Health Benefits of Elderberry
For likely more than 1,000 years Elderberries have been revered by herbalists as there are findings of it being mentioned in several historical texts. (1)
Wondering why? Current research has shown that elderberries are: (2)
High in vitamin C: There are 6–35 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit, which accounts for up to 60% of the recommended daily intake.
High in dietary fiber: Elderberries contain 7 grams of fiber per 100 grams of fresh berries, which is over one-quarter of the recommended daily intake.
A good source of phenolic acids: These compounds are powerful antioxidants that can help reduce damage from oxidative stress in the body.
A good source of flavonols: Elderberry contains the antioxidant flavonols quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin. The flowers contain up to 10 times more flavonoids than the berries.
Rich in anthocyanins: These compounds give the fruit its characteristic dark black-purple color and are a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects.
With all these benefits, it is no wonder we have looked for more ways to incorporate it into our diets. We love our elderberry syrup but I wanted something I could make into an iced tea. I tried several blends of some of my favorite teas and finally landed on this one!
Elderberry Rooibos Tea with Peaches and Ginger. Delicious! I love peach and ginger tea and drink it on ice all summer long. Adding elderberries was nice but the final perfecting touch for me was the Rooibos. What is Roobios?
It is pronounced "roy-bos" and it is a bush that typically grows in South Africa. The fermenting process of the leaves turn them red and they make a naturally caffeine free herbal tea. Caffeine free is a bonus so that you can drink it in the evening without worrying about sleeplessness.
In addition to this, it has some wonderful health benefits and is becoming more popular as a result. A bonus: It has a nutty almost caramel taste that makes the tea so smooth. It is hard to describe, but the first time I tasted that distinctive smoothness, I was hooked!
As far as health benefits go, it has powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory puercetin (which helps reduce blood pressure), it is high in calcium, manganese, potassium and zinc which help strengthen the immune system and even helps your hair by strengthening hair fibers. It has also shown to help ease stomach cramps and aid in digestion. This is a powerhouse herb that tastes delicious. It was the perfect addition to this tea blend.
After many taste tests we are now offering this tea to YOU to try. We hope you will love it as much as we do. It is great without any sweetener but if you prefer sweet, you can add honey or stevia or your favorite sweetener. It is great hot or on ice, although my favorite is on ice.
How To Use Elderberry Rooibos Tea
Elderberry is often taken daily (or nearly so) during cold and flu season to support healthy immune function, but I have been drinking a glass of this tea on ice almost daily. Enjoy this tea as often as you like without worrying about caffeine.
Simply steep 1-2 teaspoons of this tea in almost boiling water. For best results, cover the container and steep for at least 10 minutes, if you can wait that long!
To try out this tea, head over to our online store here!
Enjoy!
Sources
1. de la Foret, Rosalee (2017) Alchemy of Herbs
2. "Simply Health" (2018) https://simplyhealth.io