~DIY: Herbal Syrups, Jello, and Gummies~
By Candice Brunlinger
Herbal syrups, jello and gummies are a convenient and delicious way to nourish the body and support the health of you and your family. They are also inexpensive and fun to make. Making your own are beneficial over store bought brands as you can avoid sugar, cane syrup, high fructose corn syrup, food coloring, preservatives, artificial flavors or sweeteners. Plus you get the opportunity to creatively incorporate your favorite herbs into your food.
Benefits of Using Herbs
Adding herbal tea to your homemade syrups, gummies and jello has many benefits depending on the herbs you choose. Use nourishing plants like nettle, dandelion, alfalfa, chickweed, rosehips and seaweeds for an herbal and food multi vitamin and mineral source. Support the immune system with herbs like elderberry, rosehips, echinacea and astragalus and/or herbs for respiratory infections when congested. Using detoxing herbs in your recipes can provide a healthy and beneficial snack to support a cleanse or use energizing adaptogens for longevity and endurance. You can essentially eat any herbal tonic or remedy by making a strong tea and turning it into syrup or using it as a base for making jello or gummies.
Benefits of Gelatin
Gelatin is cooked and powdered collagen generally from cow or pig bones, hides and connective tissues. It is important to use a clean source coming from free range, grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free animals in order to receive the full benefits of gelatin. Gelatin from conventional animals fed a poor diet is not as beneficial or nourishing, especially if there are trace amounts of hormones and antibiotics. I personally like to use the Great Lakes Unflavored Kosher Gelatin.
Gelatin has the following benefits:
* Taking gelatin is a good way to get more collagen, protein and amino acids in your diet which reduce inflammation, rebuild connect tissue, speed the healing of wounds and injuries and increase metabolism.
* A diet rich in gelatin increases strength and growth of hair and nails while improving the elasticity and health of your skin. It can help your skin look and feel more youthful and prevent wrinkles.
* Gelatin is beneficial for arthritis, pain and inflammation, especially in the joints and connective tissue.
* Gelatin is beneficial for weak and brittle bones and can help with bone injuries and osteoporosis.
* It can help aid digestion and even heal digestive disorders.
* Gelatin has been found to regulate excess estrogen from the body which helps with balancing hormones and increasing metabolism.
* Gelatin may also increase the body's natural production of human growth hormone which helps increase metabolism, regulate weight and improve the health of bones, muscles and connective tissue.
Benefits of Honey 
Honey has many health benefits and is considered a superfood. It is rich in enzymes, anti-oxidants and is very soothing. It has a protective nature especially for the throat, respiratory system and digestion. This sweet nectar from the bees is highly nourishing with anti-microbial actions especially anti-bacterial and anti-viral. It benefits and supports the immune system in many ways including the relief of allergies. It can reduce the occurrence and duration of allergy symptoms especially when used preventatively before pollen season. Using local honey is best for allergies as it will contain the local pollens and build your antibodies so you are not as likely to react when exposed. Honey also acts as a preservative and natural sweetener in food and herbal preparations. Use raw and unpasteurized honey to receive its many health benefits as the properties of honey can be damaged when exposed to heat.
How to Make Herbal Syrups 
1) Add your herbs to a pot and add 3 cups of water for every cup of herb(s).
2) Use low heat to bring your infusion to a light simmer. If using roots and barks you can continue to simmer for 30 minutes before removing from heat. If using leaves, flowers or berries you should turn off the heat right as it reaches a simmer to prevent damaging the heat sensitive properties of the plant(s).
3) Keep covered for 2-8 hours.
4) Use a stainless steel mesh strainer, cheese cloth or muslin cloth to strain and remove the herbs.
5) Add about ¼-1/3 part honey to preserve and maintain the freshness of your syrup. Store it in the fridge. You can also add up to a 1/3 part alcohol (vodka, rum, etc) and use less honey to preserve the syrup and to store it at room temperature.
6) Has a shelf life of 6 months-2 years if stored properly.
How to Make Herbal Gummies & Jello: 
Follow steps 1-4 above in "How to Make Herbal Syrups"
5) Measure how much tea you have made and pour it back into your pot to gently warm up using low heat until right before it starts to simmer.
6) Measure ¼- ½ part of chilled juice and add to a medium-large bowl or Pyrex measuring cup. (i.e. if you have 16 ounces of strained tea, use anywhere between 4-8 ounces of juice)
7) Wisk gelatin in the cold juice and let it sit for 2-3 minutes to thicken. Use approximately ½ tbsp gelatin per cup of total liquid to make jello or approximately 1/4 cup gelatin per 1½-2 cups of total liquid for making gummies depending on how firm you like them.
8) Slowly pour and whisk in the hot tea with the chilled gelatin mixture until blended well.
9) Add honey to taste. I usually add ¼ part or a little more depending on the flavor of the herbs.
10) Add a splash of lemon juice and mix well.
11) Pour mixture into molds or a large cake pan and chill in the fridge for 6-8 hours. Remove from molds or cut into small bite size pieces. Store in the fridge in a tupperware container for up to 3 weeks.
12) You can also freeze the gummies or jello to thaw out for later but it does slightly change the consistency.
Gummies are a healthy, fun and delicious treat for the entire family, especially children. Try experimenting with different herbs, flavors, juice, etc and enjoy herbal gummies as a healthy snack.
Here are some of my tips for perfecting your gummies:
Do not add gelatin powder to things with fresh pineapple, kiwi or papaya. Those tropical juices will inactivate the thickening properties of gelatin. Also, don't boil gelatin, as it will lose its thickening ability.
Mixing gelatin into cold liquid and adding hot water to it helps smooth the consistency.
After whisking, there is usually a light film on the top of the liquid. You can leave it or strain off using a spoon or stainless mesh strainer for aesthetics.
Use a higher proportion of gelatin for a firmer gummy consistency or lower for a soft jello-like consistency.
Try adding fresh fruit into the bowl, molds or ice cube trays when making jello.
Make probiotic gummies and jello by supplementing some of the tea or juice with water kefir or kombucha. You can also add probiotic liquid or powder to the mixture after adding honey.
Honey and lemon juice not only improve flavor but also help preserve the tea. The more you use, the longer you will be able to store in the fridge before it goes bad. The proportions I have provided generally result in syrups lasting 3-6 months and the jello and gummies to last 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
Recipes
Here is my base recipe and proportions for making Jello and Gummies:
3 cups of herbal tea
1 cup juice
1 cup honey
½ cup gelatin for making gummies or 2 ½ tbsp gelatin for making jello
2 tbsp lemon juice
Proportions of ingredients can vary depending on personal preference but the above is normally what I start with. Then I adjust the recipe as needed.
Multi-vitamin & Mineral-rich Blend
¼ cup nettle leaf
2 tbsp each oatstraw, dulse, orange peel, dandelion leaf, dandelion root, burdock root,
1 tbsp rosehips
½ tbsp yellow dock root
Simmer all roots in 20 ounces of water for 20-30 minutes on low heat and covered. Remove from heat and add all remaining herbs. I usually add a splash of apple cider vinegar to help pull out more minerals from the herbs. Keep covered and steep for 2-4 hours. Strain and use the tea as a base for making syrup, jello or gummies. These nourishing herbs are high in various vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, chlorophyll, iron and vitamin C. Yellow dock and dandelion are a little bitter so you may need to use a little extra honey to sweeten the flavor. Take 1-2 tbsp of syrup 1-3 times a day or a handful of herbal gummies/jello daily.
Spiced Elderberry
½ cup elderberry
¼ cup rosehips
2 tbsp orange peel
1 tbsp fresh ginger
2 tsp cinnamon chips or 1 cinnamon stick
¼ tbsp clove
Add 3 cups water and herbs into a pan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and allow to steep for up to 8 hours. Strain and add honey to taste to make syrup or follow the instructions to make gummies or jello. Take 1 tbsp of syrup 2-3 times a day or a handful of herbal gummies/jello daily to support the immune system and to prevent or speed the recovery of colds and flu.
6 slices astragalus
¼ cup elderberry
2 tbsp burdock, rosehips, orange peel
1 tbsp fresh ginger
1 tsp cinnamon chips or ½ tsp of powder
Simmer all ingredients except rosehips for 4-6 hours. Start with 3 cups water but check every hour and add more if needed. Remove from heat and add rosehips. Let the herbs steep for 20-30 minutes. Strain and use to make herbal syrup, jello or gummies. Take 1-2 tbsp of syrup 2-3 times a day or a handful of herbal gummies/jello daily to strengthen the immune system and enhance resilience.
Feel Better Fast
2 tbsp elderberry, elder flower, echinacea leaf, chamomile
1 tbsp rosehips
½ tbsp echinacea root, thyme, rosemary, fresh ginger
Bring 16 ounces of water to a boil and pour over herbs. Cover and let steep for anywhere between 2-8 hours. Strain and follow directions for making syrup, jello or gummies to help speed the recovery and fight off colds, flu and fevers. I personally like to use orange juice, preferably fresh squeezed, and I add extra lemon juice and honey. Take 1-2 tbsp of syrup, a small handful of gummies or a ¼ cup of jello 3-4 times a day to help fight off a cold and flu.
2 tbsp echinacea root
1 tbsp cinnamon chips, licorice root
Add 12 ounces of cold water to herbs and let it sit covered for 6-8 hours. Strain and follow directions to make a soothing syrup, jello or gummies to ease a sore throat. These herbs give the tea a thick and viscous consistency to help coat, sooth and heal the throat, especially when prepared with cold water. Take 1-2 tbsp of syrup, a small handful of gummies or a ¼ cup of jello 3-4 times a day to help ease a sore throat.
 Hibiscus Rose
½ part lemon grass
¼ part hibiscus
Add 3 cups of cold water for every cup of herbs. Allow the tea to steep for 2-8 hours preferably in the sun. Strain and use to make delicious syrup for flavoring tea, smoothies, desserts, cocktails, sparkling drinks, pancakes, etc. Or use the tea as a base to make refreshing jello and gummies. I especially like to make these on hot sunny days and I personally use very little honey in this recipe and a little extra lemon juice. Apple, berry and cranberry juices are all delicious with this recipe.
Nourishing Apple Mint 
½ part peppermint
½ part spearmint
Add 3 cups of recently boiled water for every cup of herbs. Allow the tea to steep for 2-8 hours and strain. When making jello or gummies I use apple juice with a splash of lemon juice and a little honey to taste for a refreshing minty flavored treat.
 Anti-oxidant and Heart Support
1 part hawthorn leaf
½ part hibiscus, goji berries
¼ part fresh ginger, cinnamon
Add 3 cups of cold water for every cup of herbs. Allow the tea to steep for 2-8 hours overnight or in the sun. Strain to remove herbs and use to make syrup, jello or gummies. I like to use a berry juice blend or cranberry nectar. These herbs are high in flavonoids, antioxidants and vitamin C and have a long historical use for strengthening and supporting the heart as well as many other benefits. Take 1-2 tbsp of syrup, a small handful of gummies or a ¼ cup of jello 1-3 times a day or as desired.
Liver Detox 
1 part burdock root and dandelion root
½ part oregon grape root
¼ part yellow dock root and fresh ginger root
Add 3 cups of water for every cup of herbs. Allow the tea to gently simmer on the stove for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the herbs to steep, covered, for 2-8 hours. Strain and turn into syrup, jello or gummies. Since these herbs are so bitter, you may want to increase the amount of honey to taste. I also like to increase the amount of lemon juice to help with detoxing.
Spring Detox
½ part dandelion leaf/greens/flowers
Use fresh herbs when in season and if available, otherwise use dried herbs. Add 3 cups of recently boiled water for every cup of herbs. Allow the tea to steep for 2-8 hours. Strain and use to make a gentle and nourishing detox syrup, jello or gummies to help support your body for the transition into spring. These herbs help cleanse and flush the body, support the kidneys, stimulate congested lymph glands and are rich in many vitamins and minerals. Take 1-2 tbsp of syrup, a small handful of gummies or a ¼ cup of jello 2-4 times a day to support a gentle detox or cleanse.
 Adaptogen Support
1 part eleuthero root or aralia root (spikenard), milk oat tops
½ part ashwagandha, gotu kola
¼ part licorice
Add 3 cups of recently boiled water for every cup of herbs. Allow the tea to steep for 2-8 hours. Strain and use to make an energizing syrup, jello or gummies to support the adrenals, stress, nervous system, focus, mental and physical endurance, etc. Take 1 tbsp of syrup, a small handful of gummies or a ¼ cup of jello 1-2 times a day. Take in the morning and early afternoon to enhance energy and endurance throughout the day and to avoid the herbs from keeping you awake too late.
Sleepy Time & Stress Relief
1 part lemon balm, chamomile, oatstraw
½ part skullcap, passionflower
Optional: Try 1/8 part of hops or valerian for a stronger blend if desired
Add 3 cups of recently boiled water for every cup of herbs. Allow the tea to steep for 2-8 hours. Strain to remove the herbs and use to make a calming syrup, jello or gummies. These relaxing herbs support stress, anxiety, sleep or to take the edge off and unwind from the days activities. I also like to use a splash of organic food grade lavender or
rose hydrosol.
About the Author:
Candice Brunlinger has been studying herbal medicine since 2004. She has studied with Christa Sinadinos through the Northwest School of Botanical Studies and with Jane Bothwell at the Dandelion Herbal Center. She has also had the honor of briefly studying with many other herbalists through small workshops and classes. She graduated Humboldt State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, has a small clinical practice and an herbal product line, Herbal Infusions. She has had the amazing opportunity to work at Humboldt Herbals over the last 6 years helping to bring herbal healing to the community. She has a passion for teaching and does Herbal classes and workshops including the Beginning with Herbs series at Humboldt State University. Candice is inspired by plants and integrating a holistic lifestyle. She loves to make medicine, cook, garden, be in nature and practice Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
Sources Cited
|
Arts Alive! Saturday April 4th 
Thursday April 16th ~ National Stress Awareness Day
