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You can see if you observe the hedgerows at the moment that the elderberry is starting to weigh heavily on the trees! The berries will at first appear red and then ripen to a dark purple almost black colour. Elderberries have proven antiviral effects in the body; as such they are very useful supplement in dealing with a cold or flu and have been shown to reduce the severity and duration of an infection. Their high vitamin C content is also helpful in maintaining a healthy immune system.

To make syrup, you can remove ripe berries from the stalks using a fork, very important to use only ripe berries and no stalks!

Add equal parts sugar to berries, for example if you have 1Kg of berries add 1Kg of sugar, you can use raw cane sugar, or even better use 500g of sugar and 500g of honey to 1Kg of berries (note honey is not recommended in children under 1yr).

Stir continuously until all the sugar has dissolved, allow simmer and strain the resulting mixture through a sieve and bottle!

To make it tastier you can add a pinch of a warming herb to the mixture while heating it for example; cinnamon, aniseed, clove, or even some fresh ginger stem.

Take a teaspoon every morning through the winter, or increase to a teaspoon every 2 hours during the flu, this can be dissolved in a flask of hot water, brought to work or added to hot drinks through the day!

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