Elderberry Tea
37 Comments
Updated Jan 11, 2024
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Elderberry tea is a warm and soothing drink that helps ward off colds and flu. These inky purple berries from the Sambucus tree are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and immune-boosting compounds.
You’ve likely heard of elderberry before. It’s the immune-boosting fruit that’s used in many over-the-counter cold and flu treatments, like cold capsules, lozenges, and syrups. And while those items do contain the benefits of elderberry, they also contain tons of sugar, thickeners, and other ingredients that you may want to avoid, especially when you’re sick.
So today I’m bringing you a simple recipe to enjoy the all benefits of elderberry, without any of those negatives – elderberry tea! It’s just 3-ingredients, easy to make, and you can get your health benefits directly from the source by making this oh-so-easy and healthy tea.
Health Benefits of Elderberries
Elderberries contain antioxidants that shore up the immune system, and have been used for hundreds of years to fight colds and respiratory infections. They’re high in flavanoids, vitamin A, vitamin c, and dietary fiber, and can help reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. Many of those benefits are thanks to the anthocyanin, which gives the berries their deep purple color.
Where Can you Find Elderberry?
When shopping for dried elderberries, check out the cold remedy section of your local health food or gourmet grocery stores. If they don’t carry them, you can always order online from Amazon (that’s where I get mine).
3-Ingredient Elderberry Tea
Yes, there’s just three ingredients in this recipe – water, dried elderberries and a cinnamon stick. But you can also tweak it and have fun with it!
How to Customize Your Tea
Elderberry tea is mild in flavor so feel free experimenting with juices, herbs, and spices to flavor it to your liking. Sometimes I’ll boil ginger, turmeric, lemon, or even orange slices with the elderberry to give it a spicier or more fruity flavor.
You can also swap some of the water with unsweetened cherry juice for an additional shot of antioxidants, and up the cinnamon to help regulate blood sugar levels. If I happen to have some dried hibiscus flowers, I’ll toss a few into the tea to deepen the ruby red color, and they may help lower blood pressure. If you like your tea with a touch of sweetness, try adding raw honey or maple syrup.
How to Make Elderberry Tea
Make this simple tea in minutes whenever you feel like your immune system can use a boost.
- Combine: Add water, dried elderberries, and a cinnamon stick to a small saucepan and stir well.
- Boil: Heat on high just until the tea starts to boil. Then, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Rest: Let the tea cool in the pot for 5 minutes.
- Strain: Strain the tea through a fine-mesh strainer into a mug and enjoy.
Can you make this an iced tea? You sure can! If it’s a hot summer day, just boil and strain the tea, then chill it in the fridge. Serve it over ice for a refreshing beverage!
More Healthy Drink Recipes
If you’re looking to boost your immune system, you can’t go wrong with any of these options!
- Matcha Tea
- Green Juice (Power Packed!)
- Turmeric Smoothie
- Ginger Shots
- Turmeric Tea
- Golden Milk
Easy Elderberry Tea
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons dried elderberries
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small pot. You'll notice the berries instantly start releasing their color.
- Heat the pot over high heat. When the tea just starts to boil, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Once the tea is finished simmering, turn off the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Strain the tea through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass and enjoy!
Lisa’s Tips
- This is the brand of organic dried elderberries I buy. And it’s usually enough to last the entire cold and flu season!
- The elderberry tea gets deeper and darker in color the longer you boil it.
Nutrition
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I’ve seen elsewhere that elderberries are poisonous unless cooked for 1 hour? I tried the recipe and added a little honey for sweetness.
Hi Hannah – that’s not accurate. Elderberries are fine for consumption as long as they’ve been boiled for at least 15 minutes. And the stems, leaves, and roots are actually more potent. So as long as you’re boiling just the berries themselves, you should be just fine. :)
I have an elderberry tree, can I use fresh berries? How much of the fresh is equivalent to your dried?
So thrilled to finally have found an organic dried elderberry supplier at a local farmer’s market. Should I have any concerns about pot and/or surface berry staining?
Awesome! And I haven’t had any issues with that with my stainless steel pot.
Can kids drink some to??
How often should you drink this to boost immunity? Im just getting over pneumonia and want my immunity to stay strong afterwards.
Everybody’s body is different, but you could always start off with a few days out of the week to see how that affects you.
Can you then eat the elderberries after boiling for tea?
I made the Elderberry tea and loved it. However, I did add some local honey for a little sweet. :) I’m not totally off sugar yet but working on it.
Hi, i have access to fresh elderberry. Is there any reason it should be dried berries? Tia
You can use fresh elderberries as well!
I love this tea and make it all the time.
I add in slivered ginger and turmeric. I add the juice a lemon after its finished simmering and a tablespoons of maple syrup.
I let it sit on the stovetop with no heat for a few more hours to make it even stronger.
It’s also delicious cold.
Can you reuse the berries for another weaker cup?
I don’t see why not. :)
Amazing results fast. I usually make elderberry syrup for my family, but didn’t use it on me. Got sick this year despite everything I always do for immunity. I found your recipe and made it. Feel almost 100% in 24 hours. Thank you so much.
Love this recipe. Have made it several times. Thank you for posting.
I am making loose leaf tea for a friend who is under the weather, can I use this recipe to make in a tea bag or is it meant to be boiled? Thank you for sharing this recipe and some tips for customization!
Hi Skylar – for this recipe, it’s meant to be boiled. Hope you enjoy it!
Can I make a big batch and drink throughout the week? I have 2 homes I travel back and forth for work and don’t have time to make.
Should be okay Deb!
I lightly grind mine and then put them in loose leaf tea bags I ordered from Amazon. You can get 300 bags for about $10, and it works perfectly
Yummy.
I love your cooking! I am from Viet Nam. Thank you!
Thanks so much! :)
Can you use ground cinnamon instead of a cinnamon stick? If so how much?
Hi George- Yes! You can use 1/2 a teaspoon of ground cinnamon instead :)
Thanks. This is such an informative post. Love that this drink is so healthy and has all the medicinal properties. Need to definitely try this healthy drink.
Hope you enjoy this one :)
Oooooh – I love this idea (especially as we’re heading into cold and flu season soon)! It sounds so comforting but also healthy, and I was really excited about some of your suggestions for customizing this tea – particularly the ideas of using unsweetened cherry juice for a boost of antioxidants, and using a little warm, homey cinnamon. Definitely pinning this for the winter to come!
I’ll have to try this next time we’re starting to feel a bit under the weather. We make elderberry syrup but I’ve never tried elderberry tea.
This is a great way to use up an elderberries you have on hand!
Looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one.
If you love Elderberry, this is a must! :)
This looks so comforting and so necessary in this time! Thank you for the wonderful recipe and can’t wait to try it!
I loved the mug you used! What size is it and where did you buy it if you don’t mind my asking?
Hi there! I was actually gifted from the brand Zwilling!