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There are important considerations for the correct use of the elderberry that this article omits. The roots, unripe berries and seeds are poisonous.
by vesinisa 5y ago
There are important considerations for the correct use of the elderberry that this article omits. The roots, unripe berries and seeds are poisonous.
- mrspuratic 5y agoThis, though cooking neutralises the toxin (cyanogenic glycosides) in the seeds. Am lucky enough to have a few (European) elder trees already established in my garden, homemade elderflower cordial diluted with sparkling water is the best summer drink.
- mod 5y agoMy uncle has made elderberry jam and wine, both of which were fantastic.
- patall 5y agoI am not too fond of the jam (kind of sharp on bread, for e.g baking it's nice) but elderberry soup is something I really like (and so easy to make)
- pvaldes 5y agoThat's interesting. How is made?
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- patall 5y agoA reciept that becomes quite close to what I do is this: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/75737/elderberry-soup/ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/75737/elderberry-soup/, though I cook the apples in the same pot (without peeling). Some people add dumplings like here: https://www.sunnysidecircus.com/countries/germany/food-drinks-germany/holundersuppe-elderberry-soup/ https://www.sunnysidecircus.com/countries/germany/food-drink... Key for me is cooking elderberries in water, adding corn starch to thicken and apples for sweetness.
- pvaldes 5y agoThanks. I will try it. You could want to try tea made from elder flowers also. Dark green and does not taste very good but has interesting properties.
- patall 5y agoInteresting. Could the green color be caused by the stems? My mom makes syrup from the flowers but that's only slightly yellowish.
- mod 5y agoNow that you say that, I remember it was jelly, not jam. It was almost transparent, and not very strongly flavored--probably to take away the sharpness. Thanks for the soup recipes! I had never heard of that.
- vesinisa 5y agoYup, this article actually inspired me to plant elderberry to my garden come spring. I once bought a bottle of the cordial from a store and it is the best juice I have ever tasted. Only downside being it's quite expensive.
- mrspuratic 5y agoThe downside is you can't make much in the way of red (wine|jam) if you use most of the flowers for cordial in the summer. If you have space, plant more! They seed readily, grow fast, and handle heavy pruning or coppicing.