Elder Echinacea Syrup

Sweet n' Simple Elder Echinacea Syrup

Buckwheat Honey

Brandy (or other alcohol you like) (1/2 cup or so)

¼ cup elderberry dried or fresh (in this recipe I used dry)

2 tablespoons echinacea powder

1 tablespoon ginger juice

1 nice n' juicy lemon

In a small pot put the mixture of elderberry, echinacea, and brandy on low heat. Simmer, Take a heaping large tablespoon of honey and add to the mixture in the pot, add the juice of half a lemon and ginger stir well. Add more brandy or the rest of the lemon if you need more liqiud. (the other half of the lemon can be saved and added at any time.) Simmer, then when you feel it is ready you have 1 of 2 choices: you can strain the bulk of the mix through a small weave metal strainer and save the ruffage for truffles or incense (yes!) a potato masher can also help to reserve the liquid, or you can toss it all in a food processor for a slightly chunky syrup and get all the good stuff in there. I tablespoon 2 x a day should do it! You can even add it to tea or a glass of water if you like.

What, Why?

Buckwheat honey is a dark and strong flavored honey. It is high in anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and phenols. This honey is thick and less sweet than your typical wildflower honey. The kind I like to use in this recipe will not pour at room temperature. When mixed with the other ingredients in this recipe it should make the syrup sweet, but not overly so.

Black Elderberry also known as Sambucus Nigra is a great antiviral, anti-inflammitory, immune system fortifying, diaphoretic (expect to in part, sweat it out), diuretic (and in urination), Mild laxative, and bacteria supressor. It can really shorten the duration of a flu and can help with tonsilitis as well.

Echinacea will help to stimulate your white blood cells and lymphocytes to “eat and destroy” invading organisms in your body. Echinacea will kill yeast and bacteria, and is helpful in the treatment of viruses.

Lemon juice can help balance the bodies Ph. Diets high in processed foods and other acidic foods can create an unbalanced Ph in the body. This highly acidic Ph can keep the body from removing toxins and leaving it open to disease and even slow down metabolism. Also lemon is high in vitamin C.

Ginger is very calming on the stomach and it is also very warming. This is great when you get the chills from the flu and it also helps you to “sweat it out” combined with the honey it is highly antiseptic.

Oh and the Brandy? Thats because my grandma always recommended a shot of Macieira (a Portuguese brandy) for a cold.

This is my syrup recipe, but it can be easily adapted to your own needs with a little creativity and thought. I will put up some recipes to make incense and truffles with the ruffage, but you can throw it into batter and make cookies or whatever sweet thing you want.