Homemade Elderberry Juice
It’s very easy to make your own elderberry juice to drink on its own or to make it into a syrup for all its immune-boosting, health-promoting properties.
Servings 8 servings
Cost $2
Equipment
- steam juicer optional
Ingredients
- 5 pounds elderberries larger stems and leaves picked off
- 2 quarts water
Instructions
- Fill the bottom of the steam juicer with at least 10 cups of water. Place the top part back on the juicer and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Fill the top portion of the juicer with your elderberries. I recommend picking out any green berries. I typically throw the elderberry clusters in there with the little stems but cut off the bigger stems and leaves. NOTE: Raw elderberries as well as the leaves and stems are mildly toxic (they contain cyanogenic glycosides).
- Once the water is boiling turn it to simmer. The steam will extract the juice from the berries and will pool in the middle portion.
- Either periodically or all at once, fill the clean jars or glass bottles with the steaming hot juice and close the lid.
Notes
- you can drink this juice straight from the jar or add your favorite sweetener to taste
- you can also put the elderberries in a large pot, barely cover them with water, gently boil them for about 30 minutes, mash them with a potato masher, and put the juice through a fine mesh sieve
- this elderberry juice is perfect as it is or as a base for your elderberry syrup
