( Photo taken from - http://siera104.com/bio/PlantTax/Group2.html)
E... Is for Elderberry.
Well, this is the first time I am writing about something I know absolutely nothing about. But I’ve done some extensive reading about the elderberry, its uses and benefits and hopefully have picked out the best bits of info for your reading. If you have used elderberries, please feel free to add info and especially recipes in the comments section below. One thing that was surprising while I was researching was the amount of sites dedicated solely to the Elderberry. For a little berry that I knew almost nothing about, there is a lot of love across this great planet and the info below will explain why.
Like all fruits that have a dark reddish-purple colour, elderberries are a great source of anthocyanins which are powerful anti-oxidants (see my article on blueberries for further reference). It is this high level of anthocyanins that has a dramatic effect on a person’s immune system, boosting it to levels that quickly help to heal damaged cell tissues and reduce the symptoms of the flu and other diseases and illnesses. In 1995 the juice of elderberries was used to treat a flu epidemic in Panama and in Israel, they use elderberries to treat cancer and aids patients as it has such a strong and positive effect on boosting the immune system. It has also been used to lower cholesterol, improve vision, improve heart health, fight coughs and colds as well as bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. It is not just the anthocyanin properties that have such a great medicinal effect but the fact that elderberries increase inflammatory cytokine production, hence the reason it has such a substantial effect on symptoms. They are also high in potassium and contain large amounts of vitamin C.
Be warned however, you can’t just eat these little berries by the handful like you can blueberries. Elderberries actually contain poisonous toxins that can make you quit ill and need to be cooked before eating. The berry and flower both have medically beneficial properties but all must be cooked however steer clear of the roots, stems and twigs as well as unripe berries.
The Elderberry flower is actually very pretty and can be used by pressing into tonics and is a very popular wine and champagne brew. Like the zucchini flower it can be lightly battered and made into fritters or used as a sweetener in muffin and cake recipes. The berry itself is often made into jellies, jams, pies, baking, extracts and syrups. It’s strong colour can also be used as a dye or coloured flavouring.
This recipe has been taken from - http://www.justberryrecipes.com/ber-elder009.html
Again, I’ve never used the elderberry so am unsure as to how this will work out but from its popularity on the web, I’d say it will be a hit. Now I just need to find some to try it out!
| | Elderberry Grape Jelly 3 lb Elderberries 3 lb Half-ripe grapes Sugar Wash elderberries. Remove stems. Cover with water. Cook until soft. Drain through jelly bag. Wash grapes. Remove stems. Cover with water, cook until soft. Drain through jelly bag. Combine elderberry and grape juice in equal proportions. Add 3/4 cup sugar to each cup juice. Boil rapidly until jelly sheets from spoon. (3lb is just under 1.5kg) |
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