How to Make an Elderberry Oxymel

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Please note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe any treatments. Always consult your healthcare provider before using natural remedies.

When the weather turns to a new season, we know cold and flu season is just around the corner. Elderberry oxymel is excellent to have on hand in preparation for the seasons of potential illness.

Out of many potential herbal remedies, I have found elderberry to be the most tolerable and even tasty. It’s an easy way to enter into the world of herbalism too. Once you experience the wonders of elderberry, you might just be hooked and start trying other natural healing practices. 

What is an Oxymel?

An oxymel is an herbal extraction using raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey. The extraction is more shelf stable than an herbal syrup but much less than a tincture. 

Although oxymels have a shorter shelf life compared to a tincture, the honey and vinegar used in oxymels tend to make them more palatable than plain tinctures. Many like to use oxymels as a happy medium between the shelflife and palatability of the available options. 

Where to find Elderberry

There are many ways you can obtain elderberries. The first way is to find dried berries online. Common places to find dried elderberries include Amazon, Etsy, and Azure Standard. This tends to be the easiest method as there is little additional work needed in order to enjoy the berry goodness. However, I’ve found fresh elderberries work best for oxymels. 

If you are looking to use fresh elderberries, one main method is to forage some from local public lands. To find elderberry plants, you will want to be well versed in their features so they’re easier to spot. In the late spring and early summer, elderberry plants will produce clumps of delicate white flowers. If you plan on foraging your berries, I recommend scouting for your elderberry plants in early summer as that is the time I’ve found them to be most recognizable. This also allows you to know where to look for berries later on. Having a good foraging resource (either book or seasoned forager companion) is ideal when you’re first sourcing your wild elderberries.

The last way is to plant your own elderberry! This is the easiest of the two harvesting methods as you will typically have easier access to the bushes, you will be able to keep a closer eye on your plants and it may be a faster harvest. An additional benefit is you can care for these plants as you wish. Meaning, you can feed your plants and amend the soil to ensure your berries are organic. 

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The Importance of Raw Honey and Raw Apple Cider Vinegar in Oxymels

It’s important to use both raw apple cider vinegar and honey. Both ingredients in their raw form bring natural preservation properties to this extraction. The beneficial bacteria in both honey and apple cider vinegar can also provide great benefits to your gut flora. 

If you’re brand new to the magical abilities of both raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey, I highly encourage you to do a deep dive on both! 

Why make an elderberry Oxymel vs an elderberry syrup?

As a medicinal herb, elderberries are a wonderful resource for aiding in the fight against colds and flu. Adding raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey adds not only to the flavor but also the health benefits and the longevity of the elixir. Adding raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey will allow you to keep this medicinal beverage in the refrigerator for months instead of weeks. 

In order to obtain the same “shelf life” with a syrup, you would need to freeze it. Freezing your elderberry syrup may not be ideal because it can take a while for it to thaw and be usable.

Why make elderberry oxymel vs an elderberry tincture?

Tinctures that use a high proof alcohol are an amazing tool to preserve medicinal plants for almost indefinitely. Although the amount of alcohol ingested with a tincture is typically miniscule due to the dosage, it may not be suitable for all users. 

Oxymels allow for the same or similar medicinal benefit as a tincture without the alcohol. Although the vinegar does not extend the shelf life to the level of a tincture, it certainly extends it longer than a syrup. 

Are you in need of more support for cold and flu season? Earthly Wellness has great herbal options available. The Earthly Wellness Feel Better Fast tincture and Elderberry Elixir are favored by many. If you use the Earthly Wellness coupon code HELLONATURAL to save 10% your first order.

The Ingredient Ratio for Elderberry Oxymel

For an elderberry oxymel, the ideal ratio is 1:1:1 of each of the ingredients. This means you need to use equal amounts of the elderberry juice, raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey. 

If this much apple cider vinegar is a bit too strong for you, you can use up to three parts honey to one part vinegar and one part plant ingredients.

Ingredients and Tools 

½ cup Elderberry juice:

2 cups fresh (or frozen) elderberries 1 cup water 

½ cup Raw honey  

½ cup Apple cider vinegar

Small saucepan

1 large mouth pint canning jar and airtight lids – I like using spent canning lids

Mixing spoon

Liquid measuring cup

Fine mesh sieve

Funnel

Optional additions: 1-2 tbsp rose hips, ginger (1 inch fresh or 1 tsp dried) and cinnamon (3 inch stick or 2 tsp ground)

Instructions

To make elderberry juice:

To make elderberry juice, add 2 cups of fresh elderberries to a small pot with 1 cup of water. 

Boil the elderberries and water for 10 minutes with the lid on.

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After 10 minutes, most of the elderberries should have burst open. To ensure all berries are open, mash the elderberry juice with a potato masher that has small holes.

Assemble a mesh sieve, funnel and liquid measuring cup to strain the elderberry juice. Once all the juice is strained, squeeze the berries to remove any remaining juices. 

After squeezing the elderberries, you should have about ½ cup of elderberry juice. Pour all juice into your pint jar. 

Let the juice cool to room temperature.  

After cooling, add half a cup of each apple cider vinegar and raw honey. If using, add any desired optional spices like rosehips, cinnamon and ginger. Stir well and secure the air tight lid.

Store in the refrigerator for later use. For best results, use within 6 months – 1 year.

FAQ:

How much elderberry oxymel should I take? 

The dosage you should take can depend on many personal factors. The typical dosage for an adult ranges from 1-2 tablespoons. The frequency of the doses will depend on your health status (more frequent if you’re experiencing symptoms and less often if you’re taking before symptoms occur). 

How long will elderberry oxymel stay good in the refrigerator? 

When stored in the refrigerator, an oxymel can stay good for 6 months to one year. The health benefits will tend to be strongest within the first 6 months of storage. 

Where can I find elderberries?

Common places to find dried elderberries include Amazon, Etsy, and Azure Standard. Fresh elderberries can be easily spotted when foraging or you can grow your own by getting an elderberry plant.

When is the best time to harvest elderberries? 

Elderberries are typically ready to be picked in late summer-early fall. The delicate white flowers will have transformed into tiny dark purple berries. 

Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.