During a morning walk I saw these clusters of small berries in different patches on the side of the road. The leaves looked like Water Hemlock but those don’t produce berries. I also remembered reading that elderberry plants resemble hemlock. After taking pictures of the plant to double check, I confirmed they were elderberries. I couldn’t wait to make elderberry syrup.
How to Forage for Elderberries
Elderberry bushes grow on the side of the road in ditches or near wet areas. They can grow between 5 and 10 feet tall. Berries are ripe when they turn a dark purple. They form a large cluster of tiny berries. In the Spring they look almost identical to Water Hemlock so be very careful. Water Hemlock is very toxic but does not produce berries at all. To collect the berries snip the stem at the base of the cluster. Collect enough to fill up 2 gallon buckets.
Making Elderberry Syrup
The next step is to remove all those tiny berries from the stems. Rinse the berries and put them in a heavy bottomed pot. How ever many cups of berries you have, add an equal amount of water. Let that simmer until half the water has evaporated. This process should take at least thirty minutes. While the elderberry syrup is simmering add either a cinnamon stick, some cloves, ginger or even lemon juice. When the syrup has reduced by half, strain using a fine mesh colander and a wooden spoon. I pressed the berries down to release all the juice. Add honey to your liking. The berries are very bitter so keep that in mind if you are making this for children. Store syrup in a mason jar. It should last in the fridge for two months and can also be canned in a water bath for 10 minutes.
This is great to have on hand and use at the first sign of illness. The recommended dosage is two teaspoons.
Be well!
