In winter, we need to nurture our kidneys and bladder; the taste is salt, the element is water, the cooking method best used is boiling simmering, the grain of choice is buckwheat.
Best Picks of the Season
Apples
Burdock
Cabbage
Celeriac Root
Chestnuts
Chickpeas
Citrus
Clementines
Cranberries
Endive
Garlic
Grapefruit
Lima Beans
Mushrooms
Peanuts
Potatoes
Radicchio
Rosemary
Sunchokes
Sweet Potatoes
Winter Squash
Yukon
Yams
Yuca
Elderberry Syrup
The Magic Winter Elixir
Elderberry refers to several different varieties of the Sambucus tree, which is a flowering plant belonging to the Adoxaceae family. The most common variety is Sambucus nigra, also known as European elderberry or black elderberry.
Traditionally, indigenous Americans used this type of elderberry to treat infections, while the ancient Egyptians used it to improve their complexions and heal burns.
Elderberries and flowers of elderberries are a low-calorie food packed with vitamin C, dietary fiber, antioxidants and other vitamins that may boost your immune system. They could help tame inflammation, lessen stress, and help protect your heart, too. Some experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. In any case elderberry is a flavorful addition to a healthy diet and good source of vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants.
While elderberry has some promising potential benefits, caution should be used with its consumption. The bark, unripe berries and seeds contain small amounts substances known as lectins, which can cause stomach problems if too much is eaten and the elderberry plant contains substances called cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide in some circumstances. This is a toxin also found in apricot seeds and almonds. Therefore elderberries must be boiled at least 15-20 minutes to destroy the glycosides in the seeds and allow for safe consumption.
When cooking with elderberries only the ripened berries of Sambucus nigra varietal should be used and elderberries should be properly sourced from reputable places like Natural Zinc or Mountain Rose Herbal to ensure safety and quality.
You can take Elderberry Syrup regularly: One tablespoon daily to support your immune system or one teaspoon hourly if you have a cold or flu.
