What are Elderberries?

Utilized for its remarkable versatility, Elderberry has made a name for itself in the growing world of health and medicine. Whether its properties are found in gummies, supplements, topicals, or wine, Elderberry has repeatedly proven to gain the publics’ admiration. So what exactly is Elderberry and what qualities make it so popular? The University of Missouri describes Elderberry as a “beautiful plant with showy flat cymes of white flowers in June followed by bright purple to black berries in late summer.” Dating all of the ways back to the Ancient Greeks, the Elderberry has been a sought-after plant for its medicinal benefits. Elderberries are packed with rich contents of Vitamin C, along with Vitamin B Iron, and Fiber. The berries' antioxidant properties and high content of anthocyanins are known to help improve complications such as inflammation, immune system functioning, cardiovascular issues, ease cold and flu symptoms, and calm stress.   

How Can Elderberry be used?

As mentioned, Elderberry is capable of being used in a wide range of products, and therapeutic methods. The most common medicinal uses being, teas, supplements, and juices. However, it is not limited to these items, the berry can be made into powders, gummies, vitamins, smoothies, wine, the list goes on.  A recent study carried out multiple surveys inquiring about the publics’ familiarity with elderberry, the frequency of use, and products most often bought. The results of those who responded as having familiarity with Elderberry revealed that ‘Elderberry wine (42%), elderberry jelly (41%), and elderberry juice (41%) were the products most sampled by respondents. Elderberry juice (35%), elderberry jelly (31%), and elderberry wine (24%) were also reported as the most frequently purchased products. There is no question as to why the market for Elderberry is growing at a remarkable rate. 

Where are Elderberries from?

The current, most commonly harvested Elderberry is known as Sambucus Nigra, or European Elderberry. Sambucus Nigra is primarily shipped from European countries such as Denmark, Austria, Italy, and Germany. With a current global focus on personal health and well-being, the demand for safe, natural, and effective health products has led to advancements and research in the crop Sambucus canadensis otherwise known as American Elderberry. While the crop is relatively new in relation to its commercial use, “Fossilized seeds of American Elderberry, S. Canadensis, have been traced back to eastern North America from as far back as 16,000 years ago (~14,000 BC) (Kneller and Peteet, 1999)” . The use of American Elderberry is increasing as the plant’s locality allows for a more simple and stress-free process of attainability. Along with easier access, American safety laws and regulations protect not only the consumer but also the farmer’s health, thus easing potential anxieties when importing internationally. The use of American Elderberry preserves the well-being of America’s farmers while also contributing to the expansion of technology, job growth, and our countries economy.