Elderberry elixir for immune boosting

Every August i forage for my favourite berry. Eaten raw it can be toxic, especially the red variety. But i like the purple berries that look like small clustered blueberries.

When i first experimented with an elder berry elixir it was a forager named Hank that i resonated with for my recipe. 3 years later and i still make my blend like a liquor. As a medicine taken by a spoonful or a shot sipped like a apres dinner liqueur…this is my favourite blend. Vodka, honey lemon peel and elderberries.

So why this berry? They are a powerful antioxidant and can help boost immunity, reduce the duration of colds and flus as well as help with sinus infections and constipation, to name a few. It’s actually anthocyanin in the berry that works to clear free radicals that damage cells. It has anti inflammatory benefits too. So those aches we get when we’re sick can be supported rather that taking anti inflammatory drugs. It tempers the immune response. Studies in 2016 from Australia toted its benefits for upper respiratory infections in air travel passengers and in 2019 a study suggested that upper airway symptoms substantially.

These berries can also be cooked and the alcohol omitted to make syrups for children. Hank the forager makes meat rubs as well. Check him out @ honest-food.net