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Discover my favorite recipes with the amazing plant-based antioxidants found in elderberry syrup to boost your immune system. Let’s discover what elderberry is, how people use it for a home remedy and other elderberry health benefits.
Elderberry is making a popular name for itself, yet what is elderberry, where can I find it, and how can it help me this cold + flu season? I’ve got all the answers, as well as a great natural remedy.
Have these immunity boosting cubes on hand the next time sickness hits your house, and get ready to bust that flu right out the door with the incredible elderberry health benefits.
Table of Contents
What is Elderberry?
Elderberry is a berry that comes from a Sambucus tree. It’s been used for centuries by people throughout North America, Europe, northern Africa, and parts of Asia to relieve pain, inflammation, and swelling. Raw elderberries are poisonous, so make sure they are properly cooked before consuming.
Elderberry isn’t just a flu fighting force. Cooked elderberries make delicious jams, pies, syrups, juice, smoothies, and wine, just like other berries. While you might not find them in the produce section of your local grocery store, they can often be found in their dried form in health food stores, or at local markets.
There is some controversy as to the effectiveness of elderberry in medicine, though it is one of the most common natural remedies found throughout history across multiple continents. A study by the US National Library of Medicine showed that elderberry significantly shortened the life of a cold.
Where to Buy Elderberry
Now that we know what elderberry is, let’s talk about where to find it. I make homemade elderberry syrup at home, and typically buy dried elderberries from Mountain Rose Herb. They source USDA certified organic ingredients, which is important to me when making natural remedies. If I’m out of homemade elderberry syrup and in a pinch, then I reach for Sambucol or Gaia black elderberry syrup.
Black Elderberry Syrup for Colds
One of the oldest natural remedies for cold, flu, and sinus infections is a syrup made from elderberries. Black elderberries (Sambucus nigra) are a small, firm berry that are a deep, almost-black purple color. They grow in Europe and parts of North America. Like other berries as well as jewel-toned fruits, elderberry health benefits include vitamin C, anthocyanins, and other antioxidants. Vitamin C is especially important for a strong, healthy immune system.
Elderberry Smoothie Cube Immunity Boosters
I love using this elderberry smoothie cube recipe when I’m getting ready to travel, as well as when coming home from a trip. They make a great soothing drink full of elderberry health benefits when you feel under the weather. I want my immune system to reach its full potential, and these ingredients help it do just that. Since some of the ingredients in these smoothie cubes aren’t as common, let’s break them down.
Natural Ingredients That Specialize in Health
First, I’ll talk about Olive leaf extract, a liquid supplement derived from Olea europaea olive leaves and combined with benign carrier liquids such as glycerine and water. Suggested use for adults is 1 tablespoon per day. Do not give this to children unless instructed to be a medical professional.
Olive oil and olive leaves have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Olive leaves contain the powerful antioxidant called Oleuropein as well as a wide range of polyphenols. Oleuropein helps support the immune response and can also help with seasonal wellness.
Vitamin D3 is also used in these smoothie cubes. It contains properties that the immune system needs to stay strong. A diet rich in vitamin D3 can help fight certain kinds of cancer, autoimmune diseases, as well as osteoporosis. I use a liquid Vitamin D3 supplement that uses extra virgin olive oil as the carrier oil.
Using Natural Remedies
Once I started using a few natural remedies, and realizing they actually worked, I began finding a whole host of all natural recipes for my family. I don’t waste time on ‘remedies’ that claim to work but don’t. Instead, I’ve found some incredible recipes that really do all that they claim (and then some!), and now I use them on the regular to keep my family healthy.
- Homemade chest rub
- Homemade fire cider
- Ginger lemon honey tea
- Bedtime smoothie
- Natural toothpaste
- Natural deodorant
- Homemade elderberry syrup
I also drink a green smoothie every single day, and find that when I stick with them, I don’t get sick as often as when I don’t have my daily smoothie.
Elderberry Smoothie Cubes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups blueberries fresh or frozen
- 1 ½ cups blackberries fresh or frozen
- ½ cup elderberry syrup
- 32 drops Vitamin D-3 drops 4000IU 100 mcg per serving
- 4 ounce Olive Leaf Complex
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.
- Pour into two 16-well standard ice cube trays and freeze until firm enough to pop out. Remove the smoothie cubes from the trays and transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container until ready to use.
- To use, add 4 cubes per every 16 ounce smoothie.
Notes
- Other fruit or berries can be substituted for the blackberries and blueberries. Strawberries are very high in vitamin C and would make an excellent substitute.
- See this blog post for DIY Black Elderberry Syrup.
- Recipe should yield 4 cups puree. If needed, add water to get it there.
I’ve used elderberry syrup for years… but never thought to boost it with so much goodness. I love the idea of the cubes to add into my smoothie and keep my immune system strong. Genius!
Great recipe & info! I’m definitely keeping these on hand for back to school!
I made the entire recipes of smoothie cubes. But this was an instant hit with my cold symptoms. I went out and came back with sniffles. I simply popped one cube in my mouth with nothing else. Maybe a chaser of water. Immediately within minutes no more sniffles and I know I was on the verge of a cold. I haven’t had any more symptoms. I use to take elderberry syrup daily in the winter. The olive leaf adds a little cough syrup like taste. However these cubes are a fun way to get your greens in for the day as well.
I made the entire recipes of smoothie cubes. But this was an instant hit with my cold symptoms. I went out and came back sniffles. I simply popped one cube in my mouth with nothing else. Maybe a chaser of water. Immediately within minutes no more sniffles and I know I was on the verge of a cold. I haven’t had any more symptoms. I use to take elderberry syrup daily in the winter. The olive leaf adds a little cough syrup like taste. However these cubes are a fun way to get your greens in for the day as well.
So AWESOME Tamara!! Love how you showed that cold who’s boss!!
These are amazing! Not only are they packed with great immune boosting vitamins, but the taste mixes well with any smoothie I’ve had them in!!
I made the elderberry syrup smoothie cubes today. I had just purchased some fresh blackberries and blueberries at Sprouts when I saw this recipe. I make my own elderberry syrup using dried elderberries in my frig at all times — yes, in my opinion it works in keeping us well.
I sampled the smoothie cube mixture as I put them in the ice trays — boy is it good! So excited to add to our daily smoothies. Come on freezer, freeze those smoothie cubes quickly!!!
The advice given above is highly relevant.
Thank you Doretta!! We are so glad that this was helpful to you!
I saw your publications earlier, however this one I believe the very best.
Thank you so much for that great compliment, Nava!! We are so happy that you enjoyed this.
I’ve been using these ingredients with my kids for years and they do help! I love having the cubes to quickly boost any smoothie when colds + flus are going around the school. I def recommend making these to be ready for the cold + flu season!
I am so glad your kids love these! They really are the best!!
So if we make these, can we serve to children? I always make a green smoothie each school day morning & divide it 4 ways between myself and 3 kids 12, 10 & 9…but the olive leaf says not for children. Please advise as we’ve seen benefits from elderberry gummies when feeling eu down. I’d love to try this instead.
Hey Geneva,
Yes, this would probably be best for adults only. However some people give their kids small amounts of olive leaf so it really depends on what you and their pediatrician decide.
Hope that helps!
Excited to try this, thank you! In your notes about olive oil leaf you mentioned not to give it to kids, so is this is considered the “adult” version (take out olive leaf for kids?)? Thanks again, hooked on smoothies, thanks for the awesome recipes!
Hey Laura,
Yes, this would probably be best for adults only. However some people give their kids small amounts of olive leaf so it really depends on what you decide.
Hope that helps!