Warming spices and antioxidants are benefits of this delicious, slightly sweet and complex Elderberry-Cherry Tonic recipe.
Make two parts separately: the Cherry Juice and the Elderberry Concentrate.
Mix them together when ready to drink.
Makes 24 ounces total, or enough juice + concentrate for 3 – 8oz, or 4 – 6 ounce servings.
Garnish your tonic with 1-2 leaves of mint or your favorite herb.
Ingredients for Cherry Juice:
1 pound frozen cherries
1 tsp allspice berries
1 tsp cloves spice
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp ground true cinnamon or 1 stick true cinnamon
2 tsp coconut sugar
2 tsp black tea
½ cup pure water
¼ cup pure water
Tools:
large-ish (8” diameter or larger) wire mesh strainer that fits deep-sided bowl
bamboo or wooden flat spoon
kitchen or stick blender
Method to make Cherry Juice:
1. Place cherries, spices and the 1/2 cup water in a small, heavy-bottomed pan and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
2. Turn the heat off, cover and allow to rest at least 4 hours or overnight.
3. Later, (preferably the next morning) strain cherries through a wire mesh strainer into a deep bowl. Press and mash cherries into the bowl.
4. Transfer the cherry-mash to your blender carafe and pour the ¼ cup of water into the blender carafe. Then pulse the cherries 1-2 times to break down the cherry fruit into the water. You don’t want to over-mix it.
5. Pour the slurry back into your strainer and press and mash again, working the mash over and over until you have reduced the solid parts to about ¼ of the original. Transfer the mashed cherries to a container and save for another use such as a smoothie or for baking.
6. Bottle your 12 ounces of cherry juice! Tightly cover the juice and keep refrigerated up to 1 week.
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Ingredients for Elderberry concentrate:
1 tbs elderberries*
1 tbs schizandra berries*
1 tbs lemon peel
1 tbs orange peel
12 oz pure water
*The herbal berries in this recipe, Elderberries and Schizandra berries, are dried plant parts that can be purchased online or in a health-food store. In short, Elderberries have affinity for healthy immune system, and Schizandra berries are tonic to nervous system.
Use other dried berry combinations instead, such as Hawthorn berries–tonic to the circulatory system, Bilberries– antioxidants, dried rosehips–full of vitamin C.
Tools:
12 ounce glass jar with close-fitting lid
tea strainer
Method to make Elderberry concentrate:
In a clean glass jar, pour water in to fill the jar. Ladle in your berries and peels. Close the lid tightly and shake once or twice. Set the jar on the kitchen counter to cold-brew overnight. It’s possible to cold-brew this mixture for 8-12 hours or more and all that will happen is the flavor will deepen nicely!
Later, or the next morning, go to step # 3 below.
NOTE: If you forgot to prepare your Elderberry concentrate but have 4 hours’ time, make your berry concentrate this way:
1. Add water and herbal berries to a heavy-bottomed pan. Place on the stove and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn heat down, cover and simmer 5-7 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat and remove pan from the stove burner. Pour the citrus peels into this hot mixture, cover the pan with a lid and allow to rest at least 4 hours.
3. Strain and bottle Strain the now cold liquid into a jar, discarding (or re-using) the berry-peel mixture. Cover the jar and keep for 2 days, refrigerated. Then continue with the recipe, as follows.
Put them together for Elderberry-Cherry Tonic!
For each serving, pour equal parts of cherry juice and berry concentrate into glasses or cups. Alternatively, pour the two liquids together into a pitcher, then pour into serving glasses.
Garnish with a fresh mint leaf or two, if desired. Enjoy!
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