9 Facts About Elderberry You Never Knew (Until Now)

Elderberry. The name conjures up images of medieval times when they were used by traditional healers to treat everything from diarrhea, to high blood sugars and even heart disease. Today, we have a better picture of the medicinal benefits of elderberry, and they're nowhere near what our ancestors wanted to believe. Still, elderberry is a popular flavor for jams, and because it contains vitamin C, it can also be said to contain beneficial antioxidants. In this post, we're going to look at some things you may not know about elderberries, including the fact that it makes a delicious natural soda.

Nine Surprising Facts About Elderberry

Who knew there were so many things to know about elderberry? Certainly not us until we started researching this post. But now that we are properly enlightened we’d like to share some of the surprising facts we’ve learned about the humble elderberry.

ONE: Elderberry is Essentially Unchanged Since the Stone Age

That might not seem like a big deal but it is. A lot of foods have mutated over the centuries including watermelon, which looks almost nothing like it did 300 years ago, and even chickens which looked quite different during the Stone Age when they were first being domesticated. Elderberry, however, is essentially unchanged since humans first started eating them in any quantity.

TWO: Unripe elderberry is an effective poison

The unripe fruit of the elderberry tree produces cyanide when metabolized. This fact alone probably accounts for why so much time elapsed between when humans first became aware of elderberries and when they began consuming them. For the record, you can neutralize the poisonous effects by simply cooking your unripe elderberries.

THREE: Elderberry is no miracle food

In the days when bleeding was still considered a sound medical practice, it was easy to believe what was being said about the fruit of the elderberry tree. These days we know different. While there are plenty of people who are still willing to state with a straight face that elderberries will cure everything from diabetes to heart disease, the science says otherwise. At best, there's a mild antioxidant effect. And while antioxidants are certainly a positive thing it doesn't mean elderberry is going to cure anyone's arthritis.

FOUR: Some people eat fried elderberry flower

We were surprised to discover this, but it turns out fried elderberry flower is actually pretty popular! One of the most common recipes for fried elderberry calls for creating a batter from flour, eggs, salt, pepper and water and then dipping the elderberry leaves into the batter before dropping them into hot oil to deep fry them.

FIVE: If you love birds, plant elderberry

Loads of people have feeders hanging from their back porch or the trees in their yard. It’s a great way to attract local birds and add a sense of vitality to your landscaping. But if you really love birds, why put out feeders? Why not just plant elderberry in your yard? Birds love elderberry and you won’t have to spend money and take time constantly filling bird feeders. Or, if you really love your feathered friends, offer them a combination of feeders and elderberry plants.

"Additionally, elderberry flowers attract insects, which in turn attract even more birds in spring. Many varieties of sunflowers, elderberries, and serviceberries are edible for humans, too — if you can beat the birds to them."
—Audobon Society

SIX: Elderberry natural soda is delicious

Elderberry can be used to make delicious jam, muffins and syrups so maybe it’s no surprise that elderberry soda is also delicious and refreshing. Our Rocky Mountain Evergreen Elderberry Soda is gluten-free, vegan and kosher and contains no GMOs. It’s one of our lightest, most thirst-quenching sodas and it owes its distinctive flavor profile to one of humankind’s most reliable fruity companions, the elderberry.

SEVEN: Elderberry blossoms are quite beautiful

In the past, people tended to think of elderberry for what they believed were its medicinal benefits. These days we mostly focus on it as a consumable. But what is rarely talked about are its fragrant and delicate blossoms which appear in the late spring. If you have elderberry bushes or trees in your yard you know of what we are speaking. Sitting on the patio surrounded by elderberry blooms smelling of sweet acacia and honey early in the morning is one of life's great pleasures.

EIGHT: There are many different varieties of elderberry

Black Beauty® Elderberry
IMAGE SOURCE: Proven Winners

Black Lace® Elderberry
IMAGE SOURCE: Proven Winners

Adams Elderberry Plant
IMAGE SOURCE: Stark Bros

Instant Karma® Variegated Elderberry
IMAGE SOURCE: Proven Winners

'Scotia' Elderberry
IMAGE SOURCE: One Nature Nursery

York Elderberry Plant
IMAGE SOURCE: Stark Bros

Elderberry is a many splendored thing. There are dozens of elderberry varieties including:

• Beauty with its pink blossoms that smell of lemon
• Black Lace with its dark purple foliage and flowers that remind one of Japanese maple
• Adams 1 and 2 with their large fruit clusters
• Variegated with its compelling green and white foliage
• Scotia with its sweet, sweet berries from small bushes and
• York that produces the largest of all elderberry fruit

NINE: Elderberry plants can live up to 100 years

The humble elderberry is a hardy plant with some of their kind known to have survived while continually producing fruit for as long as 100 years. Compare that to the average house plant that typically lives anywhere from 5 to 10 years, (although some certainly live longer). Perhaps counterintuitively the wild elderberry plant (as opposed to cultivated elderberry) is usually the longest-lived.

Elderberries Throughout History

We’ve all had to take history lessons and sit through hours of talks on the ancient Romans, the Aztecs, World Wars I and II and more. But how come nobody ever does history lessons on the important things, like the elderberry? It’s a vexing question and one without a simple and compelling answer, especially for those of us at Rocky Mountain Soda whose vegan and kosher Evergreen Elderberry soda is one of our top-sellers. In order to correct this grave injustice we’ve decided to compose this brief history of the elderberry.

The Elderberry Through Time

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates didn’t know about our natural soda, but he was one of the first historical figures to praise elderberries (scientific name “sambucus”) way back in 400 BC. He came to refer to it as his “medicine chest” due to the variety of ways he found to put it to use on his patients. While the berries (along with the roots, leaves and twigs) of the sambucus plant contain toxins, any toxic effects are quickly neutralized by cooking the berries.

Hippocrates found that once the toxic threat was neutralized elderberries could be used to treat a variety of maladies stemming from inflammation. He also used elderberry to bolster the immune system, reduce stress, protect the cardiovascular system, relieve constipation and reduce cold and flu symptoms. You can begin to see why he referred to it as his medicine chest.

Many people today still use elderberry to treat all of those conditions and more. For instance, while less convincing evidence exists to suggest sambucus can be used to treat infections, sciatica, dental pain and nerve damage, many people use elderberry supplements for those purposes anyway. But back to the history.

The Early Modern Era

While Hippocrates himself didn’t live to see the modern era his championing of the elderberry did not go unnoticed and was not forgotten. During the 1700s doctors throughout Europe continued to encourage the use of elderberry as an effective treatment for constipation, cold and flu symptoms and even heart disease. One English medical text of the day noted that elderberry could be used as an effective treatment for edema (fluid retention) and might be useful in treating patients with congestive heart failure.

In the 19^th century a guide to medicinal plants entitled “The King’s American Dispensatory” listed sambucus as a well-known plant with multiple medical applications that was in widespread use throughout North America.

The 20^th Century

In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries the emergent field of laboratory science sought to distance itself from traditional herbalist practices in an attempt to free medical knowledge from local superstitions, traditions and politics and make it universal. Thereafter, only things that could be scientifically proven beyond a doubt would be accepted as medical canon.

As a result, the elderberry, along with a host of other plants were relegated to the “alternative” category of medicine and their influence diminished. Nonetheless the fact that US consumers spent nearly $300 million on elderberry supplements last year suggests that, while the plant has fallen out of favor with the medical elite, it has not been forgotten by the people.

Out Of The Doctor’s Office And Into The Kitchen

Even though the elderberry fell out of favor with the Western medical establishment it did not lose any of its luster when it came to the culinary sphere. Elderberry wine, for instance, has been produced for centuries and first appeared in northern Europe where it was too cold and dark to support the growing of grapes, but not too cold and dark for elderberry.

Elderberry pie is still a big favorite in many places in Europe and North America and you can buy elderberry syrup through countless online retailers including Amazon, Whole Foods and more. Elderberry jelly still enjoys modest popularity in the US and Europe and can be made at home. And let’s not forget the realm of soda pop where our very own Evergreen Elderberry natural soda is leading the charge in making elderberry a popular soft drink flavor.

Eight Elderberry Cocktail Recipes To Try At Home

Here are eight cocktail recipes featuring Evergreen Elderberry Soda from Rocky Mountain Soda Co., each with a unique twist to showcase its refreshing and floral notes:

Elderberry Gin Fizz

A light and refreshing cocktail, the Elderberry Gin Fizz combines the botanical notes of gin with the crisp, fruity flavor of Evergreen Elderberry Soda. Perfect for a summer afternoon.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 4 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• Ice
• Lemon slice and fresh mint for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Shake well.
2. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with Evergreen Elderberry Soda.
3. Garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint.

Elderberry Mule

A twist on the classic Moscow Mule, this version uses Evergreen Elderberry Soda for a delightful blend of spicy ginger and sweet elderberry flavors.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 3 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• 2 oz ginger beer
• Ice
• Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a copper mug with ice and add vodka and lime juice.
2. Top with Evergreen Elderberry Soda and ginger beer. Stir gently.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig.

Elderflower Spritz

A bubbly and floral delight, the Elderflower Spritz combines elderflower liqueur with Evergreen Elderberry Soda for a refreshing, lightly sweet cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz elderflower liqueur
• 1 oz prosecco
• 3 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• Ice
• Edible flowers for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a glass filled with ice, pour elderflower liqueur and prosecco.
2. Top with Evergreen Elderberry Soda and stir gently.
3. Garnish with edible flowers for an elegant touch.

Elderberry Margarita

Add a floral twist to your margarita with the addition of Evergreen Elderberry Soda. This cocktail is both tart and sweet, perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz triple sec
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 2 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• Ice
• Lime wheel and salt for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rim the glass with lime and salt. Fill with ice.
2. In a shaker, combine tequila, triple sec, and lime juice with ice. Shake well.
3. Strain into the prepared glass and top with Evergreen Elderberry Soda.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Elderberry Mojito

A fruity twist on the classic mojito, this version incorporates the fresh taste of Evergreen Elderberry Soda for a unique flavor experience.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 8-10 fresh mint leaves
• 3 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• Ice
• Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions:

1. Muddle mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup in a glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice, add rum, and top with Evergreen Elderberry Soda. Stir well.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel and a mint sprig.

Elderberry Collins

A fruity take on the Tom Collins, the Elderberry Collins blends gin, lemon, and Evergreen Elderberry Soda for a zesty, refreshing drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 4 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• Ice
• Lemon wheel and cherry for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Shake well.
2. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with Evergreen Elderberry Soda.
3. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry.

Elderberry Sangria

A delightful and fruity sangria, enhanced with the crisp flavor of Evergreen Elderberry Soda. This is perfect for large gatherings or a relaxing evening.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine (750 ml)
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 cup mixed berries
• 6 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• Ice

Instructions:

1. In a large pitcher, combine red wine, brandy, orange liqueur, sugar, and fruits. Stir well.
2. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. To serve, fill glasses with ice, pour in the sangria, and top with Evergreen Elderberry Soda.

Elderberry Martini

A sophisticated and elegant cocktail, the Elderberry Martini is a delightful mix of vodka, elderflower liqueur, and Evergreen Elderberry Soda, perfect for a chic evening.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz elderflower liqueur
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz Evergreen Elderberry Soda
• Ice
• Lemon twist for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine vodka, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice with ice. Shake well.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass and top with a splash of Evergreen Elderberry Soda.
3. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Try Rocky Mountain Evergreen Soda Elderberry Today

Elderberries have a relationship with humans that dates back to at least the Stone Age. Traditional healers believed in the ability of elderberry to address a plethora of common health problems. Today, we use it to create things like our delicious Rocky Mountain Elderberry natural soda.

One thing our all natural elderberry soda has in common with traditional elderberry recipes is that it is free of artificial ingredients and contains no GMOs. What you get is the pure, unadulterated flavor of the elderberry shining through in a refreshing gluten free concoction that’s destined to dazzle your taste buds. Don't take our word for it - order bottles or cans of our all-natural craft Evergreen Elderberry soda online to try it yourself!