Christopher Patton

Frozen Raw American Elderberry Juice - $40/gal. 

We have over 400 gallons of bulk frozen juice from certified organic American elderberries available at prices negotiated based on volume. ( Example: 10 gallons for the small order price of 8 gallons.) We also have 400 lb. of frozen pomace from juice pressing. Please contact us if interested. 

Depending on the press efficiency and quality of berries, processors will usually get 1 gal of juice from 10-12lb. of elderberries. The pH ranges from 4.3-4.8, BRIX is 10-12 with +/- 9% solids. All prices do not include delivery or shipping.

We have one drum left of 45 gal in a 55 gal drum for $1650 plus shipping and handling. This juice will be cool pressed from frozen elderberries if there is enough demand and berries can be obtained at prices low enough to meet demand pricing. We may or may not have the 2 gal package option as we have had in the past. 

Sacred Blossom Elderberry Syrup Recipe from Juice: 

1 Gallon Raw Elderberry Juice, 4 cups honey, 2 cups extra strong echinacea tea (optional).

Bring 2 1/2 cups of water to boil and add 1 cup of echinacea herbs.  Cover and cook on low for 8 to 24 hours.  Strain. (Optional: Use distilled water.)

Boil honey hard for 2 minutes, then add raw elderberry juice and bring it to 180°F.  Remove from heat. Add echinacea tea and honey.  Stir well. 

To preserve reheat to nearly a boil (165-175°F), then seal in jars. Set in a cold area if possible.

5 lb. dried elderberries approximately equals 2 gal. of raw juice
[Every person’s recipe and taste is a bit different. The above is one way. Another person, who had been making it from frozen berries or dehydrated berries, added a little more than 50% water to get it to about the way she was used to. She also increased her honey and herbs and ended up with a taste she liked better than her syrup made with berries.]

Are Raw Native Elderberries Safe? (Applies to Juice, too.)

Elderberry Flower Production and Cyanide Concern
Andrew L. Thomas University of Missouri Division of Plant Sciences, Southwest Research Center Mt. Vernon, MO.  This article gives a photo and graph rundown of a multi-year study investigating the whether native North American Sambucus (nigra) canadensis contains proto-cyanide glycosides in quantities sufficient to warrant specific processing requirements beyond clean harvest. 

Summary of Findings:

• Picrate paper method was successfully used to assess the total cyanogenic potential.
• A control test with two apple varieties showed high levels of cyanide in the seeds.
• No cyanide was detected in commercial (processed) elderberry juice
• Levels of cyanide detected in tissues of fresh berries were very low; lowest in juice & seeds and highest in stems & green berries.
• Levels of CNG’s detected with LC-MS method were very low in all tissues and consistent with picrate results.
• Detected levels pose no threat to American Elderberry consumers. Excluding stems, green berries and leaves in juice preparation is recommended.

[Click here to read the full article.]

This does not seem to be true for European Sambucus nigra elderberries, which have a history of production processes to neutralize the potential issues related to glycosides. That is why those imported ingredients are more processed and may also be part of the reason why native elderberries taste better than the European ones.

While the latest research at the university of Missouri (soon to be published) indicates that fresh/frozen, ripe elderberries do not have significant levels of glycosides, some few people seem to be strongly affected by consuming raw elderberries or elderberry juice, where it upsets their digestive system. Why they have a lower tolerance for elderberry is not clearly understood. Fresh and raw frozen berries that are fermented or heated so that the entire volume reaches 180° F, or more have not been associated with any health related incidents to our knowledge.