The Power of Nature: Ingredient Highlight, Elderberry

First ripe berries of the season… picked for you!

August always feels like a turning point. The gardens are heavy with late-summer blooms, the cicadas hum in the background, and the air holds just the faintest whisper that fall is on its way. Out behind the apothecary, my elderberry trees are hanging heavy with their first ripe clusters, deep purple jewels that signal it’s time to start simmering syrup and stocking jars. Just as families are gathering school supplies and settling into new routines, I’m gathering these berries, knowing they’ll be ready just when we need them most.

Elderberries (Sambucus nigra) have been treasured for centuries. Hippocrates, often called the “father of medicine”, referred to the elder tree as his “medicine chest” because every part of it was useful. Across Europe and North America, elderberries have been used as a household remedy for colds, flu, and seasonal sniffles, and their benefits are now being explored in modern labs.

What’s inside these berries?

Elderberries are packed with:

• Vitamin C — Supports immune cell production and acts as an antioxidant.

• Anthocyanins — Plant pigments that give elderberries their deep color and have anti-inflammatory properties.

• Flavonoids — Help protect cells from oxidative stress and support healthy blood vessels.

• Dietary fiber — Supports gut health and healthy digestion.

What science says

• Cold & flu relief: In multiple clinical trials, people taking elderberry recovered from influenza about four days sooner than those taking placebo. They also experienced fewer symptoms and less reliance on over-the-counter medicines.

• Cold symptom support for travelers: Air travelers supplementing with elderberry reported milder symptoms and shorter colds than those who didn’t.

• Metabolic benefits: A 2025 university study found that daily elderberry juice improved blood sugar balance, increased fat burning, and supported a healthier gut microbiome.

• Antioxidant defense: Anthocyanins in elderberries help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, protecting the body’s cells from damage.

From harvest to bottle at Old City

When you buy elderberry syrup from Old City Apothecary, there’s a good chance the berries were grown right here by me. I harvest by hand, removing each cluster, then strip the berries from the stems before gently simmering them to release their beneficial compounds. I pair them with raw local honey and organic spices like cinnamon and clove for flavor and extra immune support.

This small-batch approach means every bottle is fresh, potent, and made with care, the opposite of the mass-produced syrups on big box shelves.

Ways to enjoy elderberry

• Stir a spoonful of syrup into hot water for a comforting tea.

• Add a splash to sparkling water for a refreshing drink.

• Mix into homemade popsicles with lemon juice and honey.

• Incorporate into baked goods for a berry twist.

  
  

💡 Tip: Never eat raw elderberries, they need to be cooked to remove naturally occurring compounds that can upset your stomach.

A plant that connects the past and present

I love elderberry not just for its health benefits, but for the connection it gives me to herbalists who came before us. The same berry clusters hanging in my yard today could have been used hundreds of years ago by a mother making syrup for her family. In a world full of fast fixes and synthetic solutions, elderberry is a reminder that sometimes, nature had it right all along.

Every August, when the first berries turn from green to purple, I’m reminded that good things take time. I watch the clusters ripen in the summer sun, knowing that in just a few weeks they’ll be simmering on my stove, filling the kitchen with that unmistakable sweet, earthy aroma. And just as the school year begins and routines start to shift, elderberry season arrives, nature’s own reminder to keep our homes stocked with the things that help us feel our best. From the first ripe berries in my backyard to the jars waiting in the apothecary, this time of year feels like a fresh start for both body and home.

-Sarah, Old City Apothecary

Sources:

1. Zakay-Rones, Z. et al. (2004). Journal of International Medical Research.

2. Hawkins, J. et al. (2021). Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

3. Tiralongo, E. et al. (2020). Nutrients.

4. Washington State University (2025). Elderberry juice and metabolic health outcomes.

5. Roschek, B. et al. (2009). Phytochemistry.