Processing Elderberries.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VGLUS 8 August 2010 Processing Elderberries.

Eight pounds of elderberries were picked this morning, and removed from the branches. The berries were picked by snapping off the fruit bearing branch and placing in a plastic bag. The problem is removing the small berries from the branches. Usually the process is done by hand plucking. Since I had a 1/2 inch screen, it was decided to see if this would work. It did with amazing results. The berry removal only took a few minutes and was more than satisfactory. After all the berries were removed, all were put through the mesh again to trap any small branch parts remaining. This could be improved by utilizing as 1/4 mesh screen, which was not available. The berries will be used for juice, some cooked as a table fruit, and some frozen for later use in juice.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CHFRS 11 August 2010 Elderberry

More elderberry bushes are producing. Today 7 pounds were picked. I am experimenting with making juice by gently boiling for about 20 minutes then squeezing the pulp through cheesecloth. Depending upon the amount of water the juice can have the consistency desired. According the some the juice is beneficial. At least it cannot be worse than commercial fruit juice. One or two pounds of fruit produce about one liter of juice.

[pelmetman]

Do you not make any wine?

[snapdragon]

our last years elderberries were used to dye some wool - I used the 'currant' method of removing from the stalks - with a dinner fork.

[Durgan]

Do you not make any wine?

No wine. I like the juice. The season is finished and I picked a total of 45 pounds of elderberries, and made juice. I sort of like a glass per day. It give a bit of a high sort of like strong coffee.

I am experimenting with other produce. Okra, blackberries, raspberries, peach, pear, elderberry, carrots, tomatoes, and others as opportunity arises. The method is simple and only takes a little time. Nutrition wise, I don't really know.

[Millymollymandy]

Wow that's a lot of processing and juicing! I wish I had that sort of energy but once was enough for me.

[Silver Ether]

hmmmm not thought of drinking the juice ...looks like picking a few more ... I dont bother with berry removal from the last of the stalks when making cordial .... just boil them to soften and put through a jelly bag ... I dont use the fruit ... as I already have so much jam ...

[123sologne]

I swear by Elderberry cordial myself and here is the recipe I use:

Elderberry Syrup/Cordial
• Ripe elderberries
• Sugar
Pick the fruit on a dry day, wash well. Strip the fruit from the stems and put into a pan, adding just enough water to cover. Simmer for 30 minutes until the berries are very soft. Strain through a jelly bag or muslin and measure the juice.
To each pint of juice add 1 lb of white granulated sugar and 10 cloves.
Boil for 10 minutes.
Allow to cool and bottle in sterile bottles making sure you distribute the cloves evenly amongst the bottles (they act as a preservative).
The cordial can be used immediately, and will keep well for a year or two.

Now the beauty of this is the fact that I have not had a single cold last winter (1st time I did this) because of this stuff. I drink it as a cordial as I don't like the taste of plain water, but my husband uses it to keep the cold at bay as soon as he feels a tickle in the throat, just 3 tablespoons a day and it taste way better than any cold remedy you will buy. Just use for a couple of days and the tickle disappears. I read that if you do get a cold you just use it as a cold remedy for a few more days and your cold will go at least 4 days before it would have if using something else!
It is just that those lovely fruits have got lots of vitamins and other super good stuff in them and with the cloves anti-bacterial property you can fight colds and even tackle a flu!
Simply great!

[Millymollymandy]

I'm trying to work that out in metric (we've reversed, you and I, I can't do imperial anymore and you've become too British ). I think I did - 500g sugar to 1 litre juice which I found it a little bit too sweet, but is yours sweeter? That sounds like about 500g to half a litre - ish. Oh hell what's a pint!

[123sologne]

Hi Milly,
Yeah I think I have done 500g for 1/2 litre and yes it is fairly sweet but I put only a little bit in the glass and lots of water so it does not feel so sweet at the end. It is fairly siropy, a bit like the French cordial type "Sirop Teiseire". I hope that helps...