Sambucus (Photo credit: __o[IT]__)
To be honest, I think I’m writing now to distract myself from everything I have to do. I hate packing so much! But whatever the reason, I’d like to present to you the wonderful Elder flower!
Overview
The Elderberry shrub (Sambucus nigra) is also known as European Elder, Black Elder, Elderberry, Sambucus and Elder Flower – as well as other names, I’m sure. When in bloom, tiny fragrant flowers form large, flat clusters that are cream to white in color. They smell soft and sweet, and is a pleasant scent that doesn’t overwhelm the nose.
The Elder has a range of uses, from the flowers that can be used as tea and medicine, to the berries that can be used to make wine, jam, syrups, etc. Note that the berries must be cooked before consuming or it will result in a stomach ache. The rest of the plant is completely toxic, from the leaves and roots to the wood itself.
As of yet, I haven’t had the pleasure of preparing my own elderberry concoctions, though my grandmother used to make elderberry jam, which was excellent.
Harvesting
Apparently, some people have confused Elderberry with Water Hemlock, a toxic plant that must never be comsumed, though in my opinion they look nothing alike. Before going out to harvest your own, be sure that you know how to properly identify it. Here is a good link that gives detailed steps on proper identification: http://www.ehow.com/how_7020929_identify-elderberry-bush.html.
After you have properly identified the Elderberry, you can begin collecting the huge clusters of flowers. Take no more than what you will use, and if you can, harvest from multiple shrubs. You’ll want to save some flowers so they can develop into berries which are a source of food for not only people, but wildlife as well.
Since you’re going to be eating the flowers, you’ll want to thoroughly clean them. First I shake away any of the bugs that I can, and then I put them in a bowl of cold water for at least 10 minutes to kill all the critters that might have hung on. Sad, but we all need to survive.
Then I run them under cold water to wash away the remains and shake off the excess water. If I’m using them for tea, I spread them out in a dark, dry place to dry. In a few days I comb the flowers free with my fingers and store them in a brown paper bag (but a ziploc bag works fine, too).
If you’re planning to add them fresh, you can comb out the flowers and place them in the fridge while you prepare to cook them.
Culinary Uses
Elderflowers are good in pancakes, adding a delicate sweetness to the mix. They are also good to add to a batter used for frying up some daylily fritters (which is a post I will get to another day).
After they’ve been dried, they reconstitute nicely in a little bit of water, so they can be enjoyed in pancakes all year long.
Tea
The best way for me to describe the flavor of this tea is that it tastes the way it smells, soft, delicate and sweet. On my first trial I added a tsp of flowers to a cup of water and steeped for 15 minutes, and it was pleasant but I feel like I should have added more. It was bright yellow in color, looking like mellow yellow that sat out too long and lost all its fizz.
Elder flower tea is used to cool fevers and to aid in ridding the body of a cold and the flu. Make a tea with equal parts elder flower and peppermint and drink as needed. Peppermint is a great addition because it helps relieve nausea, soothe the throat and it also works in the same way elder does to cool fevers.
Conclusion
and legal mumbo jumbo
Elder is a great wild edible and natural medicine. Be sure to properly identify what you are using, check your sources, and talk to your doctor before adding any herb to your diet. Use common sense when working with the natural world, and if you aren’t sure if what you have is an Elder, don’t use it! I am not a professional and I don’t claim to be, so do your homework.
While natural medicines are wonderful, we live in an age where virus are developing rapidly. Sometimes Western medicine is necessary in order to fight off infections, viruses, and other nasties. Be responsible and if you or someone you love is really sick, take them to the doctor.
On a more pleasant note, check out the Elderberry shrub and all it has to offer, because it truly is a wonderful plant. It adds something unique to recipes, and I’m really excited to try out the berries when they’re ripe! Have a great afternoon (or night, or morning, wherever you are)!
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