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Elderberry

The elderberry ( Sambucus) is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family, and exists in 25 varieties, 3 of which grow in Europe, the most famous of which is Sambucus nigra. From May to July, the shrub is dotted with tiny white or yellowish flowers with an unmistakably fresh and fruity fragrance. The fruit – first red, then black “berries” of around 6 mm diameters – ripens from August to September, and is rich in Vitamin C and Potassium. Elder syrup is produced both the flowers and the fruit, and both the elder juice and fruit are used in folk medicine as a cure for colds. The beneficial effect is ascribed to Vitamins C and B, the acids in the fruit, and the essential oils contained also in the flowers, the fl avonoids and above all, the anthocyanin that is also used a colorant.