Elderberry Flowers (Sambucus Nigra) – Herb

Brew & Taste

The honey-colored infusion is full of sweet floral aroma and refreshing taste with a slightly bitter finish.

Origins

If the mythology surrounding this plant is even half true, then elderflower is a really busy plant. It is said that through the fire of elderwood, one can peek into hell. However, if you plant the bush in front of your house, you will simply chase away all evils, witches and devils. You just have to be careful when cutting it down and sing a special song, otherwise bad luck will stick to you. And you won't go wrong if you give newlyweds an elderflower branch – you'll be giving them good luck.

The elderflower is a shrub or smaller tree up to 7m. It has taken up residence throughout the northern hemisphere, where it seeks out higher humidity and nutrient-rich soil. The young bark and crushed leaves produce an upleasant scent, but the alabaster flowers in bloom, by contrast, will simply enchant you with their aroma. It blooms from May to July, and by the end of August you can see it densely covered with black berries.

All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid sambucin and the glycoside sambucinigrin. These substances can cause health problems when consuming uncooked elderberries. Fortunately, their effects are neutralized by cooking or drying. You may therefore encounter elderberry syrups, marmalades or alcoholic drinks.

In folk medicine, healers can utilize the entire plant, but the dried flower has always been the main part. It is used to make delicious and fragrant infusions. The decoction can be enjoyed in reasonable doses for 2 months, however, after that a break is recommended.

Herb packaging preview

We pack our herbs in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. Thanks to the hermetic seal, the herbs are protected against humidity, light and foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew and the herb itself.