Elderberry juice, wine or cordial is said to have a slightly diuretic effect. Elderberry jelly is thought to be beneficial in cases of tuberculosis. To make a perfectly stiff jelly, however, the elderberry juice must be mixed with an equal quantity of green grape, apple or crab apple juice. Alone, it will not form a true jelly.

Elderberry Toast

Strip sufficient elderberries from the stem to make a half pint, put them in a saucepan with a half cupful of water, stew five minutes, mash and strain them through two thicknesses of cheesecloth. Return this juice to the saucepan, add one teaspoonful of cornstarch or arrowroot mixed with a little cold water; stir and cook five minutes, add two tablespoonfuls of sugar and pour over a nicely toasted slice of bread.

This also makes a nice sauce for blancmange or other puddings.

Elderberry Cordial

Strip the elderberries from the stems, mash them with a potato masher and strain them through a jelly bag or cheesecloth. To each half pint of this juice add two tablespoonfuls of sugar, stir until the sugar is dissolved and stand aside in a pitcher or large jar for twenty-four hours. Then, add to each half pint, one gill of the best brandy. Bottle and cork, leaving plenty of space at the neck; stand the bottles in a saucepan of cold water, bring to boiling point and boil continuously for a half hour. Lift the lid, let the bottles cool in the water. Dip each cork into sealing wax and stand aside for keeping.

This makes an exceedingly nice drink for chronic diarrhoea or dysentery. Being slightly astringent, it should not be given to persons inclined to constipation.

Elderberry Wine

Mash four quarts of elderberries that have been stripped from the stems; add to them one quart of water and one pint of brown sugar, stir thoroughly and put it aside in a stone crock, the top of which is covered with a plate or loose fitting lid. Let this ferment for a week or ten days. Rack it off carefully into bottles, cork the bottles loosely and let them stand in a cold place until fermentation ceases; then put it into clean bottles, cork, tie and seal with wax.

Elderberry Juice

Mash four quarts of elderberries, add one pint of water and strain through two thicknesses of cheesecloth. Fill the juice thus expressed into bottles, leaving considerable space at the neck; cork the bottles loosely, stand them in a kettle, surround them partly with cold water, bring to a boil and boil continuously for a half hour. Then lift each bottle, push in the corks, put them on their sides and continue the boiling for another thirty minutes. Cool the bottles in the water. Seal with wax.

Serve plain or with plain or carbonated water.