black elderberry

Black elderberry is a shrub plant that belongs to the Adox family. Among the people, black elderberry is also called sambuka, buzovnik, pishchalnik.

The black elder will grow in the form of a shrub or a small tree, which can reach a height of up to six meters (depending on the varieties). In rare cases, its height may be greater. The trunk diameter is approximately 0.3 m.

• The stems of the shrub are branched, they are covered with a thin shell - bark, and their core is white and soft.
• Young branches are green, which then becomes duller as they grow, turning into a gray-brown.
• On the branches are lentils that provide gas exchange.
• The leaves are located opposite each other, have a large size, their length reaches 0.3 m. They are dark green in color and consist of several (no more than seven) leaflets tapering from the base, the edges of which have small teeth. The front side of the leaves is matte, green, the back side is with a grayish tint. In spring, each leaf has a stipule.
• The flowers are white or yellow-white. They may be sessile or pedunculated. They have a fairly strong smell. The diameter of the flower is from 0.5 to 0.8 cm, each has five petals. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, reaching up to 0.3 m in diameter.
• The flowering period falls on the end of spring - the beginning of summer.
• The fruit of the black elderberry is a drupe in the form of a berry of a juicy dark, almost black color, with a diameter of 0.5 to 0.7 cm. Each berry has several seeds. Fruit ripening time is at the end of summer - the beginning of autumn.

By itself, black elderberry is already a species of the genus Elderberry. Along with black elderberry, grassy elderberry and red elderberry are known.

Black elder grows on the islands of the Atlantic archipelagos, located closer to Europe and Africa. Also, the species is grown in northern Africa, as well as in parts of Iran and Turkey, where the climate is temperate. The plant is common in Europe, the Caucasus, Ukrainian and Belarusian territories. Black elderberry was brought to New Zealand, where it still grows successfully.

In Russia, black elder grows in the southern latitudes of European territory. It can be found near forests (coniferous or mixed), often it becomes wild and grows, forming thickets. It can be located near cemeteries, in cities, next to roads, and even in wastelands.

As a spice, culinary specialists use flowers and berries of black elderberry. When the bush blooms, it is necessary to cut off young inflorescences from it, let them wither a little, and then cut them off from the pedicels and dry them until they darken. In this form, they are stored in containers with tight-fitting lids.

Sometimes even fresh flowers are added to dishes. They are suitable for flavoring desserts.

It simply cannot be confused with red and herbaceous elderberries, since the fruits of the latter are toxic to humans.

Black elderberry berries have a sweet-sour taste, they are allowed to be consumed both immediately after harvest and after processing. The leaves have a slightly unpleasant smell.

Black elderberry black has the following characteristics:

• used for medical purposes as a medicinal plant;
• can grow both in the sun and on the shady side;
• in alternative medicine, dried flowers and fruits of the plant are used;
• often cultivated as an ornamental shrub.

Nutritional value and calorie content of 100 grams of dry product

All parts of the black elderberry contain a variety of chemical components. Flowers are made up of:

• glycosides;
• essential oils;
• choline;
• routine;
• alkaloids;
• carotene;
• acids (acetic, ascorbic, malic, coffee, valeric, etc.);
• resins;
• minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc.);
• phenol-containing components, etc.

Among the chemical components in fruits can be found:

• ascorbic acid;
• anthocyanins;
• carotene;
• amino acids;
• Sahara;
• phenol, etc.

Seeds contain fatty oils and sambunigrin.

Fresh leaves contain:

• carotene;
• ascorbic acid.

Dried leaves contain:

• resins with the effect of slight relaxation of the intestines;
• essential oils;
• sambunigrin.

The roots include phenol-containing substances and saponins.

The bark is made up of:

• essential oils;
• choline;
• betulin;
• sugars;
• acids of organic origin;
• pectin-containing components;
• phenol-containing components, etc.

Black elderberry impresses with a wide range of useful and medicinal properties:

• it is resorted to when dyeing in dark tones of silk and cotton fabric;
• fresh and dried fruits, as well as inflorescences with leaves, are used for medical purposes;
• added to cosmetics;
• elderberry increases the tone of the body;
• decoctions have a cleansing effect;
• black elderberry has a slight disinfectant effect;
• decoctions are used to normalize metabolic processes in the body.

There are a number of unpleasant consequences that black elderberry can cause:

• poisoning;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• acute inflammation in the digestive tract with overdoses.

The plant is dangerous to animals.

You can not use black elderberry:

• women during pregnancy and lactation;
• in the presence of diabetes insipidus;
• with acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the presence of colitis;
• with personal intolerance.

Children should use it with caution according to the recommendations of the doctor and in limited doses.

Black elderberry fruit juice is used to disinfect the body. It is good for the treatment of progressive diseases of the stomach. Also, juice is useful for vision and is actively used not only in folk, but also in traditional medicine.

Juice is also extracted from the flowers. To do this, in dry and sunny weather, flowers are collected, sorted and soaked in cool water to get rid of insects. Then the water is drained, the flowers are dried and ground in a meat grinder or blender.The resulting puree is squeezed out, and juice is obtained from it. It is used in particular for colds and cystitis.

Black elderberry is not only a medicinal plant, but actually a valuable food product.

In cooking, it is used quite often:

• for making marmalade, jam;
• for preparation of hot and soft drinks (compotes, jelly);
• for the preparation of syrups;
• to give the wine a unique taste and color;
• as a dye of natural origin.

Elder flowers can be added to tea to give it a fragrant aroma.

Elderberries in their original form are not very tasty. The dishes prepared from them have a short shelf life. To fix this, citric acid or juice of other fruits is added to the berries.

From the inflorescences of black elderberry in England, they even prepare a traditional drink, and often boil berries with apples for filling in a pie.

In Switzerland, freshly squeezed elderberry juice is produced, adding an extract from its own flowers to it. Ripe fruits produce a natural dye, which is often used to give the desired color to drinks.

You can make elderberry jam at home.

• To do this, take a kilogram of berries and the same amount of sugar.
• The fruits are thoroughly washed and dried.
• Then the berries are covered with sugar and mixed.
• They wait until the berries give juice (this is about an hour later).
• First bring to a boil, and then simmer for half an hour, not forgetting to remove the foam.
• Then roll the jam into jars.

You can also make elderberry syrup.

• To do this, a kilogram of washed fruits is poured into two glasses of water.
• The berries are boiled for 20 minutes.
• Then juice is squeezed out of them, a kilogram of sugar is added to it and brought to a boil.
• The finished syrup is poured into bottles or jars and stored in the cold.

Black elder is officially recognized as a medicinal plant. It is used in the following cases:

• as an anesthetic;
• to reduce high temperature;
• to calm the nervous system;
• as an antiviral agent;
• with diseases of the female reproductive system;
• with migraines;
• with rashes and ulcers on the skin;
• in violation of the functioning of the joints;
• in violation of the digestive tract;
• as an expectorant for whooping cough, influenza, asthma, etc.;
• with conjunctivitis;
• for the prevention of constipation;
• as a diuretic;
• when tumors occur.

Useful and decoctions, and juice, and infusion based on elderberry. In different cases, not only berries and inflorescences are used, but also bark with leaves.

Not only lotions are made from decoctions, but also added to baths. It is especially useful for gynecological diseases and for arthrosis and rheumatism.

Due to the fact that elderberry decoctions and infusions have not only a mild laxative, but also a diuretic effect, they are often advised to be taken in moderate doses when losing weight. In addition, decoctions or infusions of elderberry help improve metabolism.

Black elderberry is a plant used in a variety of household areas:

• in traditional and non-traditional medicine;
• as a fabric dye;
• as a natural food coloring;
• as a decor for the garden;
• for flavoring dishes;
• for the preparation of desserts and drinks.

Varieties of black elder can rightfully be called decorative. For example, the "Aurea" variety has a lush golden crown, while the "Acutiloba" variety has clear leaf contours.

There are varieties whose leaves are framed with a golden border. The variety "Pulverulenta" has an unusual pattern on the leaves, and their color is bright, with lilac-violet tints.

The varieties "Gerda" and "Black Beauty" look very impressive in the garden. During the flowering period, their inflorescences have a pink tint, while during the ripening period of the fruit, their leaves are cast in a crimson and purple hue.

American breeders have bred the "Adam Eldercerry" variety, which gives a huge yield, which can reach up to ten kilograms from one shrub.

Caring for black elderberry in the garden is not at all difficult. She loves the sun and grows well in fertile and moist soil. If the soil is dry and contains a lot of sand, then elderberry will grow poorly.

Elderberry is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seeds are harvested after they darken (closer to mid-autumn). Sowing is done to a depth of several centimeters, between rows should be at least 0.2 m.

For propagation by cuttings, both green cuttings and already lignified ones are suitable.

Elderberry needs regular and abundant watering until it begins to grow. Subsequently, watering is carried out depending on climatic conditions or during periods of drought. Fertilizers are recommended to be used in early summer, but in early spring, enhanced feeding will be required.

Black elderberry grows quite quickly, especially if the year is generous with warmth and rainfall.

The flowers of the plant must be collected after they bloom, that is, somewhere in late spring - early summer. This must be done in dry weather. It is advisable not to tamp the flowers when harvesting, otherwise they will darken.

Dry the flowers in the shade. When the pedicels begin to break, drying is completed. Dried flowers have a sweet taste and a light aroma. They may well deteriorate, so store them in a closed container in a dark and dry place. When damp, the flowers lose all their benefits.

Unripe fruits can be poisoned, and ripe ones are best consumed after drying or heat treatment. After drying, they can be stored for six months in a closed container.

If the fruits are needed for jam or juice, then the berries are harvested almost before processing. They are not stored processed for longer than 48 hours, as the fruits have low acidity and quickly become moldy.

Black elderberry leaves are harvested in the spring, and the bark is carefully removed in the spring from the branches of a two-year-old tree. It can be stored for several years.

• In ancient Greece and ancient Rome, the black elderberry was considered sacred. She was planted near houses, believing that she protects the dwelling from evil spirits.
• In the Middle Ages, with the help of elderberry, they dyed their hair and eyebrows in dark colors.
• The Slavs had beliefs that black elderberry was forbidden to be burned or brought into a dwelling, and also that lightning did not strike it.
• The Germans used to believe that elderberry was a medicinal plant used by witches. If someone cut down a tree, then, according to legend, he found himself in witchcraft power. They tried not to plant elderberry near the houses.
• Elderberry was mentioned in the works of folklore.Even G. H. Andersen had a fairy tale dedicated to the elderberry, but it did not gain wide popularity.