A few years ago when I first began researching the different benefits of herbal tea blends, one of the first that I tried was an elderberry tea recipe. Not only did the taste amaze me, but I love how many benefits of elderberry there are just jam packed in a hot cup of elderberry tea!
If you’re a fan of wild berries, this immune boosting tea should be right up your alley. Years after I first began making my own, it is still one of my favorites!
If you’ve ever had your entire family come down sick at once, it will become one of your favorites too.
How to Make Elderberry Tea
If drinking herbal teas is not your thing, you can still cash in on the health benefits of elderberries by taking an elderberry syrup instead. I really like THIS one. The taste is amazing!
Jump to RecipeDo Elderberries Really Boost Your Immune System
The short answer is yes. Elderberries are literally jam packed with Vitamin C as well as iron, B12 (energy!), calcium, and Vitamin A. We know that Vitamin C is one of the keys to a healthy immune system. In addition, elderberries are full of phytochemicals which are antioxidants that can help fight free radicals in the body.
In fact, Purdue University published a study on the medicinal uses of elderberry. In this study, they confirmed that elderberries have more Vitamin C than most commonly consumed foods – short of strawberries – and more antioxidant potential than cranberries or blueberries.
Medicinal Uses of Elderberries
Yes. There are multiple peer-reviewed studies –like this one – that show that elderberry syrup or tea taken at the first sign of a cold or the flu can help shorten its duration and ease the severity of symptoms.
That alone makes it worth it for me to keep a fresh batch of elderberry syrup on hand as well as the ingredients needed to make a soothing cup of elderberry tea.
Do you need fresh elderberries to make an elderberry tea recipe?
No! If you’re wondering if you can make elderberry tea with dried elderberries or if you must have fresh, the answer is both.
If you happen to have an elderberry bush in your garden – I have two! – you can use fresh berries when they’re ready to harvest. If not, you can absolutely purchase dried elderberry to make your immune boosting tea recipe.
Just be sure the dried elderberries you buy are organic. It does not make much sense to buy an ingredient for an herbal tea that may have extra added chemicals.
Can You Eat Elderberries Raw?
No. PLEASE do not eat or drink raw elderberries or any part of the elderberry bush raw.
Raw elderberries, the leaves, flowers, bark and roots all contain lectin and cyanide, both of which can cause nausea, diarrhea or worse.
In order to destroy those chemicals and make elderberry tea something that is healthy, you must allow it simmer and cook for at least 15 minutes.
How to Make an Immune Boosting Tea Recipe
You Will Need: Recipe will make 8-12 oz of elderberry tea
- 1 Tbsp. Dried Elderberries
- 1/8-1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 8 oz filtered water
- 1-2 tsp raw honey
- 1/4-1/2 tsp turmeric (optional)
- 4 oz tart cherry juice (optional)
Supplies Needed:
To make your own immune boosting tea, bring the water and elderberries to a boil in a small saucepan.
Once you’ve reached a boil, immediately turn the heat down. Stir in the cinnamon and turmeric (if using).
Simmer for 20 minutes making sure to stir a couple of times. Remove from the heat and stir in raw honey to sweeten.
Strain entire tea through a fine mesh strainer to remove he elderberries. Serve hot or iced! It’s your choice!
Why add cherry juice to elderberry tea?
I love to add tart cherry juice to my elderberry tea. Like elderberries, tart cherry is full of Vitamin C making my immune boosting tea even more potent, Vitamin A, Omega 3 and 6, and more.
Plus, I think it makes it taste even more amazing!
I prefer to add THIS art cherry juice concentrate most of the time.
Looking for more natural remedies? You may enjoy these:
Herbal tea is much more than a drink! These 15 awesome benefits of drinking herbal teas will show you how they can help with health issues, stress and so much more!
Fancy a cuppa tea? Dandelion Root Tea is one of my favorite herbal teas! These 16 benefits of dandelion root tea will have you drinking cup after cup!
Elderberry Tea Recipe
Equipment
- Spoon
- Fine Mesh Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp fresh or dried elderberries If using fresh, wash first.
- 1/8-1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 8 oz water
- 1/4-1/2 tsp turmeric optional
- 4 oz tart cherry juice optional
Instructions
- Bring the water and elderberries to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Once you’ve reached a boil, immediately turn the heat down. Stir in the cinnamon and turmeric (if using).
- Simmer for 20 minutes making sure to stir a couple of times. Remove from heat and stir in raw honey to sweeten.
- Strain entire tea through a fine mesh strainer to remove the elderberries.
- Serve hot or iced.