Although they aren’t as well known as raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries, elderberries are delicious and healthy. Commonly used in wines and fruit butters, these berries have many properties that make them medicinal powerhouses. If you’re unfamiliar with them, learn more about them in this overview. 

What Are Elderberries?

The elderberry plant is a flowering shrub that produces dark, purplish blue berries. In nature, the plant’s seeds, stems, leaves, roots, and raw berries are inedible. However, when cooked, berries have a strong, tart flavor.

Because of their intense color, elderberries supply pigment for textiles, foods, and other consumer products. Cooked elderberries are added to pastries and used to make wine, jellies, spreads, syrup, and tea.

What Are Their Health Benefits?

Elderberry plants and fruits have numerous medicinal uses. Native Americans applied elderberry poultices to infections, while Ancient Egyptians used it to treat burns. It’s still a common folk remedy for everything from headaches and toothaches to sciatica, influenza, and infections.

The plant has also been used as a supplement to treat cold and flu symptoms. It blocks certain viruses from entering and attaching to cells, inhabiting flu infection in its early stages. It is rich in flavonoids, substances that help prevent inflammation and fight cancer-causing free radicals. It also has antiseptic properties, helping prevent acne. Finally, it contains high levels of Vitamin A and can help smooth out wrinkles, fade age spots, and promote graceful aging. 

To add these berries to your diet, get delicious elderberry fruit butters, elderberry syrup or elderberry syrup kits from Rosebud's Real Food. Located in Piqua, OH, this health food store has served Miami County and the surrounding areas since 2013. Their elderberry fruit butters contain organic ingredients and spices, including honey, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and lemon juice. Learn more about their elderberry products on their website, or call (937) 214-1801 with any questions.