Elderberry - How to Process

In this video, we explore the magnificent Elderberry. It can be a bit of a process to actually get the berries off of the stem though, in order to have them ready to make into syrup, wine, etc. I show my method for getting the berries off the vine FAST, washing, and then drying in order to get them ready to use!

TIMESTAMPS:
Introduction - 0:00
Method Information - 1:04
Method Demonstration - 2:19
Cleaning Information - 4:25
Cleaning Demonstration - 5:28
Summarizing - 6:57

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[danielklee]

You are a life saver! You have no idea how any wasted hours we spend trying to get elderberries off by hand! HOURS! All the years processing elderberries and I didn't think of that. Thank you for making and sharing this video.

[mjm]

This is SO MUCH EASIER! Where have you been for the last 40 years of my life??😂

[teresasugden]

Yes, that works, however unripe berries do shake off along with ripe ones.

[helenalderson]

Just picked (California) elderberries for the first time. Your videos are a lifesaver

[patmancrowley]

Thanks, bro. I'll have my first Elderberry plants in the yard this season and I'll try your method.

[lesliemelby]

Thank you for this tutorial. It will help me next year speed up the process.🥰

[Cultivating.Wellness]

Wonderful video! I use your method because it was the best video on the processing process that I watched prior to taking my first elderberry harvest! 😁

[mitzigarner-hughes]

This is what I am knee deep in today. My method is pretty much the same. I don't mind purple fingers (most of it washes off) so I just roll/shake them off into a bucket. A couple of good rinses and then they go into the oven/dehydrator. Cool, then store in a glass jar for my syrups. T'is the season right NOW! Happy harvest!!

[marleneforsyth]

Thank you from Scotland! Enjoyed your video, my first time harvesting elderberries :)

[larryboylarry]

Glad I saw this video. I don't have freezer space for the other method and I like that I can leave the unripe ones behind

[adandredestefano]

I find this video hilarious considering that I just started harvesting elderberries this year and this is the exact method I came up with on my own...

[adelaolivero]

Love your method! And love the cicalas chirping in the background. They reminded me of my wonderful years in Viginia. Now I live in the central italian appenines but no cicalas and NO HUMMERS.😢

[choosyapplepickerproductio]

I loved this video. Super educational and honestly really satisfying to watch! XD I have my first batch of Elderberries and so I'll have to try this method for pre-processing them.

[OHJENNY]

Wow, Thank you so much for the insight . I just came home to upstate N.Y. from Alabama and picked my Elderberries . Your video is a lidesaver .

[marianneellman]

Hi there🙋‍♀️
Was wondering if you can do a video of making syrup.
Thanks..🙋‍♀️

[terileef]

The only thing I would do differently is use a five gal bucket with water and the strainer to scoop the berries out hopefully the bugs have landed on the bottom and away from my berries. Maybe that would be less work for me and more debris and bug removal. Going to pick mine today!

[johnruckman]

My aunt would put them immediately into a steam juicer and partially fill gallon jugs then freeze them for later or make wine.

[AnneluvsKatz]

I like the idea of the soft sided cooler instead of the bucket… A lot less bruising

[joshuarichards]

Elderberry in the UK have smaller bushels so I simple hand comb them off the stems.

[davidledoux]

I use 5 gallon buckets for harvesting and normally gently rub the berries off of the stems by hand (unfrozen) into a stainless steel bowl, but i like the quickness of your method of beating them off.
When making syrup, what ratio of juice to honey do you use?
Would love to see many more elderberry videos from you! Just can't get enough of this very special wild edible.