Elderberries are the fruit of the Sambucus Nigra, known more commonly as an elderberry plant. These bountiful dark purple berries have been used in natural medicine for centuries.

Dried elderberries have an excellent shelf life and make a great pantry staple ingredient. They are known to have a compound called lectins that can cause gastric unrest by indigestion but is not very resilient. A brief boiling period or even fermentation disarms the lectins and allows for normal digestion to take place.

Elderberries are a common ingredient in winemaking to enhance color and flavor. Can also be used to make infused vinegars, teas, gummies, mead, soda, herbal tinctures, kombucha, kefir, etc.