It is no secret that I’m a fan of elderberries. I shared how I use elderberry syrup to help our family avoid the flu for the last several years, but I can’t begin to really express how grateful I am for this natural remedy.

Imagine for a moment five small children… all getting the flu… at the same time…

That is yet to happen in our house and I think elderberries are one of the reasons why. I even make elderberry gummies that are a favorite with the “under 5” crowd at our house…

Elderberries for Grownups

Nothing against elderberry gummies, but I prefer my gelatin in my coffee and my elderberries in my tea. I do still take elderberry syrup, especially if I feel like I’m starting to get a cold, but this soothing tea is my favorite for everyday use in cooler months.

You can make this delicious tea in only a few minutes and adjust the flavors to your taste. It has a naturally sweet flavor on its own from the elderberries, but a small amount of raw honey can be added for flavor if needed.

I like adding herbs like cinnamon and turmeric for flavor and added benefits, but these aren’t necessary either if they aren’t your thing. If you don’t like the flavor of elderberry alone, you can make this with an herbal tea bag like peppermint or chamomile to mellow out the flavor.

Where to get Elderberries

You can wildcraft  elderberries (pick your own) if you have a trusted source. If you aren’t an experienced and trained wild-crafter or herbalist, I’d highly recommend hiring one to teach you how to find and properly store the berries because they can be harmful if not harvested correctly. The berries themselves are safe but they must be properly dried and separated from the leaves and stems (these parts of the plant can cause digestive problems).

Elderberries are safest to use after they have been properly dried and there are other plants that resemble elderberries that are not safe. If you want to harvest your own- go for it, but make sure you have someone qualified to teach you how!

Most of the time, I order organic dried elderberries in bulk (or on Amazon here) since they are much less expensive this way. I store them in our deep freeze between uses and they last for years this way. They last years this way and I stock up when they are available.

Super-Simple Elderberry Tea Recipe:

Immune-Boosting Elderberry Tea

• prep 5 minscook 15 minstotal 20 mins
• author wellness mama
• yield 2

This delicious immune-boosting homemade elderberry tea is made with dried elderberries, herbs and spices.

Ingredients

• 16 ounces of filtered water (here is the water filter we use)
• 2 tablespoons dried elderberries
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp raw honey (optional)

Instructions

• First, put the water and elderberries into a small saucepan.
• Add turmeric and cinnamon.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. This helps bring out the beneficial properties of the elderberries.
• Remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
• Finally, strain through a fine mesh strainer and pour into individual mugs.
• Stir in raw honey (if using).
• If you prefer to drink this cool, pour into a mason jar and allow to cool, then refrigerate until cold.

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