Five Flavor Elderberry Elixir Recipe

*photo by Jonathan Pielmayer

*photo by Jonathan Pielmayer

This nourishing drink fortifies the immune system, and incorporates all five flavors recognised by TCM: the sweet, bitter, pungent, sour and salty.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried elderberries 
• 6 cups water
• 5 astragalus slices
• 4-5 reishi slices
• 1 tbsp chaga
• 1 tbsp schizandra berries
• 1 tbsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 2 whole cinnamon sticks
• Peel of 1 organic lemon
• 2” piece of ginger, grated and squeezed
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup raw honey 

Directions            

  1. Bring the elderberries and water to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.

  2. Strain berries through a mesh strainer and press out as much juice as possible. Return the liquid to the pot.                        

  3. Add the remaining herbs and spices (except ginger and honey), and simmer until liquid is reduced by half.

  4. Remove from the heat, strain the herbs, and add ginger juice.

  5. Allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in raw honey and lemon juice. 

  6. Pour into sterilised bottle and refrigerate. Use within 2-3 months.

Recommendation

Take 1 tablespoon of this elixir 2-3 times a day during the cold season. Take 1 tablespoon every 2 hours at the first signs of a virus.

Eden Connelly