Elderberry Gummies (vegan, processed sugar-free)
A delicious and fun way to enjoy the nutritional and immune-boosting benefits of elderberries, is to make elderberry gummies. This healthy sweet treat will be a hit with both adults and kids!
ELDERBERRY
The late summer and early fall are a great time to go outside and look for elderberries! You can find them growing in beautiful large clusters on Elder bushes (Sambucus spp.).
Elder grows in the wild in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, as well as some areas in Australia and South America. Of the 25 species of Elder that exist, the best known are perhaps Black Elder (Sambucus nigra), who originates in Europe, and American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), who can be found on the Eastern side of Turtle Island (United States/Canada). These as well as many of the other Elder species are also widely cultivated in backyards and on farms for their ornamental value and edible flowers and berries.
When you explore some of the old writings and stories about Elder, you will see the relationship we humans have with this plant species goes back very far. Hippocrates already wrote about Elder, and referred to the bush as his 'medicine chest.' In British and Scandinavian folklore, the Elder was known to be the home of the Elder Mother, a wise old goddess who was seen as the protector of the Elders and the woodlands they were growing in. This goddess could either bring people blessings or curses, depending who came across the Elder's branches. In Denmark, people believed that placing an Elder twig in your mouth could expel evil spirits and therefore also alleviate toothache. We also see Elder appear in modern storytelling: in the final book of the Harry Potter series a wand made from the branch of an Elder played an important role!
Elders offer us humans important health benefits through their flowers and berries (in this article, we will focus specifically on elderberries). After being a folk remedy for many years, scientific research is now confirming what people have known for a long time. Studies have revealed that elderberries can help reduce the duration of flus and other viral infections, due to their antiviral properties. Elderberries support beneficial immune system activation and an inflammatory process for dealing with various illnesses. They can also specifically be very helpful in reducing symptoms when you are suffering from a respiratory illness.
Elderberries are an excellent source of vitamin A and C, minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. Recent studies indicate that these antioxidants can help reduce the risk of cancer by lowering the levels of free radicals in the body, inhibiting abnormal cell growth, and preventing mutations. The antioxidants and other phytonutrients can also help to lower the amount of cholesterol circulating in your blood by binding to it and expelling it from the body. Elderberries can also aid in reducing your blood pressure by lowering the amount of uric acid in the blood. If you ask me, Hippocrates was right, Elder truly offers us a medicine chest helping us heal from all kinds of ailments!
Elder bushes are not only helpful for humans. Many other species also benefit from their presence in ecosystems, and they provide an invaluable resource for wildlife. The plant's flowers attract bees, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds, while their berries offer an important food source for birds like robins and warblers. Elder's dense foliage offers shelter and nesting sites for various birds, and they are food plants for the larvae of different moth and butterfly species.
FINDING ELDERBERRY
After learning about the Elder, the next step is to discover how you can best spot them in nature! Elders grow as medium to large bushes, each with multiple branching systems. Some Elder species can grow to the size of a small tree. In late spring they bear large clusters of beautiful small white or cream-colored flowers, which are followed in the fall by clusters of small black, blue-black, or red berries. Elder bushes like to grow in open, wooded areas. You can find them growing next to rivers and streams, but also on the side of roads, in disturbed areas, and in backyards.
Depending on where you are in the world, it will be likely that you will encounter Elder species who are common in your area. Black Elder (Sambucus nigra) is a species native to Europe, but can now also be found on Turtle Island (North America). American Black Elder (Sambucus canadensis) is native to the eastern part of Turtle Island, while for example in Asia you will likely encounter species like Chinese Elder (Sambucus javanica) and Japanese Elder (Sambucus sieboldiana).
The leaves of all Elder species are opposite, compound (with multiple leaflets attached to a middle vein), and serrated. This helps to make Elders quite easy for you to recognize irregardless of your location. Their flowers make their first appearance in the early spring, and will usually bloom until mid-summer. They usually have a creamy white color and grow in clusters. For most species, these clusters are large and flat (umbel-shaped) and each one is made up of many small flowers. Each individual bloom has five petals and an abundance of yellow pollen. The flowers are incredibly fragrant and sweet, medicinal, and make a delicious tea.
Once the flowers begin to fruit, they will turn into dozens of little hard green berries. When these berries start to ripen, depending on the species, they will gradually turn from green to reddish to black, bluish-black, dark red, or dark purple. The berries will usually be ripe and ready to harvest in early fall.
HARVESTING AND PROCESSING ELDERBERRY
While this will vary depending on your climate and geographical location, elderberries are typically ready to harvest somewhere from August to early October. Before doing so, it is important to make sure you have actually found Elder, and not a (toxic) look-a-like. Which ones are relevant for you depends on where you live, but a few look-a-likes to look out for are:
Poison Hemlock (Conicum maculatum). While this highly poisonous (!) species shares some characteristics with Elder (umbel white flowers and compound leaves), they are quite easily distinguished when looking at their hollow stems and leaf shape.
Pokeweed (Phytolacca spp.). While this plant also has compound leaves and berry clusters, the shape and arrangement of both the flowers and berries is quite different. They have shorter stems and are closely attached to the main stem.
Devil's Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa). While this plant's berries look similar to elderberries, their main stem is covered in large thorns.
If you think you have found an Elder bush, before you start harvesting, it's important to consult a quality foraging guidebook or an expert to make sure you have indeed found this treasure!
You should only harvest elderberries when they are completely ripe, unripe berries are NOT edible*. Also be aware that all stems and leaves are toxic, and should not be consumed. You can freeze whole clusters of elderberries on a large baking sheet in a single layer to make it easier to remove the berries from the stems. It is important to remove all stems. You can also dry the berries in a dehydrator or on a drying screen. In this way you can use the dried berries year-round!
Whether when working with Elder or any other parts of nature, it’s important to walk softly on the Earth and to forage with care. We are guests and receivers of many gifts from the rest of nature, so please consider how you can do this respectfully. Please only take what you need, and leave plenty for other beings also benefitting from the presence of Elderberries. You could also consider to, in your own way, offer a small gesture of gratitude to this plant that so generously gives you a part of themselves.
VISUAL GUIDE FOR ELDERBERRY GUMMIES RECIPE
ELDERBERRY GUMMIES RECIPE
* In general, recipes made with cooked elderberries are considered a safe food. Some rare allergic reactions can occur, however. The leaves and stems of the Elder bush contain a toxic compound called glycoside, and should not be consumed. Raw elderberries contain toxins, therefore ALL elderberries should be cooked prior to consumption. Elderberries are mildly diuretic and could interact with prescription medication with similar effects. Since they stimulate the immune system, elderberries could potentially cause issues for people who have an auto-immune disorder.
Disclaimer: Every year there are people that are poisoned or experience other negative health effects from eating inedible wild plants or mushrooms that resemble edible species. For this reason it's essential to ensure proper species identification and to consult multiple quality sources for doing this. It's also important to consider your unique health considerations before consuming wild foods. Please always check and follow all local foraging regulations before you harvest anything in nature.
Comments