Harvesting these nutrient-dense berries
couldn’t be simpler. Should you be fortunate
enough to have access to fresh ones, choose
the darkest, most ripened clusters and
cut them from the bush at the base of the
grouping.
Process your berries immediately, as they
will begin to automatically ferment within 12
hours of harvesting. Once removed from the
stems the berries can be made ready for use
right away. They can also be frozen or easily
dried for future use. To dry them, either use
a dehydrator or simply let the power of the
sun do its work. Set the berries out in direct
sunlight for four to six days, moving them
around periodically until completely dried.
Store the dried berries in a glass jar and seal
until ready to use.
The delicious, nutritious elderberry
has become more and more accessible
everywhere from farmer’s markets to your
neighborhood grocery store. If you are serious
about giving it a try, make sure to consult with
your doctor fi rst.
Small-batch, custom-crafted elderberry syrup
is delicious, which makes it easy to incorporate
this healthy habit into your lifestyle.