Uses for Elderberry

THESE ARE ELDERBERRIES

THESE ARE NOT ELDERBERRIES THEY ARE POISON

 Elderberry (Sambucus L).

The leaves are pinnate with 5–9 leaflets.  Each leaf is 2.0–11.8 in long, and the leaflets have serrated margins. They have clusters of small white or cream-colored flowers in late spring; these are followed by clusters of small black, blue-black, or red berries (rarely yellow or white).   

Time of Year: Spring - Fall
 

Location: All of North America

Click Here for map  If it does not grow in your area do a search to see what kind does

Nutrient Content

Good source of vitamins A, B, and C.

 

USES 

Flowers, Fruits, Roots, Inner bark, Berry's

Editable uses

• The flower is great raw as a snack or to ad to other dishes for flavor 
• Dried flowers are saved for a sweet tea. 
• You can eat the fruit raw, but not that tasty. 
• However jams made form them are fantastic 
• You can use them in pies 
• You can make wine with them (see below) 
• Leave are used as a food coloring.

 

Medical Uses

• Inner bark of young trees is a prized herb used as a diuretic    In Europe the bark tea has been approved to used for cough, fevers and cold, even bronchitis. 
• An ointment from the inner bark is used from arthritis 
• And a tea of the leaved help with constitpation 
• Press the leaves can be used a an eye wash for inflamed eyes. (this can be made with fresh or dried leaves) 
• The leave make a great insect repellent

 

Other Uses

• You can ground and dry and turn the left overs to a powder and sprinkle around you garden as in insect repellant. 
• The berries are used as a black hair dye. 
• The wood is amazing and pipes and other instruments are made from is (Click Here)
• Make your cooking spoons and forks from the wood. 
• Purple fabric dye
• In magik many wands are made of elderberry branches. 
• And it makes a great wood for bows. (Click Here)

Elderberry Beads

How to Make Elderberry Wine.

Elderberry Wine *Makes 5 gallons. Ready to drink in 1 year.

• 6 gallon pot
• 6 gallon bucket with airlock (primary fermentation device)
• 6 gallon glass carboy
• Iodine (for sterilizing)
• Candy thermometer
• Flip top bottles or wine bottles with corks and corker
• 4 feet of ½” transparent siphon hose
• 4 gallons of water
• 3 gallons of Elderberries (remove the stalks)
• 8 lbs sugar?
• 1 packet dry wine yeast

METHOD

• Remove the Elderberries from the stalks using a fork.
• Bring 4 gallons of water to a boil in a pot.
• Turn off heat. Stir in sugar until dissolved and then add berries.
• Cover and let cool to 70^o.
• Pour into 6 gallon bucket and stir in yeast.
• Cover with lid slightly ajar and store for 3 days.
• Cap with airlock and let the airlock bubble and ferment for approximately 10 days.
• Siphon into glass carboy, avoiding the yeast and fruit that has settled on the bottom.
• Store at 65 – 70^o (away from direct sunlight) for 2 months and then move to a cooler location (concrete floor in garage, basement, pantry) for 6 – 9 months. Over time, the bubbling will slow and then completely cease.
• Sterilize bottles with iodine, and bottle using corker or flip tops.
• For optimal flavor, wait 1 year before enjoying. For long-term storage of more than 2 years, store in wine bottles with corks