4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

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Enjoy a hot cup of Elderberry Tea at the first sign of cold or flu to potentially boost your immune system and speed your recovery process.

You’ll also love Easy Infused Water Recipes, Instant Pot Infused Water and Hot Chocolate Bomb.

Suitable for vegetarian, gluten free, and paleo diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (1)

During flu and cold season it becomes even more important to protect yourself with immune-boosters like Elderberry Tea.

Store-bought elderberry tea can be expensive and hard to come by, but it’s easy to make it at home with dried elderberries.

Elderberries are loaded with vitamin A and C, and some studies have shown that you can shorten the length of the flu or cold when you begin an elderberry regimen at the first sign of symptoms.

Keeping dried elderberries in your pantry is a great way to be prepared at the first sign of sniffles and sneezing.Along with easy Infused Water Recipes.

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4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (2)

Table of Contents

What Are Elderberries?

Elderberries are common across North American and Central Europe. The berries are small, dark purple, and grow in clusters. They are commonly foraged for use in jelly, pie, and for making Elderberry tea.

They are used in various over the counter cold and flu treatments (although these treatments tend to have a lot of extra sugar to sweeten them).

Why You’ll ♡ This

  • Inexpensive – You can make your own Elderberry Tea at a fraction of the cost of store-bought syrups.
  • Pantry Staples – Add dried elderberries to your pantry and this is easy to make with staples from your pantry.
  • Immune-boosting – Elderberries are high in vitamins A and C and some studies indicate they may boost your immune system.
4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (3)

Ready to make this tea with Elderberries? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

How To Make Elderberry Tea

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Boil dried elderberries in water in a saucepan for 20 minutes.
  2. Strain out the berries and add the juice of 1 lemon and the honey.
  3. Pour into mugs and serve.
4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (4)

Expert Tips

  • Use a fine-mesh strainer or a tea ball to hold the dried berries for easy removal.

Delicious Variations

  • Boost your tea – Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ tsp of turmeric for even more potential immune-boosting power.
  • Ginger – steep a few slices of fresh ginger with the dried berries.
  • Make it vegan – use maple syrup instead of honey.
  • Chill it – and add ice for a delicious iced tea variation.

Storage

Elderberry Tea can be made and stored in the fridge for up to a week. Serve it iced or reheat it on the stove or in a microwave-safe mug.

4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (5)

FAQs

Can I Forage Elderberries?

Elderberries are found all over the United States and Europe. Never forage for any berries without someone who is well trained in identifying plants.

How Do I Store Dried Elderberries?

Dried elderberries can be stored in a cool, dark pantry for several months. If you plan to keep them longer, transfer them to a freezer-safe container, and you can store them in the freezer indefinitely.

Does Elderberry Tea Have Caffeine?

No, this version is caffeine free.

More Recipes You May Like

  • Easy Infused Water Recipes.
  • Instant Pot Infused Water.
  • Instant Pot Hot Chocolate.
  • Hot Chocolate Bomb.
  • Crockpot Hot Chocolate.

Tools Needed

Weight Watchers Points

There is 1 Blue Plan SmartPoint in one serving of this.

4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (6)

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4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (7)

Print Recipe

5 from 7 votes

4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea

Boost your immunity with this delicious homemade elderberry tea.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American, Western

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: 4

Calories: 53kcal

Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 6 cups (1.40 L) water
  • 2 tablespoons dried elderberries
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 lemons

Instructions

  • Pour water into a heavy saucepan.

  • Add dried elderberries and boil for 20 minutes.

  • Strain to remove berries and stir in honey and the juice from one lemon.

  • Garnish with lemon slices and serve.

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Notes

  • Use a fine-mesh strainer or a tea ball to hold the dried berries for easy removal.
  • There is 1 Blue Plan SmartPoint in a serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

4 Ingredient Elderberry Tea - Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

FAQs

Is it safe to make tea from dried elderberries? ›

As a result, in spite of the toxicity of raw, unripe elderberries, properly prepared elderberry tea is not thought to have any significant health risks.

Is it OK to drink elderberry tea everyday? ›

Given its potential to strengthen your body's immune system and promote overall wellness, it should be. * Elderberry tea is a satisfyingly tart and tangy drink you can enjoy daily, hot or cold. Elderberries aren't one of the berries you'll find year-round in your grocery store. But they aren't uncommon.

Who should not take elderberry tea? ›

Elderberry appears to have few side effects when used properly for short periods of time (up to 5 days). Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take elderberry. If you have an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, ask your doctor before taking elderberry, as it may stimulate the immune system.

Is elderberry tea a laxative? ›

While elderberry syrup is praised for its potential to help you get back on track after the flu, research suggests elderberry tea may offer a different set of perks. Notably, elderberry tea may help reduce chronic constipation.

Does boiling elderberries destroy vitamin C? ›

Elderberries contain vitamin C, but much of it is destroyed by heat. Adding lemon juice provides an additional vitamin C boost to the syrup.

How do you remove toxins from elderberries? ›

The uncooked berries, leaves, bark, and roots of the elderberry plant contain the chemicals lectin and cyanide, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cooking the berries and seeds will remove the cyanide.

What not to mix with elderberry? ›

What other drugs will affect elderberry?
  • medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection;
  • medicine to treat multiple sclerosis;
  • medicine to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders;
  • medicine to treat ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease; or.
  • steroid medicine.
Feb 22, 2024

Does elderberry affect blood pressure? ›

Elderberry can lower blood pressure.

The antioxidants, such as polyphenols found in elderberry, lower blood pressure by reducing oxidative stress. Elderberry also lowers uric acid in the bloodstream. Both oxidative stress and uric acid have been found to be a main cause of high blood pressure.

Is elderberry tea good for gut health? ›

Incorporating elderberry into your diet can be a valuable strategy for supporting gut health. The combination of elderberry's nutritional profile, antioxidant content, and its impact on gut microbiota and gut inflammation make it a promising ally for maintaining a thriving digestive system.

Does elderberry tea raise blood pressure? ›

One Elderberry Tea benefits is it contains flavonoids which are known to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure by relaxing the walls of the arteries and reducing stiffness in vessels. Elderberry tea also contains Vitamins B6 and C which have both been linked with helping reduce hypertension symptoms.

Is elderberry safe for kidneys? ›

Cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks.

Are there negative side effects of elderberry? ›

Elderberry is possibly unsafe when uncooked leaves, stems, or fruit are consumed. The elderberry plant contains a chemical that produces cyanide in the leaves or other plant parts and in the unripe green fruit. This can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, or more serious side effects if consumed in large quantities.

Is elderberry tea high in caffeine? ›

Elderberry tea is rich in nutrients, can boost a healthy immune system, and is free from caffeine and is considered to be a safe and side-effect free drink to enjoy in moderation.

Does elderberry tea make you gassy? ›

Elderberry helps the digestive system

For digestive issues like acid reflux, indigestion or even extreme constipation, elderberries can be a fantastic solution and keep your gut healthy. This is because elderberries are rich in dietary fiber and can reduce gas and other gastrointestinal issues.

Does elderberry tea help you lose weight? ›

The elderberry is an excellent medicinal herb. It is a nutrient-rich berry which contains many vitamins and minerals. Elderberries can be beneficial for weight loss due to their effects on metabolic regulation.

Does drying elderberries remove toxins? ›

These processes typically breakdown the cyanogenic glycoside (sambunigrin, in the case of elderberry) which leads to the production of cyanide. Cyanide is very volatile (evaporates at slightly above room temperature), so drying or roasting would effectively remove any low levels of poison from the berries.

Do dried elderberries need to be boiled? ›

Turning elderberries into a delicious, lightly-spiced syrup is incredibly easy. But before we begin, it is essential to note that eating raw elderberries is not advised as they are toxic when uncooked. In this recipe, however, they are brought to the boil, then simmered, making them fine to eat or drink.

What are the benefits of dried elderberry tea? ›

Elderberry tea is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries to treat the symptoms of colds and flu. The Elderberry tree is known as Sambucus Nigra, and its antioxidant compounds are both anti-viral and antibacterial, which makes it an ideal choice for treating respiratory illnesses.

Do dried elderberries need to be cooked? ›

Yes, if prepared properly! There is a toxin in the dried berries that is deactivated by proper cooking. Pick though the dried berries to remove any sticks or unripe berries before you cook them. Then follow the recipe instructions.

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