Elderberry

Sambucus spp.

fruit · flower

Small purple-black berries of the black elder, a hedgerow shrub. They provide anthocyanins.

Origin

Hedgerows of Europe

Season (United States)

August to September · grows in your region

Preparation

Raw berries make you ill: they are always cooked, as syrup, jelly or coulis. The flowers, on the other hand, are eaten raw without any trouble.

Molecules

AnthocyaninsIn small amounts, not counted Flavonols (quercetin)

Did you know?

In Bagnes, in the Swiss Valais, in the early 20th century, elder was used for its berries as syrup and its flowers as tea; in the United States, its dried berries are even sold as sweets.