from Wild Foods of Prince Edward Island
Elderberries grow in heavy clusters called umbels that are easy to pick by just clipping the stem. The fruit is tremendously versatile and can be used in wine, sweet juice or syrup and savoury chutney.
Ingredients
8 cups Elderberries, removed from stems
6 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks
½ tablespoon whole cloves
Zest of 2 oranges
2 cups honey (or sweetener)
Cheesecloth and twine
6 bottles (250 mL) and lids, sterilized
Directions
Place berries and water in a large pot and bring to a boil.
Make a pouch out of some cheesecloth, place the cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange zest inside, and tie it up with the twine.
Toss it into the pot and simmer for an hour or so, mashing the berries from time to time.
Remove the cheesecloth packet, strain the liquid, and your honey or sweetener of choice.
Return the combination to a pot and heat until sweetener is dissolved and the liquid has thickened slightly.
Pour into sterilized bottles. Make about 1.5 litres.
Note: 16 cups of packed fresh Elderberry umbels will give you about 8-9 cups of berries.
Nada’s Tips & Tricks: You can substitute other berries with this recipe. If using sweetener instead of honey, add it slowly to ensure you have the sweet level you want.
Reprinted with permission from The Acorn Press. Text © 2025 by Kate MacQuarrie. Available to order wherever books are sold. https://nimbus.ca/store/wild-foods-of-prince-edward-island.html
