Time for elderberry - time for sweet treats!

Now in blossom, the elderberry bushes are fragrant. Use the blossoms for moments of enjoyment. If you don't have them in your own garden, you can find them in the woods and fields. But don't harvest the bushes and don't steal them from neighbours or public places! You still have time for the black elderberries. They ripen from August onwards and have an antioxidant effect and strengthen the immune system due to their high content of anthocyanins, essential oils and vitamins. But be careful: Elderberries must be cooked. They are not suitable for raw consumption because they contain a hydrocyanic acid-releasing glycoside, sambunigrin. If eaten raw in large quantities, this can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

ELDERBERRY FOR THE MEDICINE CABINET

The juice obtained by steaming, also a must for the medicine cabinet, is drunk hot and in small sips several times a day at the first symptoms of a cold. In addition, the elderberries can be prepared as mush, fruit spreads and punch drinks (i.e. with spices). Incidentally, the food industry uses the strong l now in blossom, the elderberry bushes are fragrant. Use the blossoms for moments of enjoyment. If you don't have them in your own garden, you can find them in the woods and fields. But don't harvest the bushes and don't steal them from neighbours or public places! You still have time for the black elderberries. They ripen from August onwards and have an antioxidant effect and strengthen the immune system due to their high content of anthocyanins, essential oils and vitamins. But be careful: Elderberries must be cooked. They are not suitable for raw consumption because they contain a hydrocyanic acid-releasing glycoside, sambunigrin. If eaten raw in large quantities, this can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

ELDERBERRY FOR THE MEDICINE CABINET

The juice obtained by steaming, also a must for the medicine cabinet, is drunk hot and in small sips several times a day at the first symptoms of a cold. In addition, the elderberries can be prepared as mush, fruit spreads and punch drinksy colouring berries as a natural dye.

RECIPE ELDERBERRY SYRUP

Ingredients:

20 elderflower umbels

1 l water

1 kg sugar

Juice of one lemon

Preparation:

After cutting the cones of the elderflowers with scissors and bringing them quickly into the house, lay them out on a cloth so that any insects that may be present can get away. Then boil the water and sugar for about ten minutes with the lid off. Add the juice of the lemon to the cooled sugar solution. Add the flower umbels to the sugar solution and leave to infuse for 24 hours. Then pour the syrup through a fine sieve, heat again briefly and fill hot into boiled vials and seal well. It is best to use small bottles that do not stay open for long but are used up quickly