The sweet licorice-like flavor of elderberries blends with a variety of powerful spices to create a tasty, immune boosting and sugar free elderberry syrup.
With the fall and winter seasons come a lot of sniffles and weakened immune systems. That’s why elderberry syrup is so popular this time of year. Beyond its ability to lower blood sugar and make you feel better, it does a lot to boost immunity.
So do the other ingredients in elderberry syrup. Each item is packed full of immune boosting qualities to strengthen the effectiveness of the elderberry syrup. And since this particular recipe is sugar free (and honey free), it’s great for use on the Trim Healthy Mama plan!
Important COVID-19/Coronavirus Note
There is some research that shows that elderberry can cause cytokine storm (a.k.a. hypercytokinemia). Cytokine storm is the systemic expression of a healthy and dynamic immune system that releases over 150 known inflamatory mediums. COVID-19 can also cause cytokine storm. Having a double cytokine storm can potentially be adverse with COVID-19 or even fatal. For this reason, you might want to take the elderberry syrup as a preventative immune booster but stop taking it as soon as you illustrate COVID-19-like symptoms. That said, there is also research that disproves this, so I highly encourage you to do your own research on this topic (Google elderberry cytokine storm and COVID-19/coronavirus) and decide for yourself.
Sugar Free Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 5 cups filtered water
- 1 cup dried elderberries or ½ cup fresh elderberries
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons orange peel powder
- 1 teaspoon ground sweet or ceylon (Cinnamomum verum) cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, optional
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 tablespoons Gentle Sweet (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Pour the water into a non-reacted (glass or stainless steel) saucepan. Add the elderberries, ginger, orange peel powder, cinnamon, ceyenne, and cloves. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 1 minute.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Strain the elderberries through a fine mesh sieve. After straining, squish the elderberries against the strainer to force out as much juice as possible. Discard, compost, or otherwise use up the elderberry pulp.
- Add the Gentle Sweet to taste.
- Allow to cool completely. Pour into a sterilized jar with an airtight lid. Store in the fridge for up to 4 months.
Notes
- For Adults Ages 12 and Up: Take 1 tablespoon daily. When symptoms arise, take 1 tablespoon 3 or 4 times a day (about every 4 hours).
- For Children Ages 5 to 12: Take 2 teaspoons daily. When symptoms arise, take 2 teaspoons 3 or 4 times a day (about every 4 hours).
- For Children Ages 1 to 5: Take 1 teaspoon daily. When symptoms arise, take 1 teaspoon 3 or 4 times a day (about every 4 hours).
Can I use swerve confectioner with some NOW Better Stevia Glycerite? If yes how do you measure it?
Hi, Tai. Yes, you can try that. The confectioner sweetener might make the consistency a little thicker, which isn’t a problem if you don’t mind it. It might also give it that cooling after effect.
How can I avoid refrigeration? Is it possible to seal the jars using a water bath?
You probably can. I’ve never tried it so I can’t vouch for how well it works/lasts. Please let me know if you give it a try.
Is it possible to make this without a sweetener? I can’t do honey… and the other options (xylitol etc) are migraine triggers. I can’t find a recipe that doesn’t add a sweetner.. . So I’m wondering if it’s worth doing without one… help!!
Yes, just leave it out. It may taste bitter, but it’ll still work all the same. Sweetener is just to make it more palatable.
I love the taste..I wish we had a recipe for jam or jelly. I would have my does at breakfast.
I never thought about adding cayenne. Do the littles balk? I will try it in one of the batches this year. We usually go through 3 to 5 batches with all of the grandchildren visiting. I always send some bottles home with the mamas. We love our elderberries. I even bought some starts for Sandy’s new house.
Mine haven’t noticed, but I’ve done it that way forever so they may be used to it. So yeah, might have to experiment with a batch and see how they do. 🙂
Where can we buy elderberries? And, have you ever seen Arsenic and Old Lace?
Hi, Janice. I get mine on Amazon here. Some health food stores may carry them as well. And, yes, I saw that movie once probably 20ish years ago, but I was pretty little so don’t remember much. Why?