I would like to share an easy way of separating elderberry fruit from the umbels.
After washing it few times in water I let then dry in a strainer and spread them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper .
I place cookie sheet in freezer for 24-48 hours.When I take it out of freezer I hold umbels in one hand and run fingers under frozen fruit .They just fall into a container and I discard umbel .I measure one cup of frozen berries at the time, place it in freezer bags an keep in freezer until somebody in my family needs to be cured from cold of flu.
My proven recipe for syrup;
1 cup of elderberries ,2 cups of filtered water ,small stick of cinnamon, 4-5 whole cloves, one inch of fresh ginger cut up or grated
Place all ingredients in a pot , bring to boil,turn heat down and simmer with the lid on until liquid is reduced by half ,stirring from time to time.
Strain cooked juice add some honey and keep it in the fridge .
