I bought a container of elderberries at the farmer's market. I asked the seller what she used them for. She said she froze them and put them in her tea in the winter. She also indicated that her children ate them raw off the vine.
Here is how they grow. I removed all the berries from the stems and popped a few in my mouth. Warning: I later read that raw berries may be poisonous! Also the leaves and stems. So don't try that yourselves.That said, the berries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Elderberry tea and juice are used to fight colds and the flu. Elderberry tea is made from the flowers. Flowers and fruit are used to make wine, jam, pies and syrups. If you buy this medicinal remedy it is best to buy it from an authorized maker of such things.
If I were still making paper, I might use these berries to color the paper. I did that with blueberries once. You can see how stained the bowl and my hands are with a lovely purple. These berries sure are purty.
10 comments:
Okay, I was reading along and stopped short when I read that you made paper...you made paper??!! How fun is that! I have always wanted to try that.
Then I looked at the berries again and am still not sure if I have ever had them. You must let us know what you do with them and how they taste.
A friend of ours makes Elderberrry jam every year. We are the happy recipients of a jar or two. We are alway appreciative because they are a pain to pick. They grow wild along the country roads here.
Ummmm...these look delicious and fascinating......I saw on "Jellybean Angel's" blog in the UK how to make Elderberry Wine.... and it sounds so wonderful - as does the jam and the tea.... are you going to make tea? Can't wait to see how it looks and tastes.....the berries are quite lovely - almost like translucent jewels - a bit like pomegrante seeds....
Monday hugs to you and Bibs! And....we had FOUR HOURS of SUN yesterday..... it was glorious....but too short-lived...fog is back today.
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
funny I thought the pink behind the berries was paper! until you said it was your hand! I would have thought the person selling you the berries would have told you they could be poison???? Pretty pictures anyway!
Wonderful summertimey post and how pretty the paper must have been that you made with berry stain before...
Years ago I had a friend who used to make a special kind of bunt cake for get togethers that was juicy and would never tell the recipe and it was sooooooo good. I found out one day she used Elderberry wine in it. I wish I can remember what the cake was called. Been to long now..But I do know it was wonderful tasting!!!
I think the scandinavians use elderberries a lot
I get that info only from seeing lots of elderberry jam, syrup, pancake mix, etc. at Ikea
(grin)
Gorgeous berries! I've never heard of elderberry tea, sounds lovely!
They're beautiful, Suki! So are you going to make some lovely jam?
Suki, these are truly beautiful. I don't know about the poison part, but I have given my children elderberry syrup during flu season. I have heard of the wine and the jam, so it might be positive for some further research. Then again, I think the paper sounds nice or you could use it to paint with or the juice as an ink! :-) Very Cool!
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