Elderberries for a Healthier Lifestyle

A majestic flowering elder. Larger than the house next to it.
Elder's can grow quite large (the elder is right next to the house)

Elderberries are among the most potent of berries and have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years.

From treating infections, coughs to the healing of injuries.

Elderberries should be used with caution.

In ancient times having an elder was considered to ensure that the good house spirits would stay on the farm.

A Danish saying goes Hvor hylden ej vil gro, kan mennesket ikke bo – which translates to Where the elder doesn't grow, no man can live.

Tip! Use the "Show Expanded TOC" button if you want to jump straight to a specific elderberry article.

Table of Contents

What Elder Or Sambucus Is

Elder is a beautiful bush that decorates many gardens. It is a bush that, if left to grow freely, grows to about 8 meters (26 feet) high.

It has white flowers and deep purple, almost blackberries.

Sambucus is the genus of the Elder. Genus is the taxonomic rank used in the biological classification system.

There are 26 different varieties of the Sambucus species. They all go under the common name elder or elderberries.

What You Can Use Elder For

Elderberries are used in many supplements because of their healthy powers. You can buy tablets, concentrate, or syrup that is marketed as supportive of your immune system.

There has been extensive research done on elderberries and supplements, but the research is insufficient to know its effectiveness for regular, everyday use.

Elderberries do display some remarkable powers when used to combat, for instance, the flu.

With that said, the recommendation is that it should only be used for short periods (5 days max) and not regularly.

It is common to make juice, syrup, or jam of the elderberries.

You can also make juice of the elderflowers. The juice of the elderflowers can be drunk as is, and it is delicious! But it can also add flavor, for example, to ice cream, pies, mousse, and a lot of other different foods.

How Elderberries Differ From Other Berries

Elderberries differ a lot from other berries. The difference that matters is that the elderberries are toxic but are edible in certain forms.

You should not eat them raw! But if you cook the berries, they are assumed to be safe to eat.

The other difference is that the flowers on the true elderberry bush are edible.

You can make a juice of the flowers, but you can also eat them.

Fried elderflowers are, by many, considered a delicacy.

All Our Articles On Elderberries

Below you'll find our articles written about healthy, nutritious elderberries and also how to avoid getting poisoned by them.

Pick one and learn something new!

Elderberries (What & Where To Buy) - Top Recommendations

Are you interested in buying elderberries or products made from elderberries?

You can check out our top recommendations for elderberry products in Elderberries (What & Where To Buy) - Top Recommendations

What Are Elderberries Good For?

We have gone through the research and found both proven and unproven benefits.

Studies show that elderberries have significant benefits against respiratory illnesses like colds and influenza.

You can explore the benefits elderberries can provide in What Are Elderberries Good For? [Proven & Unproven Benefits]

What Is Elderberry Syrup Good For? Does It Really Work?

Yes, Elderberry syrup works!

But it is not to be used every day!

Learn about this amazing syrup and what the research says it can do for you and your health in What Is Elderberry Syrup Good For? Does It Really Work?

Are Elderberries Poisonous?

Elderberries are poisonous.

But the benefits they can provide to you are well worth the effort to detoxify them.

We will show you how it is possible to enjoy them safely!

Learn how to do it yourself in our article Are Elderberries Poisonous? [Why & How To Enjoy Them Safely]

What Does Elderberry Taste Like?

Is it worth the risk to experience the taste of elderflower and elderberries?

Yes, it is, the benefits it can provide is amazing!

Let's explore the taste of 5 different varieties of elderberry foods in What Does Elderberry Taste Like? - 5 Different Varieties

What Are Elderberries Used For?

Elder is well known for the benefits it can provide.

You can use both the flowers and the berries from the elderberry bush for consumption.

We will give you 8 different tasty and beneficial whys that you can prepare elderberries in What Are Elderberries Used For? [8 Tasty & Beneficial Uses]

Healthy wishes from us at,