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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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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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 okay to drink elderberry tea every day? ›

Elderberries offer excellent nutrition that contains antioxidants and vitamin C, which can boost the immune system among other benefits. Yes, you can take elderberry supplements daily, even three to four times a day.

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.

Does boiling elderberries remove toxins? ›

To neutralize toxins, specifically cyanide-inducing glycosides, heat treatment is a must. Boiling elderberries for at least 30 minutes is the go-to method. This ensures the destruction of harmful compounds. Steaming or baking can also do the trick, as long as the berries reach a high enough temperature.

What is elderberry tea good for weight loss? ›

Elderberries can be beneficial for weight loss due to their effects on metabolic regulation. Significant levels of bioactive compounds found in elderberries contribute to their therapeutic properties, which have been documented over many years.

What not to mix with elderberry? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Diuretics (water pills). Diuretics help the body get rid of excess fluid and increase the amount of urine your body makes. ...
  • Diabetes medications. Elderberry may lower blood sugar levels. ...
  • Chemotherapy. ...
  • Laxatives. ...
  • Theophylline (TheoDur). ...
  • Drugs that suppress the immune system.

Who should not take elderberry tea? ›

"Autoimmune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Elderberry might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of autoimmune diseases.

Can elderberry raise blood pressure? ›

Elderberries may be beneficial for the heart, as they have been associated with positive effects on blood pressure; the anthocyanin content increases the release of nitric oxide—which helps widen the blood vessels and improves blood flow, leading to a decrease in blood pressure.

Is elderberry safe for your liver? ›

Exposure to elderberry could be responsible for either the initiation or progression of autoimmune liver disease in the setting of genetic predisposition and molecular mimicry. Therefore, obtaining a meticulous history pertaining to medications is warranted, with an emphasis on over-the-counter supplements.

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.

What illness do elderberries prevent? ›

The berries and flowers of elderberry are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system. They could help tame inflammation, lessen stress, and help protect your heart, too. Some experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

What did the natives use elderberry for? ›

Indigenous Uses

As a food, elderberries were crushed, strained, and boiled into a syrup or made into a jam. They were used as a sweetener in various recipes. Medicinally, the berries supported the treatment of many illnesses.

Does elderberry increase estrogen? ›

Our study showed, that elderberry can promote steroid hormone release, especially estradiol, which is considered a promoter of ovarian cell proliferation and viability and ovarian folliculogenesis. Therefore, the stimulatory action of black elder extract on healthy ovarian cells may be suggested.

Is elderberry tea a laxative? ›

In folk medicine, the dried berries or juice are used to treat influenza, infections, sciatica, headaches, dental pain, heart pain, and nerve pain, as well as a laxative and diuretic (2).

Can I drink elderberry tea every day? ›

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.

Is elderberry tea good for your kidneys? ›

Elderberry is a rich source of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that help our immune system. It's popular in folk medicine, and researchers have now confirmed that it helps treat cold fever and influenza. Furthermore, it helps reduce stress and aids in diabetes, heart problems, liver diseases, kidney problems, etc.

What are the side effects of taking elderberry everyday? ›

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.

What are the benefits of drinking elderberry everyday? ›

The berries and flowers of elderberry are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system. They could help tame inflammation, lessen stress, and help protect your heart, too. Some experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

How long does elderberry tea stay in your system? ›

The water-soluble components in elderberry extract only stay in your body for 1-2 days before being excreted.

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