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Post by manfred on Oct 17, 2008 4:22:15 GMT 1
I am a great fan of elderberry flu tonic. I make the concentrate myself when there are enough berries to do the trick. I go far up into the British Columbia mountains to collect the Canadensis variety which grows wild there and then I use the steamer-juicer to extract the thick black/red juice. I can the juice and when cold/flu symptoms come up, I mix it three times thinner and with sugar or "Splenda" . (using water, of course) . As long as I catch it almost before it manifests, the cold just fizzles and goes away with barely any symptoms. This year, though, the bears got the crop and I am searching high and low for a dealer which sells the concentrate from orchard varieties. As I write, I am with some extremely mild symptoms of cold, and am into my last bottle of last years crop. I don't anticipate any cold worth worrying about. I've got it down to an art after ten years of doing it. I welcome comments. Manfred from Canada
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Post by Sleepy on Oct 17, 2008 8:02:52 GMT 1
I am a great fan of elderberry flu tonic. I make the concentrate myself when there are enough berries to do the trick. I go far up into the British Columbia mountains to collect the Canadensis variety which grows wild there and then I use the steamer-juicer to extract the thick black/red juice. I can the juice and when cold/flu symptoms come up, I mix it three times thinner and with sugar or "Splenda" . (using water, of course) . As long as I catch it almost before it manifests, the cold just fizzles and goes away with barely any symptoms. This year, though, the bears got the crop and I am searching high and low for a dealer which sells the concentrate from orchard varieties. As I write, I am with some extremely mild symptoms of cold, and am into my last bottle of last years crop. I don't anticipate any cold worth worrying about. I've got it down to an art after ten years of doing it. I welcome comments. Manfred from Canada That's fantastic Manfed - what recipe do you use? My Mother-in-Law made her own elderberry cordial, and swore by it's cold preventing properties. She got to live to be 97 years old. It is her recipe for the cordial that I have on the AutumnFruits website. |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 17, 2008 9:49:25 GMT 1
I think it's amazing that you actually have a cold, then take the tonic and it actually wards off the virus and gets rid of the cold - it must be good stuff! Going far up into the BC mountains to collect the berries sounds so perfect!  I take it all the bears up there won't have any coughs or colds this Winter.  |
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Post by manfred on Oct 17, 2008 13:21:29 GMT 1
no particular recipe, just mix down the syrup from my steamer juicer (after being preserved for a year) 3/1 with h2o and sugar to taste and toss back! smallsips of straight concentrate gargled snd swallowed works just as good.Even simpler for the bears .cheers, Manfred |
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Post by maggyd on Oct 17, 2008 15:23:41 GMT 1
What a good idea  its all that vitamin C! my father in law who was T.total used to make his own elderberry wine and I thought it was lovely but very potent  I wonder if you can buy it from the health shops?? Ill certainly have a go next year if I can find the fruits. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 17, 2008 16:00:45 GMT 1
Elderberries are wondrous trees - I have quite a few in my garden and every year I vow to make stuff with the berries but I can never beat the birds! They always finish them off before I get a chance to pick any.....ah well, I love the flowers in Spring too. Have you ever made Elderflower Cordial, Manfred? Lovely stuff if you can bear the peculiar smell until it's decanted! |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 17, 2008 16:15:05 GMT 1
Manfred I've just noticed your exquisite avatar. Do you know what flower it is? |
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Post by manfred on Oct 18, 2008 1:58:53 GMT 1
;D ;D ;Dooh,...Ahhh,..mmm,.. What is an avatar--- I have one???--Yup, your talkin to a real computer forum newbie here. Tell me what I've inadvertantly done to make you say that. If you teach me a bit and I learn a bit at a time maybe i'll actually be fluent in this type of comunication!!    there are no dumb questions, are there? Manfred |
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Post by Sleepy on Oct 18, 2008 8:48:00 GMT 1
;D ;D ;Dooh,...Ahhh,..mmm,.. What is an avatar--- I have one???--Yup, your talkin to a real computer forum newbie here. Tell me what I've inadvertantly done to make you say that. If you teach me a bit and I learn a bit at a time maybe i'll actually be fluent in this type of comunication!! there are no dumb questions, are there? Manfred Your avatar is the picture of the seed head next to your messages Manfred. I must admit I gave you this particular one, although it can easily be changed. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 18, 2008 9:34:15 GMT 1
Manfred, there are NO dumb questions.....I can assure you that I have asked them all, and continue to do so since I generally forget the answers! Please ask about anything at all you don't quite 'get' and someone will be able to answer you on here I'm sure |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 18, 2008 14:51:50 GMT 1
Ditto what 4P says - no dumb questions on here, ask away and even if nobody knows the answer we'll all find it out - somehow. |
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Post by maggyd on Oct 18, 2008 16:42:45 GMT 1
Manfred I've just noticed your exquisite avatar. Do you know what flower it is? That looks very like a dandelion seedhead to me!!pretty though. |
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Post by manfred on Oct 18, 2008 17:53:57 GMT 1
OOOOHHHHHH i GIT IT I just learned what an Avatar is!  Yeah, Why not! I didn't even know I could do that . So I'm comfortable with that So be it! Just exactly what seed fluff that is , I'm not sure. kind of dandylionish ;D. I am enjoying the banter on this thread, and the immediate camraderie, even though we've only kind of 'met'. I know that next year, come flowering time, I,m gonna make me some cordial! He He ;D Manfred (my name means "man of freedom". I am delighted with that since I know my freedom, and am real comfy in my own skin). p.s. my cold is doing its usual mostly uneventful fizzle and only rears its head in the cool mornings when the breeze through my bed window touches me a bit too much, but then there is my wake-up elderberry drink and all worries and symptoms go away!! Soon it will die and register another glorious victory for the elderberry! |
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there are no dumb questions, are there? Manfred
Yeah, Why not! I didn't even know I could do that . So I'm comfortable with that So be it! Just exactly what seed fluff that is , I'm not sure. kind of dandylionish ;D. I am enjoying the banter on this thread, and the immediate camraderie, even though we've only kind of 'met'. I know that next year, come flowering time, I,m gonna make me some cordial! He He ;D Manfred (my name means "man of freedom". I am delighted with that since I know my freedom, and am real comfy in my own skin).