The Story of Elderberries

Mountain Avenue Market carries a wide variety of bulk herbs and spices including elderberries!

Wondering what all the fuss over Elderberries is about? You’re not the only one.

So, today we’d like to introduce you to this popular plant, which is one of our favorites. We’ll explain where these berries come from, how they’ve been used throughout history, and several practical ways you can enjoy them.

Let’s start with a quick overview.

What is Black Elderberry?

Black Elderberries may be one of the most commonly used herbs for immune health, and lucky for us, it’s also quite delicious. In the United Kingdom, it’s not uncommon to find Elderberry jam in corner stores, as well as cordials and sodas made from Elderflower (another part of the same plant).

Black Elderberries are high in flavonoids called anthocyanins, which give the berries their bluish-purple color, as well as another group called anthocyanidins.

These flavonoids have antioxidant properties, and they’ve also been recorded to have a high oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC), which is the scale by which antioxidant activity is measured.* They assist with the body’s natural defenses and cell communication.*

Black Elderberry is a long-established daily tonic for both immune support and antioxidant support.*^1,2

Native Habitat

Elderberries grow on a plant called elder bushes, which are widespread in Europe, Western Asia, North America, and North Africa; elder bushes are commonly found growing in woodlands and hedgerow.

If you’re trying to identify elder bushes while you’re out and about in the great outdoors, they have fluffy white flowers in summer, and, later, their branches are full of plump blue-black berry clusters.

 

Historical and Cultural Uses of Elderberry

People have been using Elderberries for centuries. In fact, if you think about the name of the plant, you’ll see that the Elder shrub was so revered that its very name reflects the respect that it was given.

The plant has been used since the fifth century AD, and it has been revered by both Native American and European herbalists throughout history. Native Americans used the branches of Black Elderberry to make flutes, so it is sometimes called “the tree of music.”

Black Elderberry pies were seasonal treats for early American settlers, and it was often made into wine, too (and still is).

While today it is more common to see the berries used in herbal preparations, the flowers and leaves of the Elder plant have also historically been used.

Various parts of the plant were used to encourage healthy perspiration, healthy fluid levels, healthy bowel movements during bouts of occasional diarrhea, and healthy blood sugar levels.*

Want to try your hand at making an elderberry syrup or other creation for the winter months? Come into Mountain Avenue Market today!