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I know you’ve heard of elderberry syrup from ole sambucus nigra, basically because literally everyone and their brother is obsessed with it. Herbal remedies are fun to make, especially the syrup, because it’s delicious and packs a lovely punch for immune systems big and small. But if you’ve ever grown your own elderberries, like me, you know that fighting off the birds and throat punching sparrows on the daily just to get a few elderberries gets old, real fast. I don’t mind sharing with the birds, but sheesh, sometimes they’re greedy little buggers! It seems the berries ripen and about 3.9875 seconds later and the birds have decimated them. I could surround my plants with scare crows and shiny tape that flaps in the wind and march around them with a band like they did to Jericho and I’m telling you, these birds would sit and mock me whilst eating my berries. I also can’t really bird net elderberries that are growing from underneath an extremely elderly pine tree… we’re low effort praying for maximum reward over here.

Insert the elderberry flowers and making a diy elderflower tincture. While slightly different from elderberry syrup as an herbal medicine, it still boosts your immune system and is an easy to store herbal tincture that will keep for years. The best part? No fighting off birds to get them. They leave the flowers alone. So take just what you need and leave the rest. Then you can have to super effects the elder flower can provide without the risk of the critters stealing most of your haul! The even better news? Elderflower tincture can also be used as an elderflower extract in baking. It gives an absolutely delightful flavor to recipes you will enjoy.

In This Post You'll Find...

Disclaimer

As with any herbal tinctures I share, this is not medical advice, and for informational and educational purposes only. I am simply passing along information that I have learned over the years and things I make in my own backyard and use for my family. No medical advice is being given and it shouldn’t be taken as such. Obviously. Do your own research and find your own information on any new herbal remedy and don’t just take some strangers word for it.

The Main Differences:

Elderflower Tincture

Antioxidants: elderflowers are particularly high in phenols (phenolic compounds)
Light, floral flavor
Possible regulation support for blood sugar levels and diuretic effects (aka anti-diabetic properties)

Elderberry Syrup

Lower amounts of antioxidants
Higher amounts of nutrients
Easier to get kids to take

For me, I use them interchangeably and sometimes in conjunction. If I need an immune boost due to exposure to sickness, I will take the elderflower tincture because it’s quick and easy. My kids eagerly will take the elderberry syrup straight off a spoon. So, I normally make both, along with an elderberry oxymel for us adults, because if I’m being honest, I don’t enjoy the sweetness of the syrup like my kids do. It may seem like a lot of different preparations, but you get used to what you want and use it for and 2/3 store basically indefinitely on the shelf. Elderberry syrup is a little pickier and I keep it in the fridge so it doesn’t ferment. Always always make an elderflower tincture just in case your elderberry harvest isn’t very good, then at least you have SOMETHING. Insert birds and weather.

When to Pick Elderflowers

This all depends on your growing area and climate. Here in my section of north central Ohio elder trees /bushes /plants (whatever the heck you call them) flower in early summer, around mid-June, usually. This year (2025) I harvested the flowers on June 18. By the time I’m getting this up, the flowers will be pretty well spent with a few straggling bloomers and you’ll see the green berries. They normally should be hot and heavy in a couple weeks… BRING IT ON BIRDS. To harvest the fresh flowers, take only what you need and don’t be a hog and take unnecessary large amounts, leave some behind. If possible, cut the umbels at a full blossom early in the morning before that hot morning sun has time to heat them up and burn of the dew. This means the oils and the flowers are the least damaged and most intact but it doesn’t mean you can’t pick them anytime of the day either. It’s jus the most preferential time. Harvest umbels that look like the bloomed recently with bright, white, new looking flowers. You want to aim to fill a pint canning jar half way full with flowers. I picked 10 very big dinner plate sized umbels and it did plenty!

Be prepared that most will have teeeeeeny little bugs in them. You can try earnestly to shake those tiny dudes out or rinse them off, but I promise you, you’ll never get rid of them all. I just tincture them along with the flowers. Some people may lose their marbles over that, but honestly, the government wants us to eat bugs anyway, I’m just doing my part. LOL. THAT IS A JOKE WE ARE NOT WILLINGLY EATING BUGS. Except in my elderflower tincture. I mean, I strain the bugs out anyway.

Alright. Let’s get started!

Equipment You Might Want:

Sharp garden scissors
Bowl
Mason Jar with a lid
Glass bottles with dropper lids

Ingredients:

Elderflower umbels
70 proof alcohol (I use cheap 80-proof vodka)

Step 1: Prepare Flowers

After harvesting umbels, shake flowers off into a bowl. I prefer to remove the flowers from the stems because I’ve read the stems can hurt sensitive stomachs and I’m not trying to play. Just get them off as good as you can. Some green left behind is a-ok.

Place flowers into a glass jar. I really like using the old antique bail style jars with the glass lids. You can get replacement rubbers still off amazon (linked here) and seal them tight. They work perfectly for storing tinctures if you don’t want to can with them!

Step 2: Add Alcohol

Into the jar with the elderflowers, add a high-proof alcohol and fill the jar.

Place a lid on top, making sure the alcohol isn’t directly touching the lid especially if it’s a used canning lid and not a glass one.

Step 3: Infuse

Allow jar to sit for about 6 weeks at room temperature, shaking daily if you think of it. I honestly cannot remember my tinctures and they end up sitting for 6 months or better. It’s totally fine. Just strain it when you remember. I normally remember to strain it when I need it.

Step 4: Strain & Store

Strain your tincture through a fine mesh strainer or one lined with cheese cloth or coffee filters, allowing to drip and drain for a couple hours. Squeeze the flowers inside the cheesecloth to get every single drop you can of that goodness.

Store in a sealed jar or dropper bottle in a dark cupboard, label with the contents, date, and recommended dosage, and take 1-2 dropper fulls when you need it! You labelled bottles in tincture form will basically have an indefinite shelf life since alcohol doesn’t expire.

Notes:

You can add it baking recipes that would be great with a gently floral flavor as you would something like vanilla extract. Sneak a teaspoon of elderflower tincture into a blueberry pie and watch everyone try to wonder what that refreshing flavor is they can’t put their finger on. It’s delish! Herbal extracts are lovely since they can have medicinal uses and also double as some amazing flavor.

This tincture is just one of the many elderflower recipes that are popular. Definitely look into more elderflower preparations like elderflower liqueur, elderflower syrup, dried for elderflower tea and more. They’re all pretty fun to make and all pass on that lovely herbal benefit of those lovely flowers.

Fresh elderflowers are best for this tincture but feel free to use dried elderflowers if that’s all you can get.

If you would like to avoid the alcohol content for this tincture, look into using glycerin for tinctures. I just honestly don’t have much experience with it personally so I’m not comfortable giving guidelines.

How to Make a Simple Homemade Elderflower Tincture

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 12

Author: Ruby – Red Feather Farm

Equipment

Ingredients

Elderflower umbels
70 proof alcohol I use cheap 80-proof vodka

Instructions

After harvesting umbels, shake flowers off into a bowl. I prefer to remove the flowers from the stems because I've read the stems can hurt sensitive stomachs and I'm not trying to play. Just get them off as good as you can. Some green left behind is a-ok.
Place flowers into a glass jar.
Into the jar with the elderflowers, add a high-proof alcohol and fill the jar.
Place a lid on top, making sure the alcohol isn't directly touching the lid especially if it's a used canning lid and not a glass one.
Allow jar to sit for about 6 weeks at room temperature, shaking daily if you think of it.
Strain your tincture through a fine mesh strainer or one lined with cheese cloth or coffee filters, allowing to drip and drain for a couple hours. Squeeze the flowers inside the cheesecloth to get every single drop you can of that goodness.
Store in a sealed jar or dropper bottle in a dark cupboard, label with the contents, date, and recommended dosage, and take 1-2 dropper fulls when you need it! You labelled bottles in tincture form will basically have an indefinite shelf life since alcohol doesn't expire.