Elderberry Syrup: A September Kitchen Tradition

September brings a change in the hedgerows. The elder flowers of early summer have faded, replaced by clusters of deep purple berries — one of the signs that the season is beginning to turn.

Elder has a long history of use in herbal medicine and home apothecaries. The berries can be made into jams, cordials and syrups, and their rich, tart flavour pairs beautifully with the warming spices of autumn.

This is a simple elderberry syrup to make at the beginning of September, when the berries are ripe and plentiful.

Elderberry Syrup

Ingredients

• 500g ripe elderberries, removed from their stems

• 500ml water

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 3–4 slices fresh ginger

• 2–3 cloves

• 1 star anise, optional

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 250–300g honey, to taste

Method

1. Prepare the berries

Remove the elderberries from their stems, discarding any unripe or damaged berries. Rinse well.

2. Simmer

Place the berries in a saucepan with the water, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and star anise. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for around 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Strain

Strain the mixture through a fine sieve or muslin, pressing gently on the berries to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

4. Add the lemon and honey

Return the liquid to the pan and allow it to cool slightly. Stir in the lemon juice and honey, adjusting the sweetness to taste.

5. Bottle

Pour into a clean, sterilised bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator.

A note on foraging

If you are gathering elderberries yourself, be certain that you have correctly identified the plant and only use ripe berries. Elderberry stems, leaves and unripe berries should not be consumed and the berries must be thoroughly cooked before eating.

Foraging is always best approached with care — take only what you need, leave plenty for wildlife and avoid gathering from roadsides or areas that may have been treated with chemicals.

September's abundance

There is something particularly satisfying about making a preparation from what is growing around you. The elder that gave us its flowers in June now offers its berries; the landscape changes, and our relationship with it changes with the season.

September is a good time to notice what is still growing, what is ready to be gathered and what we might carry with us into the months ahead.