Elderberry Syrup Recipe

This Healthy Tonic Doubles as a Delicious Mocktail

I enjoy a good homemade tonic —both making and drinking one. Earlier this month I shared my experience with making (and imbibing) fire cider.

I like to think of fire cider as the sativa of tonics — it wakes you up, energizes you, and helps you get things done.

If you’re looking for more of an indica tonic, a lovely bevvy that boosts immunity while helping you relax, may I suggest elderberry syrup?

Health Benefits

I tend to consume intuitively, but I do love to know the scientific take on things I eat and drink, especially if I’m writing about them.

“Elderberry syrup is known as a powerful cold preventative and remedy. Just one cup of berries contains about 58% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. It’s also a great source of antioxidants — which may protect your cells from damage and help prevent heart disease and cancer.” — WebMD

Mocktail Yumminess

So how best to imbibe elderberry syrup?

Well, I think it makes a damn fine #mocktail mixed with bubbly water and a bit of #lemon.

As I’m doing Dry January (and I wrote a book about it!), I love #mocktail recipes.

The Recipe

1 cup of dried elderberries

4 cups of water

1 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder

1 1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup raw organic honey

Put all the ingredients except the honey in a large pot and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer for about 45 minutes. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then strain the liquid into a clean bottle or jar. To get the most juice from the berries, mash them with a wooden spoon. Finally, add the cup of honey. Shake well! Store the bottle in the fridge.

Have You Any Tonics You’d Like to Share?

I’m enjoying making these home tonics!

Even if they have no benefit for my health — and I believe they do, so at least there’s the placebo effect — the whole process makes me feel that I’m being proactive about my health rather than just buying what “they” tell me to buy, something made in some faraway land, something right off the shelf of a corporate-owned box store.

Do you have any healthy, homemade tonic recipes you’d like to share?

Please let me know in the comments!