We get many questions from the community on the usage and benefits for elderberries and our elderberry syrup. So, we’ve started writing them down and will be adding to this list as more questions become “frequently asked.”

What are the benefits of elderberry syrup?

Elderberries in the form of elderberry syrup have been shown to boost immunity, decrease mucus production during colds and fight the flu. 

What is Elderberry syrup used for?

Elderberry syrup has been used for centuries to cure a variety of ailments.  It boosts the immune system, treats upper respiratory infections, and improves flu symptoms.

Can you give a baby elderberry syrup?

Elderberry syrup is safe for children over a year; because of the honey content it is not safe for children under a year.  

How much elderberry syrup do I take?

There is no standard dose of elderberry.  A recommended daily dose for immunity is 1-2 tablespoons a day for an adult and 1-2 teaspoons a day for children.  For recovery from flu, studies show that 1 tablespoon of elderberry syrup 4-5 times a day helps to diminish symptoms sooner.

Is Elderberry syrup safe during pregnancy?

Discuss the use of elderberry syrup with your physician.  Elderberry syrup has not undergone extensive research regarding its safety.

Is Elderberry good for a cold?

Elderberries are a rich source of vitamins A and C, which are important in helping the body to get over a cold.  Elderberry syrup makes colds and other upper respiratory symptoms more tolerable by reducing mucus secretions.  Plus, the bioflavonoids in elderberry syrup boost the body’s immune system by increasing antioxidant levels.

How long does elderberry syrup keep in the fridge?

Elderberry syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 months.

What does the elderberry syrup taste like?

The warm spicy flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves give the syrup a very pleasant flavor. The large amount of local honey also gives our syrup a very sweet taste. 

Flavor can change from batch to batch slightly, depending on the maker and ingredients. It’s also important to keep in mind that many different makers of elderberry syrup have different recipes providing a variety different flavors. So, if you don’t fancy one specific brand/maker don’t give up on elderberry all together, explore a few other brands.

How Much Elderberry Is in each bottle?

We make our elderberry syrup with a traditional recipe that includes using re-hydrated elderberries rather than extract. Because of this we are unable to answer this question in the same way other brands that utilize extracts can.  

DOes all elderberry Syrup Taste the Same?

No. Elderberry syrup recipes differ widely from company to company and more importantly from region/family. Recipes will often have similar ingredients, but some recipes add ingredients. In addition, how the syrup is prepared (cooked) and the quality of the honey and spices is a big factor in overall taste.

Taste is always subjective. So, if you’ve tried elderberry syrup and didn’t like it, we encourage everyone to try another brand before writing off the power of elderberries all together. 

Where TO BUY ELDERBERRY SYRUP?

Elderberry syrup has grown in popularity over the past few years making it more readily available. While you can purchase large brands off the shelves at big box stores, we encourage people to find a local seller, or regional maker of elderberry syrup. 

Keep in mind that many makers start their brands out of their home kitchens, Live Berry Well is one of them, do some diligence to ensure you’re getting a quality syrup. If possible, look for brands that have great reviews, and are manufactured in commercial kitchens. 

Live Berry Well is available in many stores. Find a list here. 

Where do you get your honey from?

We source our raw unfiltered honey from local beekeepers from the Piney Woods region of Texas and Louisiana.

If you are looking to purchase honey alone, please see David Staggs off 1488 next to the Jiffy Lube. It is near impossible to specify the honey’s origin to a specific area  (Montgomery county, Harris County etc), because bee keepers will sometimes move their hives from one area to another.

Are Your Products Organic?

All of the ingredients we use are certified organic, with the exception of our honey. For this reason, our syrup labels do not carry any “organic” mention, however our Wellness Tea and DIY Home Kits are contain all certified organic ingredients and are labeled organic.  However, as we have not had our process and final products certified by a third party agent, we do not qualify to carry the “certified organic seal.”

The USDA does allow a product to be labeled “organic” when the product contains a minimum of 95% organic ingredients (excluding salt and water).  We encourage everyone to review the labeling “organic” criteria to better understand what we’re putting in our bodies and how to accurately read the labels.

WHERE DO YOUR ELDERBERRIES COME FROM?

We source our elderberries from Croatia. They are certified organic, kosher certified and irrigation free.

WHY IS YOUR SYRUP NOT SHIPPED COLD?

Our syrup has been tested for short term travel when fresh. To minimize the stress on the elderberry syrup we create and ship your order same day, and will ship Monday thru Wednesday to avoid any delays in shipping. Given the sensitivities of fresh elderberry syrup, we only ship USPS Priority Mail – this provides a tighter window for delivery often 1-2 days shipping, with some taking as long as 4 days. 

Should you receive syrup more than 6 days from the shipping notification, please reach out to our customer service folks at [email protected]. In many cases, we’ll replace your order with fresh syrup, as it’s likely USPS has had an unexpected delay in shipping.

HOW MUCH ELDERBERRY SYRUP DOES MY FAMILY NEED?

This is a very common question. People also ask, how long will a bottle last. So, let’s tackle both at the same time. Ultimately, both questions are driven by personal usage and the number and make up of your family. Below are some general calculations based on the conversions – 1oz is ~2 tablespoons, or 6 teaspoons i.e. One Adult taking 1 tablespoon a day – an 18oz bottle will last ~36 days. 

Monthly Recommendations for one dose a day: 

  • One Adult: One 18oz Bottle per month
  • Two Adult: Two 18oz Bottles per month
  • One Adult + One Child: Two 18oz Bottles every 1.5 months
  • Two Adult + One Child: Three 18oz Bottles every 1.5 months
  • One Adult + Two Children: Two 18oz Bottles every 1.5 months
  • Two Adult + Two Children: Three 18oz Bottles every 1 month

Note: We recommend checking with your doctor and pediatrician before starting or changing any health regiments. 

SHOULD I TAKE YEAR ROUND DAILY, OR JUST WHEN I’M SICK?

The majority of our customers use our elderberry syrup during the flu season, due to the research regarding the health benefits. Many use it daily during the cold/flu season and there are some that only use it when they are showing symptoms of a cold or flu. As there are summer flu’s and other virus outbreaks that can take place year round, there are some customers that take it daily year round.

We recommend that you consult your doctor about use, and do your own research to find the right solution for your family.

HOW TO CHANGE/PAUSE/CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION?

To make an update or change to your subscription, login to the “my account” section of the website, the link is in the upper right corner.

Once logged in, select “my subscriptions”, on this page you’ll see all active subscriptions. Select “view” and you’ll see the details about the subscription. From this page, you can pause, change, or update your subscription/membership. 

Options include: Suspend (Pause), Cancel, Change Payment, Renew Now (early renewal), Upgrade or Downgrade. 

We do not currently offer bi-monthly, or quarterly options. To adjust the frequency, we advise a reduction in bottle count, or pausing your subscription temporarily.