Sweet, tart, and delightfully fizzy, elderberry kombucha combines the two powerful immune boosters. Like most fermented drinks, kombucha is naturally rich in beneficial bacteria that help support general wellness.
When you combine that with elderberry and ginger, two potent herbs for immunity, you create a deeply nutritious tonic that tastes utterly delicious, too.
What is it?
Kombucha tea is a fermented black tea that tastes both sweet and tart, like a light and fizzy version of apple cider vinegar. As a fermented drink, it's naturally rich in beneficial bacteria just like tepache and beet kvass.
You can flavor the tea with fruit, juices, and herbs. For elderberry kombucha, you flavor the tea with a syrup made with elderberries. You can add complementary herbs like ginger or cinnamon, too.
Why should you make it?
Both kombucha and elderberries are nutritious foods that encourage wellness in general, and your immune system in particular. When you combine them together, you create a mighty tonic that nourishes your body and tastes delicious, too. When winter sniffles make the rounds, elderberry kombucha is an excellent tonic to keep on hand for a little extra immune support.
- Elderberries are a potent source of micronutrients including vitamins A, C, and B6 (1) .
- They also contain powerful antioxidants and phytonutrients that combat inflammation (2).
- Elderberries have antiviral activity and support the immune system (3).
- Kombucha is rich in beneficial bacteria (4), which supports gut health.
Which ingredients do you need?
To make elderberry kombucha, you'll need to start with prepared kombucha tea. You'll also need elderberries, coconut sugar (or another sweetener), and additional herbs.
- Prepared Kombucha Tea. If you're new to kombucha brewing, start by making your first batch either using the continuous brew method or the batch brew method.
- If you're new to kombucha brewing, you'll need a kombucha mother which you can order online.
- Dried elderberries. Dried elderberries are available year-round and are easy to order online. You can use fresh berries in the summer if you're lucky enough to find them.
- Ginger or other spices. Ginger harmonizes beautifully with elderberry, both in flavor and in energy.
- A sweetener. The beneficial bacteria in kombucha need sugar to thrive. Caloric sweeteners such as coconut sugar, maple sugar, or organic white sugar work well.
Tips for making elderberry kombucha
Making flavored kombucha relies on a two-step process. You'll first prepare a syrup, and then mix that syrup with prepared kombucha during bottling or secondary fermentation. Primary (or first) fermentation is when you prepare your kombucha tea. Secondary fermentation happens when you flavor and bottle your brew.
- Simmer your elderberries. Raw elderberries are toxic and can upset your stomach. So, simmer your berries for at least 20 minutes. You'll neutralize the berries' toxins and release their nutrients.
- Prepare a syrup. The syrup is easy to add to your kombucha and supports even flavors.
- If you don't want to make a syrup, you can use a purchased elderberry syrup as long as it contains a source of sugar to feed the beneficial bacteria.
- Make sure to stir your prepared tea very well to promote even carbonation. See this post for kombucha brewing tips.
- Use flip-top bottles to bottle your brew so that it becomes nice and fizzy.
Variations
This recipe is versatile, and you can adjust it easily depending on your needs and likes. Add different herbs, swap your source of sugar, or even try a different starter culture to make Elderberry Soda or Elderberry Kefir.
Switch your source of sugar. The beneficial bacteria in kombucha need a source of sugar to survive. We used coconut sugar in this recipe, but you can use any source of concentrated sweetness like maple sugar, organic white sugar or even honey.
Try adding other herbs. This version uses elderberry and ginger, but you can also add other herbs, too. Hibiscus, rosehips, orange peel, cloves and cinnamon chips all complement elderberry nicely.
Use a different starter. If you're not keen on kombucha, you can try substituting water kefir or ginger bug as your starter.
Other Immune-Boosting Recipes
Many herbal remedies can be powerful immune boosters, just like this elderberry kombucha. But here's some of our favorites.
Fire Cider is a traditional American herbal remedy that includes antiviral ingredients like onion, garlic, hot peppers, and horseradish. It's an excellent warming tonic for winter sniffles.
Medicinal Mushroom Broth is a bone broth flavored with immune-boosting medicinal mushrooms like reishi and shiitake.
Four Thieves Vinegar is an herb-infused vinegar inspired by an 18th-century folk remedy thought to combat the plague.
Try these fermented drink recipes next
References
- (2019) Elderberries. Nutrition Data.
- Sidor, A., & Gramza-Michałowska, A. (2014) Advanced research on the antioxidant and health benefit of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) in food – a review. Journal of Functional Foods.
- Hoffmann, D. (2003) Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press.
- Chakravorty, S., et al. (2016) Kombucha tea fermentation: Microbial and biochemical dynamics. International Journal of Food Microbiology.
Tracy Hopkins says
I have made this twice now & am making another batch at this very moment. I love the taste, color, & ease of putting it all together having said that my 1st batch had zero fizz after 4 days of the 2nd ferment 😡. The 2nd time I did the 2nd ferment 7 days & it was better but still not there so I like this enough to keep at it til I can a good fizz to it. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thx!
Jenny McGruther says
Hi Tracy -
I'd recommend making sure you're fermenting it in a warm(ish) spot in your kitchen. Winter kitchens can be cold places, and will slow down fermentation. Secondly, make sure you really stir up your starter kombucha before bottling. Yeast (which makes things super fizzy) tends to sink, so if you don't stir up your brew it can result in laclluster fizz.
Tracy Hopkins says
Thank you Jenny!
Carlee r says
My kids hate elderberry syrup, but I wanted to get some elderberries in them since school started and everyone is getting sick. So I made this for them instead and they loved it.
Angie says
WE LOVED this one. I also add a little bit of rose hips in addition to the elderberry, and it was good - kind of sweet, sharp, and the color's very pretty.