In fall, look for clusters of deep purple berries on elderberry trees growing wild throughout the country. I’ve seen elderberries for a fleeting harvest week at farmers’ markets, but you can buy dried organic elderberries as a substitute. This powerful tonic has worked effectively for me over the last two winters; I take a tablespoon right when I feel a cold coming on, and I keep taking it every few hours until I feel better. It’s very tasty, too!

　　

Ingredients

makes 5 cups

　　2 cups fresh or dried elderberries

　　2 cups vodka

　　1 cup honey

　　

Step 1

Rinse the elderberries in cold water and remove any large stems. Place the elderberries in a glass jar. Add the vodka and honey and shake well. Seal the jar tightly and store, unrefrigerated, in a cool place for 6 weeks, shaking the jar once or twice a week.

　　

Step 2

Set a strainer in a bowl and line it with several layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Pour the contents of the jar through the strainer, pressing the berries with the back of a ladle to extract all of the potent juice. Pour the strained tincture into a clean glass jar and store in the refrigerator, where it will keep indefinitely.

　　Lucid Food