You may be wondering what exactly Black Elderberry is and why you should consider making it part of your daily nutritional routine. We’re here to shed some light on that very subject. A type of flowering shrub, the genus Sambucus includes a variety of species commonly called elderberry or elder. Both the flowers and berries have a long tradition of both culinary and folk medicinal uses going back thousands of years. In fact, Hippocrates (often called the father of medicine) called elderberry a medicine chest because of its seemingly endless health benefits and usability. The stem, bark, leaves, flowers, berries and root extracts of the plant are all used in traditional folk medicine. There are even some elderberry-based recipes dating as far back as Ancient Egypt!

There are many varieties of elderberries grown around the world, including Black, Blue, Red and Ornamental. However, it is the European Black Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra) that is mostly commonly used as a nutritional supplement. It is also commonly used for culinary purposes to make jams, sauces, soups and drinks. Sambucus Nigra is the gold standard to look for when choosing an elderberry supplement for immunity support.

Elderberries have an extremely high concentration of certain flavonoids called anthocyanins which are responsible for the berry’s signature deep purple color. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that work within the immune system to enhance the body’s response and keep it functioning at its best. According to the United States Department of Agriculture the highest concentration of anthocyanins are found in black elderberries, nearly double the amount found in any other fruit. This gives black elderberries twice the natural antioxidant capacity of blueberries and significantly more than cranberries.