Fermented honey with elderberries

Torey

Colleen from www.growforagecookferment.com has just posted a new recipe for fermented elderberry honey and one for a fermented elderberry soda.

https://www.growforagecookferment.com/fermented-elderberry-honey/?ck_subscriber_id=644260424

https://www.growforagecookferment.com/fermented-elderberry-soda/?ck_subscriber_id=644260424

jowitt.europe

I have always believed that uncooked elderberry berries are poisonous. The ones in honey are uncooked. How do you deal with this “poisonous “ aspect.

I love elderberries and collect them every year, but, so far, I have always heated the berries, whatever I made - usually syrup or jam. Or dried at 50C

Torey

@jolanta.wittib It is the uncooked seeds that are the problem. In both of the above recipes, the seeds are strained out.

jowitt.europe

@torey yes, but they sit in honey for months not heated. Does the cyanide not get into the flesh during the fermentation period? Well, I am sure that this recipe has been used for a long time and has proved to be safe.

Torey

@jolanta.wittib Its not actually cyanide but the seeds do contain cyanogenic glycosides. There are inactivated by heat but do not leach out into the raw fruit, its extracted juice or an infused honey. The seeds would have to be crushed for that to occur and then the amount that it would take to be poisonous are extremely high. Elderberry wine is also made with raw, fermented fruit. It has been consumed since fermentation was first "discovered".

jowitt.europe

@torey Thank you! Then it must be safe. Fermentation opens for me new possibilities to preserve elderberry.

silvertipgrizz

Everyone I put my elderberries up to dry, and they are dry....Can I use these in the honey/berry ferment? How could I expect any differences in my ferment than if the berries were fresh off the bush?

And any fav ways to ferment the honey garlic? I have a lot of garlic I need to get processed and I don't want to have to freeze many of them. Thanks for your comments/help