How To Make Fizzy Elderberry Soda

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Open bottle of fizzy elderberry soda

Fizzy elderberry soda is a delicious way to support immune function naturally, and I’m going to share with you two simple methods for making it. One is naturally fermented and chock-full of probiotics, and the other is a five minute version that you can make with elderberry syrup, sparkling water and an optional splash of citrus.

If you’ve ever made anything with elderberry before – gummies, tea, syrup, even homemade jam – you probably already know all about it. Elderberry is often taken daily (or nearly so) to support immune function during cold and flu season. Among its many benefits, it’s thought to have a positive impact on:

  • Vitamin C Absorption – Elderberry contains bioflavonoids that help us absorb vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient for immune function and other processes like collagen synthesis. (2)
  • General Immune System Support – Studies done in Norway, Australia and Israel found that participants experiencing cold and flu symptoms felt better sooner (and had milder symptoms) when they received elderberry extract.
  • Respiratory Health – According to The Herbal Apothecary, “Elder is supportive to the respiratory system, with its ability to open the body, induce mild sweating (flower and leaves), reduce fever” and support the body’s natural clearance of phlegm.
  • Antioxidant Status– Contain a flavonoid called anthocyanin, which has antioxidant and immune supporting properties. (source)
Bubbly elderberry soda in swing-top bottles

Two Methods for Making Elderberry Soda

If you’ve got elderberry syrup and a sparkling mineral water like S. Pellegrino on hand, you can make elderberry soda in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. La Croix will work, too – check the notes section of the recipe below for full instructions.

Another option is to make probiotic-rich elderberry soda by fermenting it. It’s super easy using a ginger bug starter, which can also be used to make homemade ginger ale and root beer. If you’re not familiar with what a ginger bug is, it’s a living probiotic culture made by feeding the wild yeast and beneficial bacteria that naturally occur on the papery skin of ginger root. We named ours Yeasty Beasty.

To make elderberry soda, all you do is mix the ginger bug with sweetened elderberry tea, pour it into flip-top bottles, and let the carbonation build naturally for several days. Here’s how . . .

Close up of fizzy elderberry soda

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Probiotic-Rich Elderberry Soda Recipe

This fizzy elderberry soda is a delicious way to support immune function naturally. Prep Time 1 hour Servings 18 Author Heather Dessinger

  • See notes sections for suggested bottles
  • 8 cups filtered water (chlorine kills the beneficial yeast and bacteria)
  • ⅔ cup sugar (Organic white sugar or unrefined sugar will both work)
  • 4-6 tbsp dried organic elderberries
  • 2 tbsp dried hibiscus (optional)
  • ½ cup ginger bug starter
  • ⅓ cup lime juice or lemon juice (optional)
  • Place the water, dried elderberries and sugar in a pot and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to low/med and simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in the hibiscus (if using).
  • Set the elderberry tea aside and allow it to cool to room temperature. Keep in mind that if it's too hot when you add the ginger bug, it will kill the beneficial yeast and bacteria needed for fermentation.
  • Place a mesh strainer over a bowl and pour mixture into it to separate the herbs from the liquid.
  • Measure the liquid and add filtered water as needed to bring it back to 8 cups.
  • Add the ginger bug and lime/lemon juice (if using) to the liquid and mix with a wooden spoon.
  • Pour the elderberry soda into flip-top bottles (leaving one inch of head space) and ferment for 3-6 days. During the fermentation process, you'll want to "burp" the bottles by opening them every 1-2 days so the carbonation doesn't build up too much. Some people have reported that their bottles exploded because they let them ferment for way too long without burping them. I've been making water kefir and other fermented sodas for years and have never had that happen, but I have forgotten about them for a few days and ended up with an extra fizzy bottle that poured out like champagne. I open my bottles on the deck by our kitchen now just in case. ?
  • The elderberry soda is ready when it's fizzy and not overly sweet. If you check it after a week and it's still too sweet, you can let it ferment for a bit longer so that the good guys can consume more of the sugar and turn them into probiotics.

This recipe will fill approximately 17-18 of these 4 ounce swing top bottles, 8-9 of the these 8.5 ounce swing top bottles or 4-5 of these larger swing-top bottles. If you don’t have swing top bottles and prefer to use what you have on hand, opt for a jar that gets a good seal when the lid is on. Fido jars are a good option, but mason jars will work, too. Elderberry soda that is fermented in jars won’t be very fizzy (if at all), but it will still be probiotic-rich and delicious.

How To Make 5 Minute Elderberry Soda With Sparkling Water

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1.5 teaspoons homemade elderberry syrup
  • 1 cup sparkling water (S. Pellegrino, Perrier and LaCroix will work)
  • squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice (optional)

Elderberry soda is most refreshing served cold, so I recommend either chilling the sparkling water in advance or serving it over ice. To make, just pour the sparkling water in a glass, add the elderberry syrup (and a squeeze of lemon or lime if you have it on hand) and stir until combined. Pour over ice if desired and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use elderflower instead of elderberry?

Yes you can, but you’ll want to make the tea using a slightly different method. Roots and berries need to be simmered for awhile to extract their goodness, while flowers just need to be added to hot water. To make elderflower tea, bring the water and sugar to a boil and remove the pot from heat. Stir the elderflowers in, place the lid on the pot, and allow the tea to cool to room temperature before straining.

Can I use fresh elderberry juice instead of tea?

Uncooked elderberries contain a compound that can cause nausea and GI symptoms. Heat breaks down the compound so that it doesn’t cause issues, so I only recommend using tea. Technically you could heat the fresh elderberry juice to deactivate the compound, but since I have not done it personally I can’t advise on the best approach.

homemade elderberry soda recipe

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