Immune-Boosting Elderberry Tea

It is no secret that I’m a fan of elderberries. I’ve talked about how I’ve used elderberry syrup to help our family avoid the flu for the last several years, but I can’t begin to really express how grateful I am for this natural remedy.

Imagine for a moment five small children… all getting the flu… at the same time…

That is yet to happen in our house and I think elderberries are one of the reasons why. I even make elderberry gummies that are a favorite with the “under 5” crowd at our house…

Elderberries for Grownups

Nothing against elderberry gummies, but I prefer my gelatin in my coffee and my elderberries in my tea. I do still take elderberry syrup, especially if I feel like I’m starting to get a cold, but this soothing tea is my favorite for everyday use.

This tea is so simple to make and can be consumed hot or cold.  It has a naturally sweet flavor on its own from the elderberries, but a small amount of raw honey can be added for flavor if needed.

I like adding herbs like cinnamon and turmeric for flavor and added benefits, but these aren’t necessary either if they aren’t your thing. If you don’t like the flavor of elderberry alone, you can make this with an herbal tea bag like peppermint or chamomile to mellow out the flavor.

Where to get Elderberries

Elderberries can be wild-crafted but if you aren’t an experienced and trained wild-crater or herbalist, I’d highly recommend hiring one to teach you how to find and properly store the berries. The berries themselves are considered safe but they must be properly dried and separated from the leaves and stems (these parts of the plant can cause digestive problems).

Elderberries are safest to use after they have been properly dried and there are other plants that resemble elderberries that are not safe. If you want to harvest your own- go for it, but make sure you have someone qualified to teach you how!

See more Here