Lemon Berry "Immune Booster" Syrup Recipe

White Heron's Organic Lemon Berry herbal tea is chock full of elderberries, cranberries, hibiscus, lemon peel and raisin pieces. It's a tasty blend with several ingredients reported to have immune-boosting properties + lots of Vitamin C!

Every fall, my herbalist Mom makes "elderberry syrup" for our family, to help during cold and flu season. While her syrup has a slightly different flavor than in the recipe here, elderberries are the primary ingredient, as is the case with our Lemon Berry tea blend. This recipe is easy to make and will hopefully give you comfort through the season ahead!

Take it by the spoonful or drizzle over pancakes, waffles or ice cream :)

Lemon Berry "Immune Booster" Syrup

(Makes 1 Pint)

1 Quart Saucepan (or larger, non-reactive is best)

Mesh Strainer

4 Cups Water

2/3 Cups Organic Lemon Berry Herbal Tea blend

2 Tablespoons Ginger, fresh - washed and sliced thin

1 Tablespoon Rosehips, Dried (optional)

************************************

1/2 - 1 Cup Raw Honey or Maple Syrup

>Add water to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Add Lemon Berry, fresh ginger, and rosehips to the pan, then turn down to a simmer. Do not add honey or sweetener yet. Continue simmering for 1 hour, or until reduced to about a cup of syrup.

>Cool syrup until warm but not hot, then pour through mesh strainer into a pint jar.

>Stir in 1/2 - 1 cup of honey or maple syrup depending on your taste. Cover and store for up to 2 weeks refrigerated.

Tips: 

>Add sweetener while syrup is still warm, so it will stir in easily

>The viscosity of your syrup will depend on how much water evaporates, type of sweetener and how much you use

>Honey will give you a thicker syrup than maple syrup

>Some folks like to add cinnamon or star anise to their elderberry syrup, experiment, have fun!

******************************************************************************************************

While the ingredients above are fairly common, if you are pregnant or have health concerns, please check with your doctor to see what is best for you :)