Healthy Homemade lemonade with elderflowers

Add a healthy boost to your cocktails with this healthy homemade lemonade. Elderflowers together with clove, lemon balm, and pine shoots are antioxidant-rich herbs that add this elderflower lemonade a healthy boost and unique taste.

This elderflower lemonade is seasonal and unique in its taste. Apart from large umbels of elderflowers with typically distinguished scents, this healthy homemade lemonade contains additional herbs and spices that bring its taste and benefits to another level. All herbs are high in antioxidants and vitamins making it multivitamin antioxidant syrup.

Do antioxidants detox your body?

Antioxidants protect our bodies from oxidation which is a chemical reaction where atoms or molecules gain or lose electrons. When the body “oxidizes” it is getting older. 

Antioxidants prevent and slow oxidation by neutralizing free radicals, giving them electrons thus protecting us from free radicals and slow aging.

There are several factors that generate free radicals such as unhealthy diet, poor lifestyle, stress, or polluted environments.

Antioxidants are naturally found in foods of both plant and animal origin, especially vegetables, fruits, nuts seeds, and beverages like coffee and tea.

herbs high in antioxidants

However, one group of foods with antioxidant capabilities has overtaken common foods. These are spices and herbs that have the highest antioxidant power!

Cinnamon and Clove together with Oregano are the top 3 spices with the highest antioxidant activities of them all. A comprehensive list of food items with their Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) is attached (1)

There are many different types of antioxidants in a diet, including vitamins C and E, as well as flavonoids. Interestingly these antioxidant abilities are not mentioned on food packaging because they have only been scientifically confirmed in “in vitro experiments” so far.

One of the great sources of antioxidants are green walnuts, you can preserve them in raw honey and use them all year long

Healthy homemade lemonade ingredients

Ingredients in our healthy homemade lemonade are all powerful antioxidants and together have the ability to rejuvenate and keep us healthy and well balanced.

pine needles benefits

Pine shoots have been used for centuries as a source of food and nutrients. They contain antioxidants and are rich in vitamin C – an immune system booster that helps fight illnesses and infections.  

This study (3) proves pine needles’ high antioxidative and immunological activity. Another (4) study supports pine needles’ nutritional qualities, healing powers, and antitumor effects and points to their potential usefulness in cancer prevention.

While older needles have double the content of vitamin C compared to new ones, they are also much stronger in their taste. Younger green sprouts have a milder taste that is perfect for our syrup. They are great in pine needle tea.

Lemon balm benefits

(officially known as Melissa officinalis), referred to as a common balm or balm mint.

Lemon-scented herb, the lemon balm comes from the mint family. Traditionally used for its calming effect and mood and sleep improvement, its potential benefits don’t stop there. Lemon balm is also efficient in fighting free radicals and is a very powerful antioxidant.  According to dr. Axe, lemon balm affects oxidative stress: ”lemon balm had remarkable results, including a significant improvement in blood levels of other antioxidant cells. A study that looked at supplementing the diet of medical professionals consistently exposed to low levels of radiation with lemon balm showed that it may be an effective way to protect them against unhealthy levels of oxidative stress” (5)

We have good results with lemon balm tincture to calm your mind and enhance your mood.

Clove benefits

Clove has a strong, pleasant aroma and a sweet, slightly pungent taste. So one must be careful not to overdo it. It comes from the Asian tropical tree Syzygium aromaticum or also Eugenia Caryophyllata – it is a dried flower bud. It contains beta carotene (vitamin A), vitamin E, group B vitamins, potassium minerals, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, and iron. Clove together with cinnamon and oregano are among the best sources of antioxidants.

Elderflower benefits

Elderflowers and their fruits elderberries are considered the top antiviral plants on the planet. Packed with Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron, they help boost the immune system and fight colds and other viruses. They have been used for centuries to ease cough, flu, and bronchitis (2)

I like to use Elderflowers in various dishes as they have a typical floral taste that just makes any dish unique. Elderflower ice cream or marshmallow fluff is our popular dessert. But elderflowers also make delicious main courses such as elderflower fritters.

if you enjoy making syrup using various herbs try our Elderflower cordial or this homemade cough syrup. You will love them.

elderflower lemonade recipe

First step

Boil raw sugar with water in a 1: 1 ratio. Add cloves.

Second step

Add pine into the lukewarm liquid.

When the shoot is damaged – trodden on by people or animals, the fascicle below will generate a new bud that will replace the lost one. So no need to worry:)

Third step

Carefully add the elderflowers and mix gently. The floral taste of Elderflowers comes mainly from their pollen so don’t wash them. Just gently remove bugs if there are any.

Fourth step

Pour the lemon juice into the mixture and stir in the honey. Raw honey is the best choice for its nutrients and antioxidants.

Fifth step

Pour citric acid powder and lime slices into the mixture. Lime zest offers a distinct citrus flavor without bitterness. Just make sure you wash them properly before using them.

Sixth step

Tear off a bundle of lemon balm and place it in the mixture.

Seventh step

Cover the mixture with a cloth and leave it to macerate for 4-5 days in a cool environment, but not in the refrigerator.

Eigth step

Mix once a day. Finally, strain through a sieve and squeeze the mixture. Pour into a sealable bottle and store it in a refrigerator.

How to use this homemade healthy lemonade?

1. This elderberry lemonade recipe is delicious on its own but better to  mix it with water or sparkling water.
2. Flavor prosecco, gin or even elderflower liqueur with a unique scent.
3. I like to add 1-2 teaspoons into my morning hot tea 
4. Or use it as a topping on pancakes or waffles
5. Mix it into a yoghurt
6. Pour it as a lite syrup over ice cream or panna cotta
7. Use it as a sweetener in your fruit salad 
8. To moisten cakes, brush a cake with this elderflower lemonade before icing it. That will give special taste and extra moisture to your cake 

How long does this healthy homemade lemonade last?

Citric acid and raw sugar are important preservatives. 

To make the elderflower lemonade last longer use sugar and citric acid in this recipe

If you want to make elderberry lemonade that lasts only a few days you can omit those two ingredients.

When this healthy homemade lemonade is properly prepared and stored in sterilized bottles it should last up to 3 months.

How to store elderflower lemonade?

If you make a small batch that you plan to use within a few weeks, you don’t need to do anything, just keep it refrigerated

In case you plant to more bottles of elderflower lemonade and keep it for the whole year require canning. Canning elderflower lemonade is easy. Fill your canning pan with water and set it to boil. Reduce the heat and place your jars in the boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove them from the water bath and now they should be safe to use for 8-12 months.

Alternatively, stored your elderflower lemonade in the freezer to extend its shelf life up to 6 months. Use airtight containers or ice cube trays and freeze it. 

What is your favourite syrup?