Elderberries

Information

To make elderberry tea, use about 1 to 2 tablespoons of dried elderberries per cup of water, simmering them with water (and optional spices like cinnamon) for 20-30 minutes to extract flavor and benefits, then straining before serving, often sweetened with honey.

A common ratio is 2 tablespoons of dried berries for 2 cups of water.

Basic Elderberry Tea Recipe:

Ingredients: 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons dried elderberries.

Optional: 1 cinnamon stick, a few cloves, fresh ginger, or lemon slicesand honey or sweetener to taste.

Instructions: Combine water, dried elderberries, and any spices (except lemon) in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes (or up to 30 minutes for a stronger tea). Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the berries and spices. Stir in honey and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired and serve warm.

WARNING: You should not eat elderberries raw because they contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps; these toxins are neutralized by cooking, making the berries safe for syrups, jams, pies, and wines. Always cook elderberries thoroughly before consumption, as even ripe berries can cause illness when raw, and other parts of the plant (stems, leaves, roots) are also toxic.

How to safely consume elderberries: Cook thoroughly by simmering for 20-30 minutes to destroy the toxic compounds.

30-gram bag
Origin: Bulgaria

Organic