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Notes From The Brew Room
Berry Recipes Ann King Clusters of elderberries are beginning to decorate our hedgerows and field margins, signifying the end of the summer. Much is written about the correct time to harvest and my advice is to wait until the berries are a deep, shiny purple, and dangle on the stem. If ripe, the slightest finger pressure will gather them easily into a harvesting bowl. There are several ways to extract the basic immune-boosting properties of the elderberry, and these can be further enhanced with the addition of appropriate herbs and spices, to create bespoke autumn tonics.
extract the constituents. Use the resulting liquid. The mucilage content acts on inflammation and brings a soothing element to the mix. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) contains thymol, which acts as an antimicrobial expectorant, and an antispasmodic to help clear phlegm. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) both act as antimicrobial, diaphoretic and circulatory stimulants, to help flush out toxins and keep internal systems warmed and mobile. Cardamon (Elettaria cardamomum) and Star Anise (Illicium verum) have been added for the additional warming effect, energy and flavour.
Elderberry Spice Syrup Ingredients ¼ cup Marshmallow root— soaked in cold filtered water over night 500g Elderberries 1tsp Thyme 1 Cinnamon stick 4 Cardamom pods Star Anise 5 Ginger slices 250g dark Muscovado sugar
As a base, Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) contains vitamins C, B6 and A and viburnic acid, which encourages perspiration and helps flush out toxins. In this recipe, the following are added: Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis, rad.). This should be infused in cold water overnight, to
Method Soak the Marshmallow root overnight and strain, reserving the liquid. Place the berries, herbs and spices in a stainless steel pan and add the reserved Marshmallow liquid, topping up with filtered water to cover the berries and spices by about 1cm. Bring to a boil and then simmer very gently for 20mins— a low temperature helps retain the beneficial constituents. Press the resulting liquid through a fine strainer, squeeze and remove the marc. Measure the volume of water, squeeze in a tbsp lemon.
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