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

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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.

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Episode Transcript

Spea (00:04):
Welcome back to Fabulously Revisit Sunday, where we take a
fascinating plants, ingredientshearts and our taste buds.
Of course, here in France.
Today we're revisiting a trulyenchanting plant, the black
Elder, known in French asSorelle Noire.

(00:27):
From its glossy, dark berriesits long history steeped in
Black Elder is far more thanjust a pretty shrub in the
garden.
Well, we'll explore its originsacross Europe, its culinary
uses, from jams and cordials tothe world famous French liqueur

(00:48):
Saint Germain and its magicalreputation that has inspired
stories, myths and even wands inpopular culture.
So settle in as we dive backNoire Noir, uncovering its
delicious uses once more, thisfew new surprises along the way.

(01:20):
Black elder is known in FrenchIt's pronounced suru s u r a
noir n o I r. The botanical namefor black elder is Sambucus
nigra, and it's a member of theAsteraceae family, or almost all

(01:42):
family.
Nigra in Latin means black, andof the berries of the plant.
The English elder comes not fromcomes from the Anglo-Saxon old,
This was because the hollowblack elder were often used to

(02:07):
Common names include elderEuropean elderberry, and
well as elder flower, which weIt's native mostly to Europe and
There are also varieties thatcan be found in North America
that are closely related to thespecies of, specifically of

(02:29):
black elder.
It's been introduced to manyBlack elder can grow in both wet
will prefer sunny spots.
It's pretty much grown as anin most parts of the world.
It's a deciduous shrub, dethe leaves will change color and

(02:54):
bare bush over the winter, onlybe a full shrub scrap again.
In summer it can grow up to sixmeters or twenty feet tall and
wide.
It can also rarely grow as highas ten meters or thirty three
feet tall.
It has a light gray bark thatolder the plant is.

(03:22):
The flowers of the elderberrythat they have both stamens and
they're basically bisexual.
Both male and female flowers onUsually its flowers are ivory
done by flies.
Its fruits are a glossy darkproduced in late autumn.

(03:46):
Both the flowers and the berriesof the herb are used in culinary
terms as well as in traditionalmedicines.
In the first century, Pliny thefight against excess mucus.
So did the Greek doctor Galen.
In the second century,Charlemagne decreed the Black

(04:09):
Elder be planted throughoutIsrael, and may have linked the
elder tree to Judas and Jesus'scross.
In fact, the Black Elder couldnot be used for firewood because
of this sacred reference that itwas associated with Celtic
musicians.
See the black elder shrub as atree that is associated with
death.
Druids made flutes with thethe flutes, believing that they

(04:35):
of the dead.
They would also play songs asIn pagan Europe, Black Elder was
A nymph named Hild Ma elderthe tree as a caretaker if the
taken for furniture.
The folklore of the time saidwood into the home and torment

(05:02):
History.
The black elder was used inJohn, and would also be nailed
protect against bad fate.
There was a belief that burningthe wood would dry up a cow's
milk or even breast milk, andsleeping under a black elder
tree would expose you to eroticdreams.

(05:26):
Hans Christian Andersen wrote aMother, referring to a child
Harry Potter books, the wandsaid to be the most powerful
Hey furry friend!Loving the stories on Fabulously
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(05:47):
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Black elder is good food fordeer, elk, sheep, and many small
birds.
In fact, the fruit are animportant source of food for

(06:10):
many birds, including theblackcap.
Blackcaps have a very loud, highpitched crescendo when they sing
and live in southern parts ofthe UK, most of France and parts
of Spain.
They breed, though throughoutparts of Africa.
In the garden, the leaves of theblack elder plants can be used

(06:30):
in compost to accelerate thedecomposition process.
Gardeners also used them as aleaf manure to help organic
gardeners to fight mildew andaphids, as well as repel
rodents.
Although black elder has beentraditional medicine, there is
it provides any benefit fortreating any diseases.

(06:55):
Obviously, to many people,you'll know the elderberry Berry
cordials and wines when theythink of black elder and
cuisine.
The berries are poisonous intheir raw state, so they are
only edible after they've beencooked.
In many cuisines in Europe, theyare used to make jams or
confiture, jellies, chutneys andeven sauces.

(07:16):
Germany and some Scandinaviancountries make a soup from black
elder.
Elderflower cordial orelderflower presse is made from
the flowers of the plantusually, but you can also dip
the flowers in a light butterand fry them to make elderflower
fritters.
In France, the very popularliqueur Saint-Germain is an

(07:36):
elderflower liqueur.
It's made using the petals ofthe flowers from the black
elder.
St-Germain is from the Savoieand each bottle of Saint-Germain
petals were collected.
The petals collected annually inaround two to three weeks, and

(07:57):
collection points to avoidSaint-Germain was created by
distiller Robert Cooper after hetried an elderflower cocktail in
a London bar in two thousand andone.
Saint-Germain was named afterDupre and was launched in two

(08:18):
The founder, Robert Cooper, soldsadly, Robert Cooper died at the
French Republican calendar, theApril, which is the ninth month
called Elder Day.

(08:38):
I mentioned the short story ofnoted Black Elder.
Here is the start of that story.
Once there was a little boy whoHe caught a cold.
Nobody could understand how itwas very dry.
His mother undressed him, puturn brought in to make him a

(09:03):
For that keeps one warm.
At the same time there came inlived all alone on the top floor
He had no wife, no children ofhis own, but he was very fond of
all the children, and knew somany wonderful stories and
tales.
It was fun to listen to him.
Now drink your tea, said thelittle boy's mother, and then

(09:24):
perhaps there'll be a story foryou.
And that's a wrap for thisHave you heard of the surreal
What's the most fabulous thingWhether it's for fun fact, a

(09:44):
appreciation for French cuisine,Slide into my DMs on Instagram
at Adrienne Fabulously and let'sconnect!
Chat about French herbs, Frenchfood, or anything else that's
delicious food conversations arealways good.
It's one of the best ways tobring people together, don't you
think?
If you enjoyed today's episode,don't forget to share it with

(10:06):
your friends, family, or anybodywho loves French food as much as
we do.
Your support means the world anddelicious journey going.
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It helps more foodies discoverThank you so much for joining
Your love for French foodculture inspires every episode

(10:28):
of Fabulously Delicious, and I'mso glad to have you along for
the ride.
Remember my motto whatever youMerci beaucoup.
And until next time, revoir.