Elderberry & Ginger Winter Remedy Recipe

(The recipe is at the bottom of the text)

Storing quantities of this 'Elderberry & Ginger Winter Remedy' for when required, should be a staple of all natural health loving households.

Elderberries have long been known by wise old women to be an excellent natural all round medicine (probably a few wise old men too).  This is something I was born and raised with, and still continue to practise today.

I found several ideas for a medicinal version of the popular elderberry cordial, but they all contained sugar and none contained ginger.  So I ended up concocting this recipe, which embodies everything I consider good for combating colds, pesky sore throats, bacterial and viral infections, as well as creating something you can take daily to help combat cholesterol, improve your vision, as a diuretic, boost your immune system, help with allergies, as an antioxidant, and much more.  Elderberries are also slightly laxative in nature, and so will help regulate a sluggish bowel, in a very gentle way.

In Chinese medicine they is used to treat rheumatism and bodily injuries.

Some studies have also begun to indicate that Elderberries have a role to play in combating cancer and some other immune diseases - the anthocyanins help to rebuild damaged cells, as well as protect them via the immune system.

It's a new take on the old saying about an apple a day, "A spoonful a day keeps the doctor away" (sorry apples).  But this is something I have done for years throughout the winter.

The compounds found in Elderberries are many, and include vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B, amino acids, tannin, rutin, carotenooids, flavonoids (anthocyanins), viburnic acid, and a lot more.

Elderberry & Ginger Winter Remedy Recipe


Ingredients

(The exact quantities are not important, but are more guidelines)

2 lb Elderberries - measured when de-stalked so just the clean berries remain

3 teacups Water

3 teacups Honey

Organic whole Lemon

2 inch piece fresh root Ginger


Directions

1.     Put the clean berries into a stainless steel saucepan, add the water. 

2.     Add the juice of the lemon to the berries, and the peel also.  Making sure to NOT include the 'pith', which is the bitter white layer beneath the peel/skin and before the actual lemon segments.  It is important that the lemon is organic, as non-organic lemons have wax and other nasty chemicals on the skins.

3.     Chop the fresh ginger root into small bits, and add them to the berry mix also.

4.     Bring to the boil and then simmer gently for about 50 minutes.  Keep the lid on the saucepan, so as not to loose any of the precious juice by condensation and evaporation.  If it looks like the water is too low, add another cup.

5.     Turn off the heat and mash the berries with a potato masher, until as much juice as possible is extracted from the berries.

6.     Strain the juice and mashed berries through a muslin cloth, or another suitable fine meshed fruit/wine making strainer.  Return the liquid to a clean saucepan.  The remaining squished berries, lemon bits and ginger are great on the compost heap, given to chickens, or maybe the birds would enjoy them.

7.     Add the honey to the mixture in the saucepan.

8.     Turn the heat back on, slowly bringing the mixture to the boil.  Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.  Again, keep the lid on the saucepan so as not to loose any of the liquid.

9.     While still hot, pour into sterilised bottles and screw the lids on immediately.  Tip each bottle upside down for a couple of minutes to ensure complete sterilisation of the lids etc.

This will keep for at least a year, maybe more.  But obviously, making fresh batches each year is best, as you will then have fresh berries each year.



Please note:  The above recipe is recommended as an aid to good health, combating a cold, sore throats, coughs and the flu.  It is in no way intended to be medical advice - if you are at all worried, see your doctor.

Elderberry Cordial (with Cloves) - Recipe 1

I have decided to conduct an experiment.  I intend to make several different batches of Elderberry Cordial this year, using different recipe ideas.

I'll post each recipe as I make it, and then add the 'taste test' results at the bottom of each post (as well as a summary Post when I run out of berries).  I'll also add information about the preservation qualities of each recipe batch as the winter progresses.

This cordial, when combined with water, is the perfect winter pick-me-up drink, and is also an excellent cold and flu preventative and remedy.  It is full of vitamins, especially vitamin C, plus antioxidants and much more.

One last thing - this makes a great Christmas gift, especially if part of a homemade gift box.


Elderberry & Clove Cordial   -  Recipe 1

Elderberries (cut the whole flower/berry heads from the bush )
Sugar
Cloves

1. Pick the elderberries on a dry day.  Remove the berries from the stalks by 'combing' them off with a fork. Make sure all insects and mouldy berries are discarded.

2. Stew the berries in a large covered stainless steel saucepan, with just enough water to cover the berries. This will take about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, but keep covered so as not to allow the juice to evaporate.

3. Strain it all through muslin, squeezing to get all the juice out.

4. To each pint of juice add 1 lb of white granulated sugar and 10 cloves.

5. Boil for 10 minutes.

6. Allow the liquid to cool.

7. Bottle the cordial in sterile bottles with good quality plastic screw-on tops, making sure you distribute the cloves evenly amongst the bottles (they act as a preservative). You can use recycled drink bottles and mini wine bottles are brilliant.

The cordial can be used immediately, but will also keep well for a year or two.

*TASTE TEST*

This recipe has a really festive aroma and taste, mainly due to the cloves.  The resulting drink, once watered down, is especially nice served hot.

Taken with hot water it is renowned as a guard against colds, and a glass a day through winter is a wise precaution...

10 Best Natural Cold Remedies

Here is a list of my 10 favourite ways to fight off that awful cold and sore throat that is wrecking your life.  

I was inspired to compile this post whilst lying in bed all night, unable to sleep, with a suddenly swollen rough sore throat, sinuses bunged up through my head to my popping ears (although my nose has managed so far to keep small passages open to breathe a bit), gritty watering red eyes, a wheezing chest with a mucus cough and swollen glands in my neck (obviously fighting off the germs invading me).  Otherwise known as a common cold.

The following list of natural, and mostly homemade remedies, is compiled from many years of suffering, over many generations!

Firstly, and very important, YOU DON'T NEED ANTIBIOTICS.  They are only required if you get an infection that your body can't fight off naturally, such as sinusitis or bronchitis.  They will not affect your common cold, which is a VIRUS.  And there are many of them.

1.    Elderberries   
  

It's not just some old wives tale your Granny used to waffle on about.  Nor some kind of witchy cleverness.  Elderberries are in fact an easily accessible, locally growing Superfood!

Elderberry cordial or syrup is well known as a cold prevention remedy, as well as helping to knock it for six once you are are afflicted.

This recipe includes cloves, which are another amazing preventative and curative natural aid to combating colds and flu.

http://www.wildcottage.blogspot.ie/2013/11/the-magic-of-elderberries.html


2.    Ginger

I use an old ginger tea recipe that I think my Great Aunt gave me, but I can't remember exactly.  Needless to say I've used it forever - and it seriously works.  Especially on the sore throats.

The website below has exactly the same recipe and process, and it is presented very clearly.

http://www.learningherbs.com/flu_home_remedy_tea.html

If you are REALLY sick and want it extra strong, just add more ginger !


3      Gargling with Raspberry Leaves and Salt

If you have a sore throat, this is the way to go.  There are various old remedies you can use to gargle your sore throat away...

Gargling with salted water (use natural sea salt) moistens your throat and brings temporary relief to the symptoms.  The salt will also help to kill any germs and nasty bacteria sticking to your throat.

Use half a teaspoon of salt, dissolved in 8ozs of warm water.  Do this 4 times a day for the best results.

To reduce that really annoying tickle, try an 'astringent' gargle.  Use tea that contains tannin, that's black tea; this will tighten the membranes. Or use a thick gargle made with honey or honey and apple cider vinegar mixed.

Alternatively, soak 1 tablespoon of raspberry leaves (or lemon juice but its not as potent) in 2 cups of hot water, soak for at leaves 15 minutes maybe more; stir in 1 teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling.

4     Drink Loads of Water

This is vital to help keep your body hydrated, especially as you may have a slight temperature while your body's immune system battles with the cold germs.

It could also help keep the mucus in your nose and sinuses thinner, and therefore make it easier to remove it when you need to blow your nose.

5     Vitamin C

There has been a fair amount of research to back up this old wives tale, and as is usually the case, our grannies and the local 'healer' knew their stuff.

More natural ways you can add vitamin C to your body is via the food you eat.  Everything from oranges, lemons and grapefruits, to peppers and chillies.  Eat masses of fruit and a good variety of vegetables.  If you can't eat much as you feel too ill, then make a smooth soup from a wide selection of the vegetables, or a pure juice drink by juicing a selection of fruit.

Nowadays the easiest way to take vitamin C is by dissolving a tablet in water and drinking the fizzing concoction that results.  You need around 1000mg to 1500mg to help fight off the cold.  Vitamin C does this by aiding your immune system.  It can also help get rid of your cold faster.

6     Chicken Soup

I had no idea why this works, but I just knew it did !  So I did some research...

Apparently the fumes that come off the hot soup, contain cysteine - that's the stuff that you can or cannot smell, depending on how stuffed up your nose is - that help to release the mucus, at the same time thinning it, so aiding the process whereby your cold goes away faster.  

It also helps the body to fight the virus, and contains many needed nutrients if well made.

7     Garlic

Crush 2 cloves of fresh garlic and put into a small glass of water - drink it fast and you won't notice the taste if you are lucky !

If you are pregnant, don't use more than 1 garlic clove.

Garlic is a natural antifungal, antibiotic and is antibacterial.  It is a very powerful plant.

8     Cinnamon

Cinnamon, like garlic, is an antibiotic and is antiviral - and remember a cold is caused by various viruses.

Stir 2 tablespoons of cinnamon power into 2 teaspoonfuls of good quality honey and a little warm water.  Take half of this straight away, and the rest in a few hours.  You can always make another lot after that, if you still need it.  This will help to reduce your cough, help keep your temperature down and help with any congestion.

9     Yarrow Tea

You can buy yarrow tea or tea bags from your local health food store - unless of course you are lucky enough to have the wild plant handy nearby.

The tea is very bitter, so sweeten it with honey or stevia, and maybe mix it with a berry tea such as blackberry, raspberry or rosehip.

10    Rest Yourself

This is not as obvious as it seems.  

Rest is important when you have the cold virus, as in order to let the body's immune system do it's thing, you need to let it rest.  This helps the healing process along quicker.

*The above article/blog post is in no way designed to take the place of medical advice.  It is merely my own personal experience.  If you are at all worried, or your symptoms are not going away after a week or so, you should consult a medical professional.

Elderflower Cordial Recipe

It's that time of year again - late spring/early summer - and the Elder bushes are in bud here, half way up the west coast of Ireland.  This means I have to make sure that I have all the ingredients I need to make my Elderflower cordial, ready and waiting for when the flowers finally open.

sambucus nigra flowers

Elder bushes, or sambucus nigra, are more like a large shrub, or a small bushy tree, and when the flowers finally open it is for such a short time.  This is a real shame because the blooms are truly beautiful, and so elegant.  The colour of perfect pale cream wedding dresses.

sambucus nigra bush in flower

Wiki page link for sambucus_nigra




The Elder bush has many very well documented medicinal and food uses, which I will write about in my next couple of blog posts.  But for today I wanted to share one of the recipes I use to make Elderflower Cordial, as just maybe you already have the flowers blooming in your area.

Elderflower cordial is simply divine diluted with water, but sparkling water will at that extra special zip !  And for a really heavenly treat, add it neat to vermouth and a slice of lemon.

If you fancy vanilla ice cream, then try it with undiluted Elderflower cordial drizzled over it...

I have several recipes for this cordial, and to be honest this one is probably my favourite.  I'm not sure why, but it keeps well and, for me, that is very important.

If you want to make sure the cordial lasts a long time, pour it into small plastic bottles (small Fanta or Coke bottles are perfect) and freeze it.  Remember to leave at least an inch gap at the top, to allow for the cordial to expand when it freezes.  Take out a bottle at a time to use, and keep it in the fridge once defrosted.

Elderflower Cordial Recipe

(taken from the BBC Good Food website - I adapted this from the original recipe by Jane Hornby)

Ingredients

Elderflower heads - 20 complete heads

White sugar - 5lbs 5ozs (2.5kg)

Organic lemons - 2 (if not organic, then at least unwaxed)

Citric acid - 3ozs (85g)

Water - 2.75 pints (1.5 litres) (preferably with no fluoride or chlorine)

Instructions

1       Remove most of the zest from the 2 lemons, being careful not to include any of the white pith.  Then slice the lemons.  Put all this to one side for a minute.

2       Trim the flower head stalks, leaving just enough to hold the heads together.  Swish them around gently in a large bowl of cold water.  This is to remove any small wildlife, dust and other unwanted debris.

3        Put the water and sugar together into a large stainless steel saucepan. Simmer gently without boiling, until the sugar has all dissolved and you have a clear sugar syrup.  Stir to prevent bottom sticking and to help the dissolving.

4       Bring the sugar syrup to boiling point now, and once boiling, take it completely off the heat.

5        Put the flower heads, citric acid, lemon zest and sliced lemons into the hot sugar syrup, stirring them well.

6        Cover the saucepan, making sure no insects or dust can get in.  Leave to infuse for 24 to 36 hours.

7        Strain the cold mixture.  One of the easiest ways to do this is to take a large colander and a clean tea towel.  Line the colander with the tea towel, and place the colander over a very clean bowl.  Pour or ladle the now cold mixture into the colander to drain through into the bowl.  Do NOT press or squeeze the solids to try and get more liquid/cordial out, as this will simply make the cordial cloudy and may also make it slightly bitter.

8        Pour the strained cordial into sterilised bottles; glass if being stored on a shelf or in the fridge, plastic if being stored in a freezer.

Notes

* You could also freeze the cordial in ice cube trays.  Once frozen, pop them out and store in bags, taking out only what is required each time.

* It is very important that all utensils and pans etc be properly sterilised.  Failure to do this will result in fungus and other growth inside the bottles, and the cordial will be unusable.

* Storage - in the fridge about 6 weeks, frozen up to 1 year, on a cool shelf maybe 2-4 weeks.

* Alternative flavouring - why not add a vanilla pod to a bottle or two, for  a slightly different flavour.

The Magic of Elderberries

How to Get Rid of the Flu, or Better Still Avoid it Altogether
 
Elderberry & Clove Cordial Recipe click here



It's not just some old wives tale your Granny used to waffle on about.  Nor some kind of witchy cleverness.  Elderberries are in fact an easily accessible, locally growing Superfood!

Well local if you live, like me, in Ireland.  They are also prolific in the UK, and grow across North America and Europe.  I don't know if Elder grows in Australia or anywhere else in the world not mentioned.  And there are hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties.

Many people years ago took a glass of Elderberry & Clove Cordial/Syrup, that they had gathered and made themselves, every day.  This kept colds and flu at bay, and if you did contract something like this, it would only last a couple of days and be less severe.

Quote:
"In 1992, a team of Israeli scientists studied the effect of elderberry on flu patients. During a flu epidemic, half of their patients were given an elderberry syrup, the other half a placebo. The results: within 24 hours, 20% of the patients receiving elderberry had gotten significantly better. Within two days, 75% of the elderberry group were much improved; within 3 days 90% were completely cured.
Among the placebo group, only 8% of patients improved within 24 hours and it was a full 6 days before 90% of the patients were cured."
and
"Studies have even shown that elderberry worked better than prescription remedies such as Tamiflu and Relenza.  Take that, Big Pharma!"

Both the above quotes are from a blog 'TennZen' Elderberry Natural Flu Fighter

Elderberry Cordial Recipe

It's that time of year again !








Elderberries, aka Sambucus or Elder, are now everywhere and if you are really fast (and lucky) you can beat the birds to them and make lots of delicious drinks and food. Over the next few days I will post lots of elderberry recipes for various things, so that we can all make the most of nature's free food.

Elderberries contain huge amounts of vitamin C, and are a very old traditional remedy for colds and viruses in many countries. The old ways are often some of the best ways.

Remember though to never pick all the berries from a bush or an area, as the local birds also rely on the elderberries as a very valuable source of food at this time of year.

Another thing... Try not to pick the berries from alongside a busy road or in a town, as these will be full of toxins and chemicals pumped out from car and lorry exhausts. Disgusting and somewhat poisonous !

So here is the first of my elderberry recipes, and my favourite...

Elderberry & Clove Cordial

Elderberries (removed from stalks - use a fork and comb them off)
Sugar
Cloves

1. Pick the elderberries on a dry day. Make sure all insects and mouldy berries are discarded.

2. Stew the berries in a large covered stainless steel saucepan, with just enough water to cover the berries. This will take about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, but keep covered so as not to evaporate the juice.

3. Strain it all through muslin, squeezing to get all the juice out.

4. To each pint of juice add 1 lb of white granulated sugar and 10 cloves.

5. Boil for 10 minutes.

6. Allow the liquid to cool.

7. Bottle the cordial in sterile bottles with good quality plastic screw-on tops, making sure you distribute the cloves evenly amongst the bottles (they act as a preservative). You can use recycled drink bottles and mini wine bottles are brilliant.

The cordial can be used immediately, but will also keep well for a year or two.

Taken with hot water it is renowned as a guard against colds, and a glass a day through winter is a wise precaution...

Blackberry Cordial and Sunshine !

At last the sun is shining ! Well it did until 5pm, now there are those rather ominous grey puffy jobs floating around above me and threatening to stop me playing in the garden (weeding and strimming).

Free Food
I am going out in a few minutes to pick my first blackberries of the year (assuming it doesn't rain). I have a load growing under one of the bird tables, as well as the millions in the hedges around the place, and it's a race to beat the birds to them ! I will be making some blackberry jam and some blackberry cordial with this batch MMMM.

Blackberry cordial (along with elderberry cordial) is an age old remedy for warding off colds etc through the winter. I always make a few batches and have a warm glass of it every evening through the cold months, and touch wood, rarely get a cold.

I'll post my recipe for blackberry jam tomorrow, but for now here is how I make blackberry cordial...

Blackberry Cordial Recipe

Blackberries
Whole Allspice
Whole Cloves
1 piece of stick Cinnamon
Granulated Sugar
Water

1. Pick the fruit on a dry day and stew in a large stainless steel saucepan, with just enough water to cover.

2. Strain through muslin, squeezing to get all the juice.

3. To each pint of juice add 1 lb of white granulated sugar and 10 cloves. Add the allspice and cinnamon in a muslin bag at this point also.

4. Boil for 10 minutes.

5. Allow to cool just a bit and remove the muslin bag.

6. Whilst still hot, bottle in sterile glass bottles with good quality screw-on tops, making sure you distribute the cloves evenly amongst the bottles (they act as a preservative). I use recycled bottles from a friend's bar and clean them well. Bottling & sealing whilst hot creates a vacuum and helps the cordial to last longer.

The cordial can be used immediately, but will also keep well for a year or two. It's used diluted 1 part cordial to 5-7 parts water, depending on your taste. It's also great when added to vodka or rum...

Taken with hot water it is renowned as a guard against colds, and a glass a day through winter is a very effective precaution.