Wild Foods Edibility: Golden Elderberry

Raw Golden Elderberries

• The stems, roots, bark and leaves of the red elderberry tree contain toxins that produce cyanide. The unripe berries also contain the toxic chemicals to deter wildlife from harvesting the berries before they have a chance to form seeds. Once the seeds form, they also contain the chemical. Ripe golden elderberries have small traces of the chemical and an unpalatable taste. Eating large quantities of red elderberries irritates the gastrointestinal tract causing diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pains. The seeds, leaves, stems, bark and roots are never to be consumed.

Cooked Red Elderberries

• Golden elderberries become edible and tastier after being cooked and de-seeded. Cooking the red elderberries destroys the trace toxins that remain in the ripened elderberries. Red elderberries are tangier and more tart than their sweeter blue and black elderberry cousins.

Golden Elderberry Syrup

• Remove the woody stems and poisonous seeds from 2 lbs. of red elderberries and place them in a pot. Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the elderberries are soft. Mash the golden elderberries in a food mill to remove the skins. Return the juice and pulp to the pot. Add 3 cups of sugar and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until the syrup has thickened. Remove from the heat, squeeze in the juice of one lemon wedge and stir thoroughly. Once the red elderberry syrup has cooled, store in an air-tight glass jar.

Golden Elderberry Liqueur

• Place the elderberries in a pot with 2 cups of water. Bring to boil, lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the water out, remove the seeds and any remaining stems. Place red elderberries inside a clean, dry glass jar. Add 1 quart of vodka, the rinds from 3 lemon wedges, and 1/3 to 1/4 cup of sugar. Cover the jar with an air-tight lid and shake thoroughly for 1 minute. Set the jar in a dark, cool place for at least 30 days. Shake the elderberry liqueur everyday. The longer it sits, the sweeter and fruitier the liqueur becomes.