Wondering what all the fuss over Black Elderberry is about? You’re not the only one.
So, today we’d like to introduce you to this popular plant, which is one of our favorites. We’ll explain where these berries come from, how they’ve been used throughout history, and several practical ways you can enjoy them.
Let’s start with a quick overview.
What is Black Elderberry?
Black Elderberry may be one of the most commonly used herbs for immune health, and lucky for us, it's also quite delicious. In the United Kingdom, it's not uncommon to find Elderberry jam in corner stores, as well as cordials and sodas made from Elderflower (another part of the same plant).
Black Elderberries are high in flavonoids called anthocyanins, which give the berries their bluish-purple color, as well as another group called anthocyanidins.
These flavonoids have antioxidant properties, and they’ve also been recorded to have a high oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC), which is the scale by which antioxidant activity is measured.* They assist with the body's natural defenses and cell communication.*
Black Elderberry is a long-established daily tonic for both immune support and antioxidant support.*1,2
Get to know this diminutive purple berry, and learn how you can integrate it into your daily habits to give your immune system support and to help you stay feeling well all year round.*
Scientific Name
Parts Used
Flowers and berries
Harvest Info
Flowers harvested in early summer; berries in fall.
Let’s take a closer look at where this plant comes from and how it’s been used across the world over the years.
Native Habitat
Elderberries grow on a plant called elder bushes, which are widespread in Europe, Western Asia, North America, and North Africa; elder bushes are commonly found growing in woodlands and hedgerow.
If you’re trying to identify elder bushes while you’re out and about in the great outdoors, they have fluffy white flowers in summer, and, later, their branches are full of plump blue-black berry clusters.
Where Our Black Elderberries are Grown
Some of our herbs are grown on our nearly 270 acres of Regenerative Organic Certified® farm in Brevard, North Carolina, where we can keep a close eye on them while they’re cultivated. However, some plants do best in their own native bioregion, where the conditions are just right.
The Black Elderberries used in our products, including syrups and gummies, for example, come from a European growing cooperative based in Austria and are called Haschberg Elderberries. This cooperative was founded in 1978 and has more than 500 growers today.
These farmers have a deep respect for the land, and every Elderberry is hand-picked and hand-harvested at their peak ripeness, ensuring that only the best berries are used in our products.
One of our growers, who is the largest producer of organic Elderberries in Europe, has been cultivating these beautiful berries for more than 40 years. Growing herbs for supplements is a long-standing tradition in Europe, so we are honored to be able to work with a family that has preserved this tradition.
Historical and Cultural Uses of Elderberry
People have been using Elderberries for centuries. In fact, if you think about the name of the plant, you’ll see that the Elder shrub was so revered that its very name reflects the respect that it was given.
The plant has been used since the fifth century AD, and it has been revered by both Native American and European herbalists throughout history. Native Americans used the branches of Black Elderberry to make flutes, so it is sometimes called "the tree of music."
Black Elderberry pies were seasonal treats for early American settlers, and it was often made into wine, too (and still is).
While today it is more common to see the berries used in herbal preparations, the flowers and leaves of the Elder plant have also historically been used.
Various parts of the plant were used to encourage healthy perspiration, healthy fluid levels, healthy bowel movements during bouts of occasional diarrhea, and healthy blood sugar levels.*
Later, the berries became known for their immune supportive properties.* That’s one of the main reasons people continue to love and use Black Elderberry today.
Modern Uses and Research
Because of its immune-modulating and antioxidant properties, Black Elderberry is able to work at the cellular level and provide support for overall immune health.*3
By normalizing and promoting the production of cytokines (an action that is essential for overall wellness), the immune system is able to maintain balance, which is especially important during those winter months when our bodies need all the plant power they can get.*4,5
The constituents contained in the berry, specifically, promote the health of the upper respiratory system by supporting a healthy inflammatory response and maintaining the integrity of the mucous membranes, too.*
Quercetin, a flavonoid, is responsible for these aspects. It also supports a healthy response to occasional pain in the joints and muscles for healthy individuals.* Rutin, another flavonoid, supports the integrity of blood vessels, helping to keep them strong.*
Active Constituents
Berries
Vitamins A and C; flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin; and anthocyanins*
Flowers
High in phenolic acids, sterols, flavonoids, mucilage, tannins, and volatile oil containing triterpenes
Take the Black Elderberry That’s Right for You
Since Black Elderberry has a longstanding history of both immune and antioxidant support, it’s a great herb for those cold winter months as well as all year round.* And the good news is that it’s easy to take and is available in multiple formats including delicious gummies and syrups.*