Although these a wellness shot is tiny, it packs a mighty punch. You are probably used to seeing ginger turmeric wellness shots, especially in health food stores, such as Whole Foods. Those are amazing anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting little shots, but they can be a little spicy, especially for the uninitiated. While ginger and turmeric receive a lot of attention regarding immune health, elderberry deserves equal, if not more, attention.

There are elderberry gummies, elderberry syrup, and even elderberry kombucha. Why can’t there be elderberry wellness shots? Thing of this recipe as a concentrated version of all of those recipes. You can use fresh or dried elderberries for this recipes, but you have to cook them first because they contain cyanogenic glycosides. Although they are not poisonous, they can be toxic and cause digestive discomfort, especially in people with sensitive digestive systems. The safest way to consume elderberries is to make sure that they are cooked first.

Although these shots have a vibrant purple hue because of the elderberry, the taste does not come from elderberries. In fact, elderberry doesn’t really have much of a flavor, which is why elderberry syrups and such are flavored by other ingredients, such as lemon, cinnamon, and ginger. Lemon provides vitamin C, which helps control inflammation and increase nutrient absorption. Finally, these shots contain echinacea, which, like elderberries, may help reduce the length and severity of viral illness, especially when it comes to bacterial infections. So although these wellness shots won’t cure an illness, they may help enhance immunity and improve recovery time.