Elderberry
Elderberry is the dark purple fruit of the European black elder, Sambucus nigra, a shrub grown and wild-harvested across Europe, with Austria a major growing region for named cultivars such as Haschberg. Ripe berry clusters are de-stemmed and pressed; the juice is sold as a concentrate or spray-dried to powder, and extracts are made by membrane filtration or solvent purification and standardized to anthocyanins or polyphenols. Raw berries, stems and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides such as sambunigrin, so commercial fruit is processed with heat and some buyers ask for that to be tested.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Pressed juice concentrated to a stated Brix (65 Brix is a common grade), used in syrups, gummies and beverages. Sold conventional or organic.
Spray-dried extract with a minimum anthocyanin (or polyphenol) percentage stated on the spec; may include a carrier such as maltodextrin or be carrier-free.
Spray-dried juice or milled dried fruit sold by ratio rather than anthocyanin content, used for color and fruit content in foods.
Alcohol-free glycerin extracts or liquid extracts for tinctures, syrups and gummy bases.
Whole or cut dried berries for teas and further processing.
Certified organic concentrate, powder or extract, with the certificate tied to the lot.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Anthocyanins break down with heat, light, oxygen and rising pH, so store powders sealed in opaque, lined containers in a cool, dry place and keep headspace low. Juice concentrates are typically held frozen or refrigerated per the supplier's spec and used within their stated shelf life once thawed or opened. Extract powders are hygroscopic and cake when exposed to humid air.
Anthocyanin content varies with harvest year, cultivar and ripeness, and it declines in storage, so check each lot's assay and plan usage before the retest date. Record harvest year or production date with the lot and use stock first-expiry-first-out. For concentrates, track cold-chain conditions on receipt and the thaw date.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The USDA organic regulations (7 CFR 205.606) list elderberry juice color among non-organic agricultural ingredients allowed in products labeled organic when an organic form is not commercially available.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 182.20 lists elder flowers (not the berries) among essential oils and natural extractives generally recognized as safe for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · Fort Wayne, IN
Sells it as ElderCraft
US ingredient supplier that sells elderberry juice concentrate, juice powder and extracts, including Iprona's ElderCraft, and lion's mane powder grown by its partner Myzel.
Manufacturer · Hauppauge, NY
US botanical extract manufacturer in New York whose catalog includes ashwagandha, elderberry, maca, lion’s mane and green tea extracts, with alcohol-free glycerin-based versions and standardized grades quoted to customer spec.
Manufacturer · Mollet del Vallès, Spain
Euromed is a Spanish producer of standardized botanical extracts for pharmaceutical, supplement, food and cosmetic companies, with plants near Barcelona and in Murcia. It is part of the Dermapharm Group.
Manufacturer · Prosser, WA
FruitSmart is a Washington State fruit processor that sells juice concentrates, purees, powders and seed products to food and beverage makers. It lists conventional and organic elderberry juice concentrate, and sources fruit not grown locally from approved suppliers.
Manufacturer
Sells it as ElderCraft
Iprona is a European fruit processor with plants in Germany, Italy and Austria that makes juices, concentrates, powders and standardized berry extracts. Its ElderCraft line is a standardized black elderberry extract, and its Lieboch site processes Styrian elderberries.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include juice concentrate, standardized extract powder, fruit or juice powder, liquid and glycerin extracts, dried berries and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect identity, anthocyanin assay, brix, pH and acidity, cyanogenic glycosides, heavy metals, microbiology and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Anthocyanins break down with heat, light, oxygen and rising pH, so store powders sealed in opaque, lined containers in a cool, dry place and keep headspace low. Juice concentrates are typically held frozen or refrigerated per the supplier's spec and used within their stated shelf life once thawed or opened. Extract powders are hygroscopic and cake when exposed to humid air.
The USDA organic regulations (7 CFR 205.606) list elderberry juice color among non-organic agricultural ingredients allowed in products labeled organic when an organic form is not commercially available. 21 CFR 182.20 lists elder flowers (not the berries) among essential oils and natural extractives generally recognized as safe for their intended use.
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