DIY Sambucol or simply: "Elderberry Syrup"

For the longest time I promise to include the recipe for what we call Elderberry Syrup and is commercially known as Sambucol.

Elder Berry Syrup is a wonderful cold and flu remedy for kids. If you have a family, this syrup is a absolute necessity for your medicine cabinet. Use Elder Berry syrup for colds, flu, sore throats, and fever. As with all syrups, it may be taken alone or mixed into a cup of warming tea, and it is recommended that you have it administered at the first sign of illness.

The recipe is very easy to prepare and it's really worth doing it for several reasons:
1. Keep your family healthy during the cold and flu season.
2. Save some serious money (sells for $8 to $13 per 4oz bottle - with this recipe you can make at least 16oz for this price)

To buy dried elderberries go to my Etsy shop or to
www.treehouseherbs.com

Here's what you need:
1 cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries (or the mixture in the picture, which contains elder berries, elder flowers and echinacea root)
3 cups water
1 cup raw local honey/ 1 cup sugar/ 1 cup agave nectar (choose whatever sweetener you have on hand or your prefer)
Glass jar or bottle with lid

How to:
1. Heat the berries and water to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 30-45 minuets.
2. Mash the berries (if fresh berries are used. when using dried berries just try to squeeze as much juice out if htem before you starin), strain, and add 1 cup of honey. I add a half cup of the purple liquid to a measuring cup, then pour in honey until the total volume is 1 1/2 cups. Then stir to mix well, and add to the rest of the reserved liquid.
3. Bottle and store. Keeps in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.
4. Enjoy a tablespoon daily to keep the immune system strong. At the first sign of a cold - and may it be just a tickle in the throat - take 2 tsp every 2 to 3 hours until the symptoms don't get worse anymore. then continue with 3 x daily until all symptoms are gone.

This syrup could be added to my Organic Cold and Flu Comfort Tea or the Peppermint with Elderberry Tea to give it even more cold fighting power.

Sometimes I also make a tincture. Here alcohol or vegetable glycerin is used to make the tincture. It's also very potent, but since I serve the syrup to my children too, I just avoid the aclohol. Even though the tincture can be heated after it is strained, to evaporate the alcohol, it's not as pleasant tasting as the syrup.
There are many other recipes out there, but this is the one I'm using for years now. My husband, (an engineer) was very skeptical at first about the properties of this remedy, but it took him only one time to try and experience the power of this herb/plant that he's now convinced and even spreads the word about it ;)




Have fun and beat the cold this season!!! :)

*Please always remember, I am not a doctor and don't pretend to be one. Although I am 100% sure of the identification of the plants I harvest and research like mad before posting a recipe. Some books say Elderberry leaves, seeds, bark, stems and root are toxic. Only the berries, which must be cooked first, and the blossoms are edible. Use your best judgement when using plants from the wild.