In September, there are elderberries in the hedgerow that have escaped the birds. Umbrellas of berries dripping from the trees. Elderberry is one of our potent antiviral medicines. A fantastic herb to store at this time of year to have on hand if you feel run down or can sense the start of a cold or flu settling in.

After I've blended elderberry with other immune boosting herbs in the Heartfelt Herbs Immune Tune-Up syrup, I also always make a big batch of elderberry honey to use with my family.

It’s a delicious and simple way to keep the protection of elderberry close at hand over the winter months.

Elderberry Honey

Pick your elderberries and then using a fork, pop the berries off the stalks into a bowl.

Place the berries into a pan, cover with boiling water so they are just submerged and then simmer gently for 30 minutes with a lid on the pan.

When the liquid is cool enough, strain the berries out using a muslin.

Measure the liquid that you have strained, This is your extract.

Return the liquid to the pan and reheat.

While it is warming up add twice as much honey as liquid.

Stir well for 10 minutes while the honey and elderberry extract combine into a syrup

Pour into sterilised bottles or jars.

Keep in the fridge and take a tablespoon a day as preventative medicine.

 

If you feel a cold or flu coming on, you can start taking the syrup every few hours until you feel better.

I like to put a big table spoon in hot water with grated lemon and ginger, Or add to an infusion of other immune boosting or fever reducing herbs like lemon balm, yarrow, mint, cleavers or elderflower.