How to Process Elderberries
Elderberries can not be consumed directly, they must be processed into a syrup before enjoying. Here’s how:
Step 1: Harvesting
The berries present on long stems with a fan shaped head. The elderberry head is where the berries are located.
Look for elderberry heads that are almost all purple.
Pick the long stem, then cut off as much stem material as possible.
Place elderberry in bucket for weighing.
Once home, freeze the berries for a day.
Take out berries and shake and rub the berries into a bag to remove from stems.
Wash berries.
Step 2: Assemble Ingredients
3 cups of clean de stemmed elderberry.
1 cup of water.
3 tablespoons of raw honey.
1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
Dash of vanilla extract and pinch of ground clove.
Step 2: Making Syrup
Place 3 cups of clean elderberry in a saucepan, cover with one cup of water and place on simmer.
Cover pan and simmer on low for 30 minutes.
Check color and taste, do not over simmer, this can bring out bitterness in the syrup.
Strain liquid and berries through fine mesh, taking a wooden spoon and mashing the remains berries against the mesh to get all the juice out of the berries.
Immediately add honey, lemon juice and other flavorings. Add more honey if you want it sweeter.
Ladle elderberry syrup into canning jar. Sterilize canning jar before adding elderberry syrup. Seal tightly.
To preserve your syrup, place sealed canning jar in canning pot, bring to boil for 10 minutes.
Remove jars, best using canning tongs. Place on rack or towel.