Recipe: Spiced elderberry syrup

This spiced elderberry syrup is perfect for boosting your immunity during colder months or adding a warming, festive twist to drinks and desserts. It’s easy to make and packed with flavour!

Ingredients

• 500g fresh elderberries (or 300g dried elderberries)

• 1 litre water

• 200g honey (or adjust to taste)

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 3–4 cloves

• 1 inch fresh ginger (sliced)

• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

• 1/2 tsp ground allspice

• Zest of 1 lemon

Method

1. Remove elderberries from their stems and rinse thoroughly. If using dried elderberries, no preparation is needed.

2. Add the elderberries, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and lemon zest to a large saucepan.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavours to infuse and the liquid to reduce slightly.

4. Using a fine sieve or muslin cloth, strain the mixture into a clean bowl, pressing gently to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

5. Stir in the honey while the liquid is still warm, ensuring it dissolves completely. Adjust sweetness to taste.

6. Pour the syrup into sterilised bottles or jars and seal tightly.