Make sure the water you use is distilled, filtered, or quality spring water.
Ingredients
1 cup dried organic elderberries
¼ cup Fresh or dried citrus peels
¼ cup dried astragalus root
¼ cup dried rose hips
1 organic sweet cinnamon stick
2-3 Tsp. organic dried ginger root
½ Tsp. organic clove
4 cups cold water
1 cup raw, local honey, or sweetener of choice
Directions
1. Combine all ingredients with cold filtered water in a pot, bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to low.
2. Allow herbs to simmer at a reduced heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Turn off heat and let steep for 1 hour.
4. Mash with a potato masher or spoon.
5. Strain mixture using a strainer or funnel overlaid with cheesecloth or a cotton muslin bag and squeeze out liquid. Use caution because the mixture may still be hot.
6. Add honey in a ratio that is at least half of the total volume of liquid when the syrup has cooled to just above room temperature and stir to incorporate. You can double the amount of sweetener to prolong shelf life.
7. Bottle in sterilized glass and store in the refrigerator.