Blog

While the most common type of elderberry is Sambucus nigra, or black elderberry, there are several varieties of the Sambucus tree. The tree has clusters of white elderflowers and bunches of berries. The berries are most often used in herbal remedies, but the flowers are used too. Elderberry is one of the most common medicinal plants in the world and has been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments, most popularly cold and flu. Elderberry does som much more than just im …

This is the time of the year that I start preparing herbal preparations for fall and winter, and that means making my immune boosting elderberry jam recipe. I make this recipe in batches small enough that I think we can consume the jam within a few months so that it can be safely stored in the refrigerator. Just before fall I start preparing my jams, jellies, syrups, and oxymels. I choose recipes that my family will happily consume as a part of their regular diet, and this one packs a beautiful …