Elderberry Syrup

 

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• 3½ cups water
• ⅔ cup dried elderberries (or 1 1/3 cups fresh or frozen)
• 2 TBSP ginger (grated)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• 1 cup raw honey

Instructions:

• Pour the water into a medium saucepan and add the elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
• Bring to a boil and then uncover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half.
• Remove from heat and let cool until it is cool enough to be handled.
• Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil.
• Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
• Discard the elderberries and let the liquid cool to lukewarm.
• When it is no longer hot, add the honey and stir well.
• When the honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a  mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.

Instant Pot option: Put all ingredients except honey in pot, seal lid, and set manually for 9 minutes on high pressure. Vent pressure and strain. When cooled to room temperature, stir in the honey.

Standard dose is ½ - 1 teaspoon for kids and ½ - 1 tablespoon for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.