3 cups fresh elderberries, or 1 cup dried berries
3 cups filtered water
1 1/2 cups honey
1 ounce fresh ginger root, grated
Black cherry concentrate (optional)
Juice of 1 lime

Combine berries, ginger and water in stainless steel or glass pot. Heat on medium until simmering. Continue to gently simmer uncovered for 45 minutes to an hour, or until reduced in volume by half. Remove from heat. Strain well through cheesecloth, squeezing the juice from the berries. Allow decoction to cool slightly.

Measure liquid and combine with equal parts honey. Add all the lime juice and, if you choose, black cherry juice to taste.

Pour into glass jar, date, and store in the refrigerator for up to a year.

Take one tablespoon 2-3x/day daily during the cold and flu season. For children ages 2-5, use half the adult dose. Dose for ages 6-12 is two teaspoons twice daily. Nursing mothers can take one tablespoon 5 minutes before nursing to pass the benefits along to the baby.