20/10/2026
Raw honey, elderberries and warming spices over a wood fire. I could happily spend more afternoons doing this. 🍯
This is my homemade elderberry syrup, with ginger, lemon, cinnamon, cloves and star anise. The berries give it that deep, fruity flavour, the ginger brings a little heat, and the honey adds the sweetness.
I used dried elderberries, but you can use fresh, ripe elderberries when they're in season too. They need to be correctly identified, removed from their stems and properly cooked before using.
Once the berry and spice mixture has simmered, I strain it and let it cool before stirring in the raw honey.
And those little mesh bags you see in the reel? They're brilliant.
They're a really handy size for straining a batch like this. The fine mesh catches the berry skins, seeds and loose bits of spice, leaving a much smoother syrup. You get all that lovely flavour without a mouthful of bits.
Then you wash the bag thoroughly, let it dry and use it again. And again. Such a simple little thing, but it makes the job much easier.
I also like a little propolis tincture in mine. It's an alcohol-based extract of the sticky material you find inside a beehive, with a strong, distinctive flavour. A small amount goes a long way, so follow the directions for your particular product.
A quick safety note: propolis can cause allergic reactions and the tincture contains alcohol. Never give honey to babies under 12 months.
For me, a little syrup topped up with hot water, extra lemon and ginger makes a lovely fireside drink. Especially when someone else is doing the washing-up.
What's your favourite winter warming drink?
