Autumn 2018 - General discussion

https://twitter.com/LaoisWeather/status/1044161613690011648

Yep.. elderberries... see the official blurb.. all my blossom here got destroyed by Hector the Wrecktor, else would have combined them in jam with the blackberries

"The elderberry tree has been used medicinally for hundreds of years and is often known as the "people's medicine chest" because of its many uses. The bark, stems, and leaves have been traditionally used as healing poultices. Ingesting any of these parts in sufficient quantity can cause a toxic build up of cyanide in the body, so please don't do that, okay?

The berries, rich in flavonoid antioxidants, potassium, and Vitamin C, strengthen the immune system. They're very effective in treating autoimmune disorders or severe immune depletion after long-term antibiotic use.

Because they're filled with anthocyanins that have an anti-inflammatory effect, easing aches, pain and fever, elderberries are often administered to lessen the symptoms and shorten the duration of a cold, cough, and flu. They're also great for hormonally-induced nausea (hello, morning sickness) when combined with ginger.

When foraging for elderberries, you want to avoid picking the red ones. Look for nice ripe dark berries. The elderberry is highly astringent and could potentially make you sick if you eat a bunch of them raw. Cooking not only neutralizes them, but it also enhances the unique flavor of the berry.

So, what pray tell, did I do with all those wild elderberries that found me? I made a syrup that I can keep on hand to ward off any nasty bugs that may come calling during cold and flu season. Bonus: it's also yummy drizzled over pancakes or ice cream. *wink*


Elderberry Syrup
2 C fresh elderberries or 1 C dried
3 C filtered water
1 C local raw honey

Removing the berries from their clusters can be a tedious process. Trust me. Here's a tip I garnered from an old Anishinaabe medicine man: place the clusters in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer. Once frozen, just shake the bag and most of the berries will fall off the little stems. You can keep any extra elderberries in the freezer to make additional batches of the syrup as you need it.

Method:
1. Combine the berries and water in a stainless steel stockpot. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the concoction is reduced by about half.

2. Mash the berries and then strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer.

3. Return the juice to heat and add any additional herbs and spices you'd like – try ginger, cloves, and/or cinnamon. Simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off heat.

4. Strain again and return to pot. Add honey and stir well until it melts. Besides contributing its own medicinal qualities, the honey acts as a preservative here. If you choose to use agave nectar or another sweetener instead, you'll need to add alcohol as a preservative: either 3-4 ounces of brandy or 100 proof vodka. Weeeeeee!

5. When the syrup has cooled, put it into bottles (or jars, but bottles will make for easier pouring). Label, date and store in the refrigerator.

Meteorite58 wrote: »

I believe they can cause Nausea and upset stomach if eaten uncooked. I remember as kids a group of us all missed a day from school after eating them and getting sick after. I'm a bit skeptical about eating them since then. Might just leave them for the wildlife . Starlings often arrive en masse and clean them out.