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Elderberry Tea is a warm drink you can make at home in just minutes! It’s a faster than making elderberry syrup, when your immune system needs a little boost.

elderberry tea in two glasses

Why You’ll Love It

Elderberries have been long used in folk medicine to potentially help with inflammation, headaches, and cold symptoms, but these immune-boosting berries must be cooked before they are consumed. 

Boiling the elderberries to make an herbal tea is a great way to do that!

Potential Health Benefits of Elderberries

  • Black elderberries have been shown to reduce the symptoms and length of influenza when taken at the first sign of illness. 
  • In one study of patients with influenza, taking elderberry syrup 4 times a day was shown to reduce influenza-like symptoms 4 days earlier than those who didn’t take it.
  • Elderberries are rich in antioxidants, including anthocyanins, which may have anti-inflammatory and anti-carinogenic properties.
  • The flavonoids found in elderberries may help to lower the risk of heart disease.
  • Black elderberries (also known as Sambucus nigra) may help with blood sugar control.

As an added bonus, this elderberry tea is a comforting cold-weather drink, and tastes amazing with a touch of honey and spices.

Safety Tip: When storing dried elderberries, be sure to keep them away from kids and pets. Dried elderberries may be toxic when eaten straight from the bag, and my kids think the dried berries look like mini chocolate chips– so keep them stored up high, safely out of reach.

elderberry tea ingredients gathered

How To Make Elderberry Tea

1. Combine the ingredients. 

In a small pot, combine the elderberries, water, and spices. I like to use a whole cinnamon stick and a few whole cloves, but you can also add in any other herbs or spices that you enjoy. 

elderberries and water in saucepan

2. Simmer.

Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat slightly. Simmer the elderberries for at least 15 minutes. The water will turn dark purple, and your kitchen will start to smell like elderberry juice!

strained elderberries in small strainer

3. Strain. 

Pour the hot liquid through a fine mesh strainer and into your mug. You can discard the elderberry pulp, or save it to boil a second batch later. 

Add in any extras you love, such as raw honey or lemon juice, and then enjoy!

Simmer the elderberries in water for 15 minutes. The liquid should be dark purple, and your kitchen will start to smell like elderberry juice!

Pour the liquid through a strainer into your mug to serve, since you won’t want to consume the elderberry pulp.

Variations

The best thing about making elderberry tea at home is that you get to control the flavor. Here are some other add-ins you might want to consider.

optional add ins on marble surface

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Can You Find Elderberries?

Some health food stores sell dried elderberries, otherwise you can buy them online. Brand availability will vary, but I feel comfortable buying most brands that are certified organic.

What does elderberry tea taste like?

Elderberry tea tastes slightly tart and spicy (depending on which spices you add), with a fragrant smell of berries. Add your favorite sweetener to make it taste more palatable.

Can You Boil Elderberries Twice?

Yes! You can get more “bang for your buck” by reserving the boiled elderberries from your first cup of tea. Just add more water and boil again, for a second, slightly less-strong cup of elderberry tea. If you’re going to boil a second batch, I recommend you do it on the same day, so you don’t have to save the soggy elderberries in the fridge for later.

Can I use raw elderberries? 

Dried elderberries will be more concentrated in flavor, so when using fresh elderberries you’ll need to use more. Also, keep in mind that elderberries must always be cooked before you consume them. The berries, leaves, stems, and seeds all contain a toxic substance that is removed by cooking, so don’t be tempted to skip that important step. 

What are the side effects of elderberries?

Consuming uncooked elderberries, stems, seeds, or leaves may result in vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea.

Looking for more warm drink ideas? Try Ginger Tea, Cinnamon Tea, homemade chai latte, or healthy hot chocolate.

orange slices floating in elderberry tea
elderberry tea with spoon

Elderberry Tea (3 ingredients!)

5 from 3 votes
Here's how to make Elderberry Tea at home, using just 3 simple ingredients! Elderberries may help to boost immunity and shorten cold & flu symptoms, so this tea is an easy alternative to elderberry syrup.
prep5 mins cook15 mins total20 mins
Servings:1

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons dried elderberries
  • 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon)

Instructions

  • Combine the water, elderberries and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and let it gently simmer for 15 minutes.
    elderberry tea in saucepan
  • Pour the tea through a fine mesh strainer to remove the elderberries and cinnamon stick.
    straining out elderberries
  • Serve warm with any add-ins you like. I sometimes like to add a squeeze of lemon or orange juice, along with a drizzle of honey. Leftover tea can be stored in the fridge and enjoyed warm or cold, if you want to make a larger batch.
    honey and orange slices added to tea

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, and does not take into account that the elderberries and cinnamon stick are strained out of the final tea. This is just an estimate, and not a guarantee.
Safety Tip: Do not consume uncooked elderberries, or their stems, leaves or seeds. They contain a toxic substance that is removed with cooking.

Nutrition

Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: vegan
Keyword: elderberry tea

If you try this easy elderberry tea recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

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Comments

  1. I made this for my family, who was feeling under the weather and we all thought it was delicious and comforting. I made it exactly as the directions. I did not have cinnamon stick on hand and just used ground, and it worked great. Thank you for this! I think this is my go to when me or my loved one feels under the weather.

  2. I will be making this, and likely adding some fresh ginger and crushed rose hips, as I have them, and make great additions to boost immunity. Sweeten with a touch of raw honey.