With its deep purple hue, elderberry juice might just be the most intriguing wellness drink of the moment. With good reason: this juice, which resembles a magical elixir, has recently been the subject of some promising health studies. Blood sugar regulator, immune system booster, antioxidant powerhouse… the list goes on and on. And those are just a few of the supposed virtues of this ancient wellness tonic, which has been historically used to soothe stress, ease headaches, reduce joint pain, fight colds, and more. Read on to find out about some of the recently-studied health benefits of elderberry juice.
The antioxidant-packed elderberry
This dark purple juice comes from the black elderberry, otherwise known as Sambucus nigra, which is native to Europe but also grown in North Africa and Western Asia. Consumed since antiquity—notably by Hippocrates, who extolled its therapeutic virtues—elderberries are mainly cultivated for the production of juices, syrups, and natural remedies.
Fun fact: elderflower, which is used in the popular liqueur St. Germain, comes from the same Sambucus nigra plant—but unlike elderberry, elderflower isn’t known to be nutrient-dense. Perhaps even more interestingly, the bark and leaves of the Sambucus nigra are considered poisonous; the berries themselves must be cooked before consuming.
Though it has a slightly bitter taste, elderberry juice can be consumed straight or diluted with a little water. It’s also possible to take elderberry extract in supplement form. Regardless of how you consume it, its health benefits are the true draw: Rich in flavonoids, antioxidants, and vitamins A, B, and C, it is jam-packed with nutrients. In fact, elderberries have more anthocyanin—a type of polyphenol antioxidant—than blackberries and blueberries.
“Compared with other fruit, elderberry is a very rich source of anthocyanins—approximately 80% of the polyphenol content,” a recent scientific review states. “These polyphenols are the principals that essentially contribute to the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities and the health benefits of elderberry fruit extract.”
The immune-boosting health benefits of elderberry juice
Elderberry juice is a curative tonic—at least according to the many studies that have analyzed its benefits in recent years. For example, a Norwegian study conducted in 2004 observed that elderberry may speed up recovery from certain illnesses: “For five days, 60 patients with flu-like symptoms took 15 milliliters of elderberry syrup or placebo syrup four times a day. Results: those who took the elderberry syrup were free of their symptoms four days earlier than the others.” Thanks to its high dose of anti-inflammatory antioxidants and apparent anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, elderberry juice appears to boost the immune system.
The glucose-regulating powers of elderberry juice
More recently, elderberry juice’s detoxifying and glucose-regulating powers have shown impressive results. In an American study published by the journal Nutrients in 2024, research demonstrated that “by consuming 355 grams per day of elderberry juice for one week, overweight or obese individuals showed positive changes in their gut microbiome, improved glucose tolerance, and increased fat oxidation, i.e. the way the body breaks down fats.”
