It’s been a bumper crop of elderberries again this year! If you’re interested in foraging them or need other tips for using them, see my post Foraging for Elderberries.
I have wine brewing, I’m tincturing some to use medicinally, and I’m making elderberry liqueur to serve as a special Christmas treat.
Elderberry Tincture or Elderberry Liqueur?
Actually, tinctures and liqueurs start out in the exact same manner. Vodka is poured over the elderberries which are then left to sit in a cool, dark place for several weeks.
To extract the medicinal qualities of elderberry, use a vodka that is at least 80 proof. 100 proof is even better.
Traditionally, elderberry has been used to strengthen the immune system and to fight flu. Modern science is beginning to prove that elderberry is indeed powerful medicine.
Elderberry tincture will last for several years. If you prefer a sweeter medicine, or would rather not use alcohol, try making your own elderberry syrup or elderberry infused honey instead.
After extracting the delicious flavor of the elderberry, sugar may be added to create a a liqueur, a wonderful after dinner treat. Lemon rind is often added with the elderberries at the beginning of the process, but is optional.
Be sure to also visit my post Natural Home Remedies for Your Medicine Cabinet.
Elderberry Tincture or Liqueur
Ingredients
- elderberries fresh or dried
- vodka 80 proof or higher
- lemon peel without the pith optional
- organic sugar
Instructions
- You may use any amount of elderberries to make a large batch or small. 2 cups is a good place to start.
- Place 2 cups of fresh or 1 cup of dried elderberries in a quart mason jar.
- Lemon peel is often used in a liqueur but will add medicinal components to a tincture as well. Use a potato peeler to peel an approximately 1" by 3" strip of lemon peel. It's easiest to peel from a whole lemon, rather than one that has been cut. Be sure not to use any of the white part of the peel, which will make your final product bitter. Add the peel to the elderberries in the jar.
- Cover the berries with vodka. If using dried berries, you may have to add more vodka once the berries rehydrate. Place the lid on the jar, and store in a cool, dark place for 1 - 6 months.
- For a medicinal tincture, strain the berries and lemon peel from the vodka. Store the tincture in a dark spot, or in a dark colored jar. The adult dosage is 20 drops 3 times a day in a glass of water at first sign of cold or flu.
- For a liqueur, strain the berries and lemon peel from the vodka.
- Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of organic sugar. Stir. Place back in your dark spot for another week or two, at which time your liqueur will be ready to enjoy.
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PattyinMo says
Can dried elderberries be used? If so, how would they be prepared? Would you have to rehydrate them first?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi PattyinMo! I’ve only used fresh elderberries for this recipe, so I’m not certain. I know with elderberry syrup, you can use dried (use half as much). I suggest a google search; there may be some recipes out there using dried berries!
Stevie says
Oh yes, you can use dried berries—they “reconstitute” in the alcohol because there IS water in vodka. I’ve used them many times in tinctures, tonics, etc. Get organic good quality as always. I’ve even made bitters/tonics with EverClear and dried berries which is 95% alcohol and the results were excellent.
Janice says
You said that elderberries must be cooked but your elderberry and vodka aren’t cooked so doesn’t that make
it poisonous?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Janice, all parts of the elderberry are strained out of the vodka and so it is safe to consume. The seeds especially may make some people nauseous.
Dee says
When elderberries are cooked, the glycoside is neutralized and the elderberries become safe to eat. The only way to safely consume your elderberry vodka is to cook it. It has nothing to do with straining stems and seeds.
Susan Vinskofski says
I understand that this is a controversial topic, but many, many herbalists dispute what you are saying. They have been using elderberries in this manner for many years. Elderberries can cause digestive upset in some people but some can even eat raw berries, including seeds, without upset. But again, straining the berries has always been considered good practice. Just last night, 4 of us consumed about 3 cups of this liqueur (without cooking) without a single case of digestive upset.
sheree says
Are elderberries the same thing as what our parents called polk berries?
Susan Vinskofski says
I’m not sure what berry your parents were referring to. I’m familiar with the pokeberry, which is poisonous. So be sure to make a positive identification before using any berry. 🙂
Vamp says
No, poke cherries grow on a tree that has thorny branches. That’s why they are called poke cherries.
Lynne says
I’ve read that raw elderberries are toxic and that you should always cook them. Does making a tincture with them change that?
Vicki Richards says
I’d like to know that too.
Please advise.
Susan Vinskofski says
Lynne and Vicki, if you use Sambucus nigra (black elderberry) and they are fully ripe, there should be no problem.
Liz says
I would like to do liqueur with honey instead of sugar. Just wondering if you have ever tried it. I have bushes I thought were ornamental and turned out to be fruiting. Surprise.
Susan Vinskofski says
I haven’t tried honey, Liz, but I’m sure that would be lovely!
Brittany says
Hi there! I just made some but accidentally left a couple small brown stems on in my tincture… the ones that are a few strands of hair thick and no more than an half inch or so long. After reading that they’re poisonous I’m worried if I should just throw this batch out and start new? Or do you think it’ll be ok?
Any advice would be wonderful!
Warmly,
Brit
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Brit, I am not a doctor and cannot give medical advice, but I believe you would have to ingest quite a bit of the stems before the cyanide-inducing glycoside present would cause any harm.
Tina says
I used fresh Elderberries in a quart jar and added Smirnoff Vodka, after 4 weeks I tried it and it tasted like vinegar is this normal?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Tina, no, it should not taste like vinegar. It sounds like your berries were already beginning to turn when they were used. You could try adding sugar and tasting to see if you like the taste.
Melanie says
hello! I’ve strained off all my berries and just put my jars back into the pantry with the sugar to complete the last ‘phase’. But I’m looking at all these gloriously vodka-bloated berries (about 3 lbs… I got a little crazy) and wondering if there’s something to be done with them besides ice cream topper? Hate to toss them, but they’re… erm… a little stout for just popping in your mouth; seedy and the skins are thick.
Susan Vinskofski says
LOL. Well, I would cook them before eating them since raw elderberries can cause some distress, mainly because of the seeds. I don’t know if the soak in vodka would take of that issue or not. And cooking would cause the alcohol to evaporate, right? I would want to strain them, too, because the seeds are a bit much. I’ve always just composted mine so if you experiment, let me know how it all works out.
Sarah says
What if all u have is flavored vodka is that ok to use??
Vamp says
You could try it but flavored is never 80 proof. I never used less than 80 proof.
meredyth says
I did this, but time got away from me and now a year or more has passed Can I still strain and use of do i need to start over?
Susan Vinskofski says
It will be just fine; just strain and use!
Vamp says
I have taken a several cups of elderberry and put about 4 inches in a 1.75 liter bottle of 80 proof vodka. I let them sit a few months and put it all in the blender. It gets sticky but I poured it all back in the bottle. If I’m around someone who is ill I’ve drank a couple shots daily for several days. It’s never gotten me ill or poisoned me. The seeds are not pleasent though and it doesn’t taste wonderful. I don’t add sugar.