Elderberry Jam.... Is it good? Good enough?

[modern_pioneer]

As I continue to tighten my SS belt and use everything availabe to me, I find some things not worth the efforts for the small rewards of putting up food.

Elderberries is a berry that my Mom use to put up in a jam form, as well I think dabbled with wine a time or two.

Is it worth the effort/cost/jars/space to make some jam?

My other berries that I planted three years ago look very promising this year, largest crop yet. Considering the big berry harvest on the way, I wonder if the Elderberry jam is good enough to replace some of the most common staple berry jams.

 

[Blackbird]

My mom makes elderberry jam, I must say, I honestly dislike the taste of elderberries, but the jam is very good. Our nieghbor also made a cough syrup out of it and its pretty good too.

We have three 'tame' elderberry plants, but our woods has thousands all over, practically invasive. You have to be careful not to ingest the stems, or anything else from the plant, expect for the berry itself. Which can be hard because the berries are so small to pick them clean. If I remember correctly the stems have a form of tanin that can make a person sick. I know ingestion of the roots specifically can be fatal. For me, the smell of the blossoms is pretty nauseating in itself.

And just to show off, here are the elderberries we got from one plant last year.

 

[Iceblink]

I haven't made Elderberry jam, so I can't help you on that, but I think Elderberry syrup is delicious, especially on oatmeal. It balances the nuttiness of the oats. I find syrups easier to make than jams and jellies, just crush and strain the fruit instead of picking it all over.

 

[justusnak]

We have wild Elderberry bushes all over our property. I make Jelly...not jam...if I can beat the birds to it. We LOVE Elderberry Jelly...maybe because it takes so darned many of those tiny berries to make a little jelly! LOL Just remember...Elderberry bushes, are TOXIC to pigs.