We make elderberry blossom syrup every year, as soon as the first bushes bloom. It's one of those simple preserves that's truly worth making yourself – it only takes a moment, and then you'll have something on hand for months that's perfect for tea, drinks, or when you first get a cold.

We don't mess with the recipe—we make it exactly as described below. It's tried and true, simple, and uncomplicated.

When and how to pick elderberry flowers

The most important moment is the harvest. The elderberry blossom should be fully developed—the entire umbel of flowers should be open, bright, and fragrant. This is when it has the most aroma and pollen.

We collect:

In sunny, dry day
preferably at noon, when the inflorescence is dry
away from roads and pollution

Every elderberry bush may look similar, but it's best to choose only healthy, clean flowers. If you see dust or insects, it's best to leave the umbel alone.

👉 Important: Do not wash the flowers. The pollen on the surface is responsible for the aroma. Simply leave them for an hour or two to dislodge the insects from the cut umbels, then shake them off gently.

Ingredients – what you will need

Our recipe for elderflower syrup is very simple. You'll need:

ok. 50-60 elderberry flower umbels
2 liters of water
600 g of sugar (our proportion is approximately 30%)
juice squeezed from 5 large lemons

The classic recipe often calls for up to 1 kg of sugar per liter of water, but we do it differently. We prefer a less sweet syrup—fresher, less heavy.

👉 If you like a sweeter taste, feel free to increase the amount of sugar.

Elderberry Flower Syrup – Recipe

Preparing the flowers

Separate the collected flowers from the stems. The easiest way to do this is with scissors – simply cut off the flowers, leaving the green part.

This is important because the stem is bitter and can spoil the taste of the syrup.

Potting and maceration

Place the prepared flowers in a large pot or bowl and pour boiling water over them (2 liters of water).

Set everything aside cool place for at least 12 hours – preferably for 24 hours. During this time, the elderflower will release its full aroma and flavor into the water.

Straining and adding ingredients

After this time:

strain the liquid through a sieve or cheesecloth
squeeze the flowers thoroughly

To the filtered liquid add:

sugar
lemon juice

Heat everything, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.

👉 Important: Do not boil. Just bring the liquid to approximately 90°C.

Pouring into bottles

Pour the hot syrup into previously sterilized bottles or jars.

It is worth sterilizing the bottles with boiling water
pour immediately after heating
close tightly

After capping, turn the bottles upside down and leave to cool.

How to store elderberry syrup

You have two options:

1. For quick use

If you make the syrup on the fly:

store in the refrigerator
best used within a few days

2. For longer

If you want to make a stock. Immediately after bringing to 90°C:

pour into airtight bottles or jars and close them with lids to seal,
keep in a cool place.

Well-prepared syrup does not require additional pasteurization – hot pouring and tight sealing are sufficient.

What to use elderberry flower syrup for?

This is where this recipe really starts to make sense.

You can use elderberry syrup in many ways:

🍋 Lemonade

Water + syrup + ice + your favorite fruit juice = ready. Simple and perfect for summer.

🥤 Homemade elderberry "juice"

Simply dilute the syrup with water. This is the simplest method.

🍹 Drink Hugo

Syrup + prosecco + mint + sparkling water. A classic, check out our recipe.

☕ For tea in winter

A few spoons of syrup in your tea and you have something much better than regular sugar.

🍰 For desserts

Great for pancakes, yogurt and even ice cream.

Properties of elderberry flowers

Elderberry flowers have long been used in homemade preserves and infusions.

Traditionally it is said that:

supports the body during colds
works by sweating
contains natural compounds such as tannins

We don't treat it like a medicine, but as a natural supplement. It's especially useful to have it on hand during the fall and winter seasons.

Why is it worth making syrup yourself?

The biggest advantage? You know exactly what's inside.

No preservatives, no unnecessary additives – just elderflower, water, sugar and lemon.

The flower season is short, so it's worth taking advantage of it. And when your home supplies run out in winter... it's good to have a proven alternative and visit our store 😉

Elderberry Flower Syrup – Step-by-Step Recipe

Contents