Paraben Free Elderberry Tonic Syrup
Deep purple and richly spiced, this elderberry tonic syrup is the kind of thing you'll want to keep stocked in the fridge all season long. Dried elderberries simmer low and slow with fresh ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, and whole cloves until the liquid reduces into something intensely fragrant and beautifully concentrated. Raw honey is stirred in off the heat, preserving its natural qualities while binding everything into a glossy, spoonable syrup. For anyone navigating paraben sensitivities, store-bought wellness syrups and tonics can be a minefield ā many commercial formulations rely on synthetic preservatives that fall into that category. This recipe keeps things completely clean: every ingredient is a whole food or spice you can hold in your hand and identify on sight. The process is straightforward ā boil, simmer, strain, sweeten ā and the result is a thick, jewel-toned syrup that stores beautifully in a glass jar in the refrigerator. A little goes a long way, and knowing exactly what's in every drop makes it taste even better.
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Learn more āIngredients
24 servings
- 1 cup dried elderberries
- 3 cups water
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 ceylon cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 cup raw honey
Instructions
- 1
Combine the dried elderberries, water, ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon stick, and cloves in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 40ā45 minutes, until the liquid has reduced by roughly half and the berries are very soft and have released their deep purple color.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to press the berries firmly against the side of the pan, extracting as much juice as possible.
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