Ingredients
2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 85 grams)
3 1/2 cups of water
2 Tblsp fresh ginger, grated
1 cinnamon stick, crushed
1/2 Tspn cloves
1 cup raw honey
optional dried orange peel from 1 orange
Method
Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and orange peel, if using. (do not add honey!).
Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
Discard the elderberries (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.
When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into bottles or jars.
Store in the fridge and take daily for its immune boosting properties. Some sources recommend taking only during the week and not on the weekends to boost immunity.
Standard dose is ½ tspn to 1 tspn for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults.
If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.
Adapted from recipe from Wellness Mama
Photo and another recipe from happyhealthymama.com