Revisit A to Z of French Herbs - Black Elder - Sureau Noir

Revisit A to Z of French Herbs - Black Elder - Sureau Noir

Black Elder—Sureau Noir in French—is a plant woven deeply into European history, folklore, and cuisine. In this Revisit Sunday episode, we return to this remarkable shrub to explore its botanical roots, from its Latin name Sambucus nigra to its preference for sunny spots and its striking transformation through the seasons. Once you know its glossy black berries and fragrant ivory flowers, it’s hard not to spot elder everywhere.

Beyond the garden, Black Elder has played an important role in traditional medicine and ancient beliefs. Romans, Greeks, Celts, pagans, and medieval Europeans all attributed powerful qualities to the plant. From druidic flutes used to converse with spirits to the charming myth of Hylde-Moer, the Elder Mother who guarded the tree, elder has long been surrounded by mystery, reverence, and a touch of magic.

Of course, elder’s culinary life is just as fascinating. While the raw berries may be poisonous, cooked elderberry finds its way into jams, jellies, wines, soups, and syrups across Europe. The flowers shine even brighter, giving us elderflower cordial, fritters, and the iconic French liqueur St-Germain—created from delicately harvested elder blossoms in the Savoie region and now beloved worldwide in cocktails and cuisine.

In this episode, we revisit all of this and more: the legends, the history, the flavor, and the enduring cultural presence of Black Elder. Whether you know elder from your garden, your pantry, or your favourite cocktail glass, this episode is a delightful journey into the past and present of one of France and Europe’s most storied plants.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:14 Black Elder
• 3:19 Elderberry Flowers
• 5:41 Support Fabulously Delicious
• 6:00 Food for animals
• 9:27 Outro

Transcript

Speaker: 0:04

Welcome back to Fabulously Revisit Sunday, where we take a fascinating plants, ingredients hearts and our taste buds. Of course, here in France. Today we're revisiting a truly enchanting plant, the black Elder, known in French as Sorelle Noire. From its glossy, dark berries its long history steeped in Black Elder is far more than just a pretty shrub in the garden. Well, we'll explore its origins across Europe, its culinary uses, from jams and cordials to the world famous French liqueur Saint Germain and its magical reputation that has inspired stories, myths and even wands in popular culture. So settle in as we dive back Noire Noir, uncovering its delicious uses once more, this few new surprises along the way. Black elder is known in French It's pronounced suru s u r a noir n o I r. The botanical name for black elder is Sambucus nigra, and it's a member of the Asteraceae family, or almost all family. Nigra in Latin means black, and of the berries of the plant. The English elder comes not from comes from the Anglo-Saxon old, This was because the hollow black elder were often used to Common names include elder European elderberry, and well as elder flower, which we It's native mostly to Europe and There are also varieties that can be found in North America that are closely related to the species of, specifically of black elder. It's been introduced to many Black elder can grow in both wet will prefer sunny spots. It's pretty much grown as an in most parts of the world. It's a deciduous shrub, de the leaves will change color and bare bush over the winter, only be a full shrub scrap again. In summer it can grow up to six meters or twenty feet tall and wide. It can also rarely grow as high as ten meters or thirty three feet tall. It has a light gray bark that older the plant is. The flowers of the elderberry that they have both stamens and they're basically bisexual. Both male and female flowers on Usually its flowers are ivory done by flies. Its fruits are a glossy dark produced in late autumn. Both the flowers and the berries of the herb are used in culinary terms as well as in traditional medicines. In the first century, Pliny the fight against excess mucus. So did the Greek doctor Galen. In the second century, Charlemagne decreed the Black Elder be planted throughout Israel, and may have linked the elder tree to Judas and Jesus's cross. In fact, the Black Elder could not be used for firewood because of this sacred reference that it was associated with Celtic musicians. See the black elder shrub as a tree that is associated with death. Druids made flutes with the the flutes, believing that they of the dead. They would also play songs as In pagan Europe, Black Elder was A nymph named Hild Ma elder the tree as a caretaker if the taken for furniture. The folklore of the time said wood into the home and torment History. The black elder was used in John, and would also be nailed protect against bad fate. There was a belief that burning the wood would dry up a cow's milk or even breast milk, and sleeping under a black elder tree would expose you to erotic dreams. Hans Christian Andersen wrote a Mother, referring to a child Harry Potter books, the wand said to be the most powerful Hey furry friend! Loving the stories on Fabulously You can support the show and keep more tasty tales coming your way. It's super easy. Just hit the link in the show support the podcast. Every bit helps and I seriously this delicious journey. Black elder is good food for deer, elk, sheep, and many small birds. In fact, the fruit are an important source of food for many birds, including the blackcap. Blackcaps have a very loud, high pitched crescendo when they sing and live in southern parts of the UK, most of France and parts of Spain. They breed, though throughout parts of Africa. In the garden, the leaves of the black elder plants can be used in compost to accelerate the decomposition process. Gardeners also used them as a leaf manure to help organic gardeners to fight mildew and aphids, as well as repel rodents. Although black elder has been traditional medicine, there is it provides any benefit for treating any diseases. Obviously, to many people, you'll know the elderberry Berry cordials and wines when they think of black elder and cuisine. The berries are poisonous in their raw state, so they are only edible after they've been cooked. In many cuisines in Europe, they are used to make jams or confiture, jellies, chutneys and even sauces. Germany and some Scandinavian countries make a soup from black elder. Elderflower cordial or elderflower presse is made from the flowers of the plant usually, but you can also dip the flowers in a light butter and fry them to make elderflower fritters. In France, the very popular liqueur Saint-Germain is an elderflower liqueur. It's made using the petals of the flowers from the black elder. St-Germain is from the Savoie and each bottle of Saint-Germain petals were collected. The petals collected annually in around two to three weeks, and collection points to avoid Saint-Germain was created by distiller Robert Cooper after he tried an elderflower cocktail in a London bar in two thousand and one. Saint-Germain was named after Dupre and was launched in two The founder, Robert Cooper, sold sadly, Robert Cooper died at the French Republican calendar, the April, which is the ninth month called Elder Day. I mentioned the short story of noted Black Elder. Here is the start of that story. Once there was a little boy who He caught a cold. Nobody could understand how it was very dry. His mother undressed him, put urn brought in to make him a For that keeps one warm. At the same time there came in lived all alone on the top floor He had no wife, no children of his own, but he was very fond of all the children, and knew so many wonderful stories and tales. It was fun to listen to him. Now drink your tea, said the little boy's mother, and then perhaps there'll be a story for you. And that's a wrap for this Have you heard of the surreal What's the most fabulous thing Whether it's for fun fact, a appreciation for French cuisine, Slide into my DMs on Instagram at Adrienne Fabulously and let's connect! Chat about French herbs, French food, or anything else that's delicious food conversations are always good. It's one of the best ways to bring people together, don't you think? If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to share it with your friends, family, or anybody who loves French food as much as we do. Your support means the world and delicious journey going. And hey, if you're feeling extra fabulous, why not leave a review? It helps more foodies discover Thank you so much for joining Your love for French food culture inspires every episode of Fabulously Delicious, and I'm so glad to have you along for the ride. Remember my motto whatever you Merci beaucoup. And until next time, revoir.