When you choose an Elderberry Syrup made with fresh, whole ingredients, proper storage matters. At The Elderberry Co., we keep our recipe intentionally simple: organic berries, organic spices, and raw local honey. That’s it. We make every batch fresh in our own kitchen, without preservatives or unnecessary ingredients, and our small-batch approach allows us to be intentional about freshness from the time a batch is made to the time it reaches your home.
Our Elderberry Syrup combines elderberries and aronia berries with raw local honey, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, and clove. We make it fresh every week and maintain a standard of selling each batch within 1–2 weeks of production, so you can feel confident that you're receiving the freshest product. That freshness is one of the things that makes our syrup special—and it also means refrigeration is an important part of keeping it fresh once it arrives.
Whether you’ve just received your first jar or you’ve been enjoying our Elderberry Syrup for years, a few simple storage habits can help you get the longest, best freshness from every batch. Here’s what you need to know about caring for your Elderberry Syrup at home.
What Makes Our Elderberry Syrup Different?
There are many elderberry products available today, and not all of them are made the same way. Our approach is centered around freshness, simplicity, and transparency.
We use a dual-berry blend of elderberry and aronia berries for a rich, full flavor. We sweeten our syrup with raw local honey rather than refined sugars, and we use whole ingredients instead of taking shortcuts.
Most importantly, we craft our syrup fresh in-house every week rather than mass-producing a shelf-stable product. That means refrigeration is simply part of choosing a fresh, minimally processed Elderberry Syrup.
Does Elderberry Syrup Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes. Our Elderberry Syrup should be refrigerated as soon as it arrives, whether the jar is opened or unopened.
Our syrup is certified as non-potentially hazardous, meaning it does not create a hospitable environment for harmful bacteria to grow. Even so, we recommend refrigeration as an added quality measure to help maintain the syrup's freshness for as long as possible.
You may have noticed ours is sealed differently from products made using a traditional canning process. That's intentional. We don't use traditional canning because we want to preserve the natural qualities of our raw local honey. Instead, each jar is sealed using a lidding machine and finished with a heat-sealed band around the lid for freshness and tamper protection.
Your jar is safe to remain unrefrigerated for the brief time it is in transit. However, when your jar arrives, simply refrigerate it right away and keep it refrigerated, whether you've opened it yet or not. This small step helps you get the best possible freshness from every jar.
How Long Does Elderberry Syrup Last?
The date written on the back of your jar is 60 days from the date that batch was made. This date is the same whether the jar is opened or unopened.
Our syrup has a shelf life of around two months when properly refrigerated. However, if you reach the date on the jar and still have a significant amount of syrup left, you don't necessarily have to throw it away. If it still smells and tastes fresh, it can be used for 3–4 weeks beyond the Best By date. As more time passes beyond the Best By date, the syrup may gradually lose some of its potency and quality.
If you're approaching the date on your jar and know you won't finish it in time, that's where freezing can be especially helpful.
Can You Freeze Elderberry Syrup?
Absolutely! Freezing is one of our favorite ways to help prevent leftover Elderberry Syrup from going to waste.
We recommend pouring the remaining syrup into an ice cube tray and freezing it in individual portions. Once frozen, you can transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe container or bag and thaw smaller amounts as needed.
Frozen Elderberry Syrup can last for approximately 6–8 months. This is especially helpful if you like having syrup on hand but don't use it every day or have more left than you can reasonably finish before the Best By date.
Keep an Eye on Your Delivery
One easy step that can make a difference in maintaining freshness starts before your package even reaches your refrigerator. If you're ordering Elderberry Syrup during warmer months, keep an eye on your tracking information so you know when your package is expected to arrive. Once your order is delivered, bring it inside and refrigerate it as soon as possible.
Our syrup is made to safely travel to you, but there's no reason to let it sit outside or in a hot delivery area longer than necessary. If you're going to be away from home, consider asking someone to bring your package inside for you, or rescheduling your subscription for when you’re home.
Want to Make Elderberry Syrup at Home?
If you love having elderberry syrup on hand but don't want to worry about ordering it at exactly the right time, we also offer an Elderberry Syrup DIY Kit. The kit includes the dry ingredients to make your own batch at home on your stovetop, and you can sweeten it with the sweetener of your choice.
We hope this information helps you feel confident caring for your Elderberry Syrup, whether you're just beginning your elderberry journey with us or you've been part of The Elderberry Co. family for years.
A few simple storage habits can go a long way toward helping you get the most out of every jar. From refrigerating your syrup when it arrives to freezing any extra you won't use right away, these small steps can help you enjoy your Elderberry Syrup at its freshest.
Thank you for choosing The Elderberry Co. and trusting us to be part of your family's wellness routine. We're grateful to be on this journey with you!
7 comments
Hi Ann! Our honey straws are super easy to use! Simply snip or tear open one end of the straw and squeeze the honey directly into your mouth. You can also stir it into tea, coffee, or another favorite drink. They’re a fun little treat to enjoy on their own or wherever you’d normally use honey!
Hi Mary! Yes! You can simply place the frozen Elderberry Syrup or frozen syrup cubes in the refrigerator and let them thaw. Once thawed, just give it a good stir and enjoy as usual.
Hi Chris! We recommend that our customers take our Elderberry Syrup daily due to its high antioxidant content. Since our Syrup is food-based, rather than a pharmaceutical, your body doesn’t build up a tolerance to it the way it might to some medications. It is along the same lines as eating a healthy diet! It is best to year-round prioritize healthy foods that provide your body with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals so that it is already in a healthy state, rather than just eating healthy when sick.
Is this something that should be taken daily for prevention or just when you’re feeling sick
Thank you for this information! It was very informative and very interesting.