Pasadena Mom Makes And Sells Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Just over a year ago, Pasadena mom Elizabeth Parrott was frustrated that her then 2-year-old son was getting frequent colds and illnesses. Determined to find a natural and lasting solution to help combat the maladies, Parrott researched online and discovered the healing properties of elderberry. For a brief time, Parrott gave her son store-bought elderberry gummies, but she was discouraged by the large amounts of sugar in them, and during that time, her son also developed hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Fueled by her culinary enthusiasm as well as frustration that the gummies were not as effective as she thought they should be, Parrott began making homemade elderberry syrup in her kitchen.

Parrott's recipe includes dried elderberries from an area store, honey, a secret blend of spices, and lemon juice, which serves as a natural preservative. In addition, she has partnered with a local honey provider, and she uses local honey when in season. Parrott’s elderberry syrup not only became an instant hit with her family but she also noticed an immediate decline in the frequency of colds and illness when taken daily. Parrott shared that her husband has not had a cold since taking the elderberry syrup, and a strep and stomach virus she had was shortened and lasted less than 24 hours.

Excited by the positive results in her own family, Parrott was happy to reveal her findings to friends and other family members. She soon began selling jars of the elderberry syrup.

“I know it works and wanted to share it with other people,” Parrott said, explaining that she requested feedback from family and friends and adjusted her recipe. “I visualized what I wanted, and I created my own design based on feedback.”

Hope in a Jar by Elizabeth was launched in September 2018, and Parrott quickly gained a group of regular clients. She sells 12-ounce jars for $16, and there are discounts for a subscription service. She also ships for out-of-town clients. Parrott advised that typically one jar will last a family one month, and most clients purchase monthly. She recommends a daily dosage of 2 teaspoons and to increase the dosage when becoming ill.

Parrott lives in the Chelsea Beach area of Pasadena with her husband, Ned, and 4-year-old son, Landon. In addition to her Hope in a Jar by Elizabeth business, Parrott is also a licensed real estate agent and has a T-shirt design business. More information can be found on Facebook by searching for “Hope in a Jar by Elizabeth.”