FAQS

Help! My kids don’t like the taste
Our syrup tastes great in purple grape juice, and they will be none the wiser!
We recommend starting with a 1:1 ratio and adjusting as needed.
Our syrup also tastes great in lemonade, tea, smoothies, yogurt, and oatmeal. 

How do I dose elderberry syrup?
We recommend adults take 1 tablespoon (kids take teaspoons) daily to boost the system during cold and flu season. If at any point during the day you start to feel like you’re getting sick, start the *boost* dose of 3 tablespoons every 2-3 hours, especially before bed.

How do I dose the allergy syrup?
We recommend dosing high at the first sign of allergy or sinus discomfort: Adults take 3-4 tablespoons every 3 hours for 24-48 hours.
Once you experience relief, we recommend tapering back to 1-2 tablespoons a day.
The first bottle of syrup can go quickly, but once symptoms are under control a bottle will last several weeks.

Is elderberry syrup safe for me?
Our syrup is made with all natural ingredients, including herbs and raw honey, which can be risky for some individuals. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have an autoimmune disease, please talk with your doctor before taking our syrup. If you would like to try our syrup without honey (or if you want to add your own sweetener) please consider the DIY kit.

Are the allergy blend syrups safe for me?
Our allergy blend syrups are made with all natural ingredients, including the staghorn sumac berry and a variety of herbs and raw honey, which can be risky for some individuals. The sumac berry has similar properties to that of mangos or cashews. If you have sensitivity to either of these, are pregnant, nursing or have an autoimmune disease, we also suggest talking with your doctor before taking these syrups. If you would like to try one of our syrup blends without honey (or if you want to add your own sweetener) please consider the DIY kits.


What age can I start giving syrup to my kids?
Children can safely consume honey after age one. Please confirm with your pediatrician. For children under one year we recommend unsweetened syrup, available by using the DIY kit.

How long will these syrups last?
Elderberry Syrup:
Unopened — 24 months
Opened and refrigerated — 3-4 months
Allergy blends:
Unopened — 24 months
Opened and refrigerated — 2 months
Syrups can also be frozen for long-term storage

I don’t live in Tennessee so will these syrups benefit me?
The honey we use is from foliage common to our area. You will still see benefits from the herbs we use in our syrups, however, if you live outside of the east Tennessee/southwest Virginia/western North Carolina region, you might consider purchasing the DIY kit and adding local honey from your area.

I thought Sumac Berries were poisonous?
The Staghorn Sumac berry is a non-poisonous berry. There is no connection to poison sumac. In fact, I am highly allergic to poison sumac and have been enjoying our sumac blend for years with no side effects.

The allergy blends mention not using if allergic to mangos or cashews. Do you use these ingredients in the syrups?
No, we do not use mangos or cashews in our ingredients. The staghorn sumac berries have been known to have similar properties to that of mangos and cashews. We mention this as a precaution. In two years of making these products, we can happily tell you no one has had an allergic reaction. However, we feel that it is better to be safe than sorry!

How many bottles of syrup do your kits make?
Each kit makes three pints of delicious syrup.

How do I use alternative sweeteners?
We recommend sweetening our kits with four ounces of honey. If you want to use a different sweetener, you might consider the same amount. If you are using a sweetener that would be considered sweeter than honey, we would suggest using less and adding more as needed.

How do I store my finished syrup?
We recommend using a clean jar, bottle, jug, or container with a lid. 
If freezing the syrup, consider using an ice cube tray.
If freezing in a bottle, you will want to leave about 1” headspace for expansion.
Be sure to keep syrup in the refrigerator for maximum shelf life.

Do I have to make all the bottles at the same time?
Yes. If you are concerned about the product going bad before you can use it, please consider freezing it. 
One bottle is about a month’s supply for one adult. If there are multiple people consuming the syrup you will probably go through it before the shelf stability time frame.

How hard are the kits to make?
I am a busy mom of four kids and don’t have a lot of extra time. All of our kits are very user friendly and take approx. 1 hour to make. If you can boil water, you can make our kits!