Discover the delightful taste of elderberry lemonade: tangy-sweet flavors of elderberry combined with the zesty freshness of lemonade. An elderberry drink recipe with a refreshing healthier twist.
In a pitcher with 3-4 cups of water (or sparkling water), combine 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice with 1/3 cup of honey (or granulated sugar). Stir the mixture until the sweetener is fully dissolved.Tip: To maintain the nutritional value of both honey and elderberries, use water at room temperature; this also ensures successful dissolution.
Incorporate the Elderberry Syrup
For a layered appearance, pour the lemonade into the glass first, then add the elderberry syrup. You’ll need approximately 1 to 1.5 tablespoon of elderberry syrup per glass (10 oz) of lemonade.
If you prefer, you could also mix the elderberry syrup directly into the lemonade base in the pitcher, ensuring a good stir.
Taste your elderberry lemonade and adjust it to your taste by adding more honey or sugar for sweetness, or more lemon juice for an extra tart kick, if desired.
The elderberry syrup adds extra sweetness, so start with less sweetener and gradually increase according to your taste preference.
Serve
Serve the elderberry lemonade in tall glasses filled with ice cubes. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint for an elegant touch. Optionally, you can use fresh blueberries for an added touch of decoration.
Notes
Elderberry Syrup: You have two choices when it comes to creating elderberry lemonade: either prepare your own elderberry syrup or purchase a pre-made one. You can use store-bought elderberry syrup or concentrate for convenience. To make an elderberry infusion at home, follow these steps:
In a saucepan, bring the dried elderberries (about 1 cup) and water (3 cups) to a boil. Let it simmer gently until the liquid has reduced by half, about 40-45 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it cool for 30 minutes. Then drain the liquid using a fine mesh strainer. Discard the elderberries.
Now you can add honey (about 3/4 cup) and lemon juice to the liquid mixture if desired, mix until disolves completely. Your homemade elderberry syrup is ready to use.