Homemade Elderberry Syrup, the Homestead Way (Jess's Kitchen Method)
There's something about a pot simmering on the back of the stove in late October. The kitchen gets warm, the windows fog a little, and the whole house smells like cinnamon and cloves. This week we're sharing a short recap of a kitchen video we enjoyed from Jess at Roots and Refuge Farm, where she walks through how she makes homemade elderberry syrup the homestead way.
What goes in the pot
Jess starts with dried elderberries and adds rose hips, fresh ginger, cinnamon, and whole cloves. Everything goes into a pot with water, and she lets it simmer for about forty-five minutes. As it cooks down, the liquid turns a deep, dark purple and the spices fill the kitchen. It's a simple list, and most of it is the kind of thing a homemaker already keeps in the pantry or can find on our shelf.
Cool it first, then the honey
Once the simmering is done, Jess strains the berries and spices out and lets the pot cool. Only after it has cooled does she stir in raw honey. For little ones under one year old, she uses maple syrup instead of honey, since honey isn't given to babies that young. That's a good kitchen habit to remember any time honey is on the counter.
Keeping it in the fridge
Homemade syrup like this doesn't have the shelf life of a store bottle, so Jess keeps her jar in the refrigerator and makes a fresh batch as she needs it. A clean glass jar with a tight lid works well. Some families like to write the date on a piece of masking tape on the lid so they know when the batch was made.
Jess also talks about how a homemade batch compares in cost with buying bottles at the store. That part of the video is her own experience and her own math, and it's worth a watch if you're the kind of person who likes to tally up the grocery list.
Her words, not a clinic order
Everything above is Jess's kitchen method and her family's habit. We're sharing it because it's a lovely, practical bit of homemaking, not as a recommendation from our clinic. This post isn't medical advice and doesn't replace a conversation with your own doctor. If you have questions about whether something is right for you or your family, ask your doctor.
If you'd like to make your own, or skip the stove
On our shelf in Lucedale you'll find Certified Organic Elderberries for anyone who wants to try a batch at home, along with Dr. Casey's Elderberry Syrup Kit, which gathers the dry ingredients in one bag. If you'd rather skip the simmering, we also carry Dr. Casey's Organic Elderberry Syrup, ready made. We haven't listed prices here; stop by or check the online shop.
The shop is open Monday through Friday. If you have a question about a product, call us at (601) 947-0250 (calls only).
Credit
Inspiration only: Roots and Refuge Farm (Jess), "How to Make Homemade Elderberry Syrup," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IkaaE06VS4. No footage from her video was used. Our short recap uses our own still images and music.
Stanford Clinic & Herb Shop · Lucedale, MS
Comments