. organic cinnamon Raw organic honey to taste
Harvesting the elderberries is the most time consuming part of making the syrup. You can harvest the berries by hand of with a fork. Recently, I saw a YouTube video and the person used a designated hair pick for the job that seemed to work really well. You want to do your best getting the berries off the stems, without getting too crazy about every little stem; you will be straining this mix in the end. -- Collect the berries in a pan and give them a rinse. -- Add water to your elderberries. For fresh or frozen berries use 1 : 1 cup ratio; for dried berries, use 2 : 1 ratio. -- Add ginger, cloves and cinnamon to the pot. -- Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 45 minutes, allow cooling. Before straining the mix, I mash the berries to get the most out of them with a potato masher or wooden mallet. -- Strain the liquid through a sieve and compost the berries. -- Add raw local honey for maximum health benefits. Stir until well mixed and pour into sterile jars or bottles. -- Store in refrigerator.
Take a tsp. daily during the cold and flu season. There are so many ways to enjoy this remedy -- in yogurt, added to drinks, and as a pancake syrup. Recently, we have been using elderberry syrup to make fermented elderberry soda at the farm. - http://roundthebendfarm.org/2015/10/12/food-is-medicine-elderberry/
Crockpot Elderberry Syrup from The Bailey Farm This is a variation on a theme, an amalgam of recipes and ingredients culled and blended into my own favorite crockpot method of making syrup. The benefits of using a crockpot are twofold: less water is needed, lower temperatures and no boiling required. Remember, elderberries need only reach 130 degrees F to neutralize the toxic cyanides. The less processing, or cooking, the more available are the phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to keep you virus-free. Remember also, that the amounts of ingredients used are loose and adjustable to the amount of elderberries at hand, your individual taste for sweetness, and preference for added spices and herbs. Typically, I fill the crockpot with three lbs. of a combination of frozen elderberry, aronia and pulverized small chunks of petrified Chaga mushroom. Take the leap and experiment!
Ingredients 3 lbs. or more of fresh frozen organic elderberries and/or aronia, or combination 1/2 c. filtered water 1 lb. at minimum, or more raw unfiltered honey to suit your taste and for the desired syrup viscosity
Optional ingredients Fresh grated ginger root, cloves, nutmeg Piece(s) of astragalus bark (natural tick repellent) Organic orange peel 2 tsp. vanilla, or vanilla bean Pulverized small chunk(s) of dried Chaga mushroom Hibiscus, chamomile, rosehips, nettle Turmeric, garlic, Habanero pepper Brandy, Cointreau (orange liquor) Maitake and/or Reishi mushrooms To make: Get the picture? You can add whatever combination of spices, herbs, flavors, etc. you want during or after processing berries. My favorite is as follows: With a small amount of filtered water, frozen elderberries and aronia berries, pulverized Chaga, vanilla bean(s) and astragalus bark in the crockpot, I start on the high heat setting until 130 F is reached, usually 3-4 hours. Then, I turn the crockpot to low for a half hour or so. Once the juice is cool, I mash the berries while in the pot, then strain the juice from the berry mixture, reserving that pulp for tincture-making. I stir in 1 lb. or so of honey into the strained juice, and two tsp. of homemade vanilla. The cooled syrup is carefully poured into blue or brown sterilized bottles, or sterilized mason jars. It is stored in the refrigerator for three months, or more. Take (a swig) 1 Tblsp. +/- daily for a delicate, earthy and highly potent anti-viral medicinal syrup. Adding 2 lbs. of honey yields 7 c. of syrup. With the pulp, I make tincture (see above Note About Tinctures) for an additional source of elderberry medicine. Consider using some of your freshly made elderberry syrup to make elderberry gummies. Great Christmas gift for all ages. I found a recipe at https://www.simplyhappyfoodie.com/elderberry-syrup-gummies/ that I look forward to trying.
Kathi Langelier's Herbal Revolution products in Lincolnville, Me. are all fabulous. Her Elderberry + Mushroom and Roots Elixir has a divine touch of vanilla, which inspired me to add vanilla to my Crockpot syrup. This award-winning elixir combines the two super-foods of mushrooms and elderberry, both of which are immuno-modulators and adaptagens. https://www.herbalrev.com/collections/immune/products/elderberry-mushroom-and-roots-elixir Immuno-modulators slowly build and balance the immune system. Adaptagens help the body balance and adapt to emotional, physical and mental stress.
Nancy and Michael Phillip's Elderberry Syrup as posted by Rosemary Gladstar This is one of the best syrup recipes, so rich and flavorful, high in nutrition.
Parts used: Flower and berry Key constituents: Vitamin C, vitamin A, bioflavonoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, beta-carotene, iron, potassium, phytosterols Safety factor: Do not eat the raw (uncooked) berries in any great quantity, as they can cause digestive upset and diarrhea in some people. This may be one of the better elderberry syrup recipes on the planet. It’s graciously shared by my friends Nancy and Michael Phillips, the authors of The Herbalist’s Way. Delicious enough to use just for sheer flavor alone, elderberry syrup is also helpful for warding off or speeding recovery from colds and flu.
Ingredients: 2 quarts fresh ripe elderberries (see variations below for using dried berries) ¼ ounce freshly grated ginger root ½ teaspoon ground cloves Honey
To make the syrup: Combine the elderberries with ¼ cup of water in a large soup pot and simmer until soft. Strain out the pulp, reserving the liquid. Compost the solids and return the liquid to the pot. Add the ginger and cloves and simmer, uncovered, until the liquid reduces to about half its original volume. Pour the juice into a measuring cup and note its volume, then return to the pot. Add the same amount of honey and stir until thoroughly combined. Let cool, then bottle. Store in the refrigerator, and use within 12 weeks.
Elderberry Pie I have never had an elderberry-only pie, but I do love to sprinkle a few berries into my apple or pear pies for a splash of color and texture. 375-400 F for 15 min; reduce oven to 325-350 for one hour or until done. Ingredients 1 qt. rinsed fresh/frozen elderberries 1 c sugar 1 Tbsp. (heaping) flour Pinch of salt Butter Cinnamon 1 Tbsp. vinegar
To quart of berries, add sugar mixed with flour and salt. Add generous piece of butter, sprinkle with cinnamon, then add vinegar. Bake for 15 min. at 375 - 400 F. Reduce oven to 325-350 F and bake for one hour or until done. --http://www.cooks.com/recipe/70jl0th/elderberry-pie.html If the tiny crunchy elderberry seeds are not to your taste but you still want to enjoy the health benefits of this super-berry, consider using them as an accent in baked goods that call for other berries or fruit. For example, consider adding a handful of tiny elderberries for color and health to peach, pear or blueberry pie; apple, or rhubarb crisp.
Ada Mae's Elderberry Cake Makes one 8 x 8 cake; 350 F, 15-20 min.
Ingredients 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1 egg 1/2 c milk 1 c flour 1/2 c sugar 3 Tsp. baking powder 1/2 Tsp. salt
For topping 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 Tsp. cinnamon 1 Tsp. cloves 1/2 c fresh/frozen elderberries
Mix dry and wet in separate bowls. Add wet mixture to dry. Pour into greased and floured pan. Sprinkle topping mixture over cake. Bake and enjoy.
Culinary Overview "Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food" --Hippocrates Food into medicine, medicine into food. Use your imagination when it comes to elderberry and personalize the ways in which you incorporate these powerful berries into your diet. If you store frozen or dried elderberries as one of your household (medicinal and culinary) staples, all you need to know is that they can be:
Cooked down and strained to make juice, syrup, shrubs, elixirs, tinctures, teas and infused oils (flowers and/or berries). The more bitter-tasting aronia is best used medicinally only (syrups, elixirs, tinctures), and in some drinks such as hard cider, beer, wine and kombucha.
Added to cocktails as a main or supplemental ingredient, as in the form of shrub tonics, oxymels
Used to make jams, jellies, sweet and savory sauces
Sweet syrups for ice-cream, or savory syrups for pork tenderloin or lamb chops
Cordials (elder flower blossoms), wine, beer, hard ciders and kombucha
Added to almost anything you are baking, such as scones, muffins, fritters, pancakes, cookies, bars, cakes and pies
Once you become familiar with the culinary personality of elderberry, you'll follow your instincts to find as many ways as you can to add this power food to your diet.
Testimonial
"I had swine flu and tried everything, but nothing worked until a neighbor brought me some elderberry syrup, which wiped it out completely." -- M. Gannaway
In ancient times, the gypsies called the elder tree"the healing-est tree on earth."