How to make Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry is the one herb that you fill find most consistently used in my home throughout the fall and winter months.

While you can, of course, buy various versions of prepared elderberry syrups in stores, I find preparing it myself or with my children to be a wonderful way to stay in tune with nature and all its medicinal bounty.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cups of dried elderberries
• 3.5 cups of water
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger peeled and sliced
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp dried rosemary

Directions:

• Place the elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, in a saucepan and cover with the water. On high heat, bring the mixture to a boil and immediately reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat, adding the thyme and rosemary. Stir well and let the herbs steep for approximately 5 minutes.
• Strain the mixture through a strainer, make sure to really extract the liquid from the berries.
• Let the mixture cool and only then add honey to taste. Store in refrigerator.
• Add local raw honey to taste