J’s Homemade Elderberry Syrup: Boost Your Immune System with this Locally Made Product

Julie Messina had a problem to solve. What could she do to proactively combat the cold and flu season when it inevitably hit her own home? As a Kindergarten teacher and a new mom, she knew she would be a vector for viruses for her family and wanted to get ahead of the inevitable sniffles, or worse, influenza. When she discussed her concerns with her pediatrician, she learned about elderberry syrup, which some studies have shown can shorten the severity and duration of flu in adults. Drawn to its properties as a natural food, she wanted to give it a try but she hit her first roadblock when trying store brands. She didn’t like the taste or price of the elderberry syrups readily available, so she decided to try making her own. Although Julie wouldn’t officially sell her first bottle of elderberry syrup for several months, J’s Homemade was born on that fateful day at the pediatrician’s office. Like many entrepreneurs solving a problem, what followed wasn’t a straight path, but a lot of trial and error, perseverance and support from her wife Alicia and her (now) two children.

Each bottle of J’s Homemade elderberry syrup reflects its natural products and represents her own ongoing research and development. Elderberries on their own are quite bitter. Blending herbs and dialing in the product’s viscosity is what sets J’s Homemade apart. She tried ginger (too spicy) and clove (too overpowering) until she discovered a perfect blend of subtle herbal notes that includes rose hips, cinnamon, and astragalus root. In addition to this herbal journey, Julie also experimented with the perfect subtle sweetener. Her first iteration was sweetened with maple syrup when her son was under 1. After he hit his first birthday, she swapped the maple syrup for honey. She credits Marina Marchese of Red Bee Apiary in Weston for teaching her the basics of honey. For her current volumetric needs, her main honey source is Stonewall Apiary, which supplies her with a wildflower honey from its hives in Versailles located in eastern Connecticut. Her elderberries are sourced dried, and while she doesn’t yet have a local source, she has talked with local farmers about the process of bringing the crop closer to her home. With a mouthfeel in between a syrup and a juice, J’s Homemade Elderberry syrup is enjoyable on its own (as it was intended) or can be mixed with seltzer, a smoothie, or even a cocktail.  

Due to the wild nature of elderberries and honey, two of her main ingredients, her syrup is an ever-evolving product that reflects the season. The final product is natural, preservative free, and organic. It is produced and sold as a food product, not a supplement or a medicine, although many may use it that way. Through J’s Homemade, Julie has been able to craft a product that connects many families across Connecticut and New York who are also on a mission to help support their health (and taste buds!) in a natural way. Julie is also an advocate for supporting local businesses and farms, both in Bethel where she and her family reside, and across Connecticut. “I didn’t start this to make money, I started this to make a product to help parents support their family’s health in a natural way,” Julie explains. 

You can find J’s Homemade online or at farm stores and specialty shops across Connecticut including, Terrain, Greisers, and LaBonne’s Market among others.

https://www.jshomemade.com/