For kids, a long-forgotten gummy in a pocket is a hidden treasure. Grownups might not get as excited about a lint-covered gummy, but a fresh elderberry gummy is worth celebrating (or at least eating).
The Best elderberry gummies: In short
Here are our favorite elderberry gummies on the market right now:
The best elderberry gummies are packed with natural antioxidants, polyphenol (including anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant), and other nutrients that can help your body put the hurt on the flu and common cold.
Elderberries have slowly gained popularity as small studies continue to reveal their potential health benefits. While more research is needed, elderberry might:
- counter cold and flu symptoms
- help folks with diabetes control blood pressure (although researchers performed the study on rats, not humans)
- work against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (but this was only for a certain type of elderberry that was tested in cells and not humans)
Elderberry supplements can help you reap elderberry’s possible benefits in an easy-to-eat and simple-to-store gummy. But not all gummies are created equal.
We’re introducing you to our favorite options so you can choose wisely.
How we chose
The supplement industry isn’t afraid to sensationalize their claims, so we made sure that the companies on our list deliver what they advertise. Always watch out for promises that sound too good to be true — they most likely are. Some of the research on elderberries is muddy at best.
Here’s how we filtered out the less reliable manufacturers:
- We put the companies on our list through a vetting process to get the background on company practices and how they’ve performed over time.
- We also considered customer service — if you don’t get the product you want, how does the company respond?
- Formulas that include organic, non-GMO, or all-natural ingredients get extra points for protecting consumers from potentially harmful substances.
- Customer reviews also factored into the list. If you’re not happy, we’re not happy!
Pricing guide
Elderberry gummies aren’t one-size-fits-all when it comes to your wallet. There’s a gummy for every budget, so we’ve rated our choices in the following way:
- $ = under $15
- $$ = $15–$20
- $$$ = over $20
The best elderberry gummies
Here are our picks! They may not be a miracle cure, but they’ll help you get some extra antioxidants and vitamins in ya.
Best elderberry gummies for adults
Nature’s Way Sambucus Gummy
- Price: $$$
- Pros
- light flavor
- pleasurable consistency
- extra zinc and vitamin C
- vegan-friendly and free of soy and peanut allergens
- Cons
- pricey
Nature’s Way Sambucus Gummies have the good stuff, packing 50 milligrams (mg) of elderberry extract plus zinc and vitamin C for an extra immune kick. They only have 2 grams of added sugar, and customer reviews suggest that they’re not overly sweet (while still packing a good texture and consistency).
These delicious little gummies are on the pricier side, but Nature’s Way also keeps gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, and artificial colors out of the picture. Animal lovers will appreciate that they use fruit pectin instead of animal-derived gelatin.
Best elderberry gummies for kids
Zarbee’s Children’s Elderberry Immune Support
- Price: $$
- Pros
- high elderberry content
- good flavor and texture — so kids are more likely to scarf them down
- dosed for children aged 2 years and up
- also provides vitamins A, C, D3, and zinc
- Cons
- small package size
Zarbee’s gives kids a little extra for their immune support, including elderberry extract (duh, that’s why it’s on this list), vitamins A, C, D3, and E, and zinc.
We like that the gummies are made in doses small enough for kids as young as 2 years. The 45 mg of elderberry content (which is pretty high) packs a bunch of natural antioxidants into this formula.
They’re made with pectin rather than gelatin, making them a vegan-friendly option. Plus, according to customer reviews, they taste good, so kids are more willing to take them.
The main downside is that children over 4 years old will have to take two gummies to see the full impact. There are only 42 in a bottle, which means you can go through a single bottle in no time, especially if you have more than 1 child.
Best elderberry gummies for flu
Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies
- Price: $
- Pros
- low sugar
- high elderberry content (50 g)
- includes vitamin C and zinc for added immune support
- suitable for vegans
- Cons
- can leave an aftertaste
The Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies are high in elderberry (50 grams) and low in sugar (1 gram). They’re also fortified with vitamin C and zinc to provide extra defenses against any onsetting flu. Basically, they have more of what your body needs when it’s under attack and less of what it doesn’t.
These yummy gummies are pectin-based, meaning there are no animal products in these chewy mouthfuls. Another win for vegans. They’re also free of gluten, dairy, soy, and artificial colors and flavors. Customers online report something of an unpleasant aftertaste, though.
Best organic elderberry gummies
Garden of Life mykind Organics Elderberry Immune Gummy
- Price: $$$
- Pros
- added ingredients for immune support
- certified USDA organic
- non-GMO verified
- Cons
- pricey
- high sugar content
The Garden of Life gummies give a big no to herbicides and pesticides. Considering their ingredients are mostly plant-based, that’s a good thing. This formula is USDA-certified organic and verified non-GMO (genetically modified), so they’ve been third-party inspected and tested.
The ingredients also include extras like vitamin C, zinc, Aronia berry, emblic fruit extract, echinacea extract, and guava fruit extract.
Yeah, you’re getting some healthy compounds among these ingredients. But these gummies have the highest sugar content on our list. A serving of four gummies contains 7 grams of added sugar. That sugar comes from organic fruit, but it’s still added sugar in your diet.
They’re also one of the more expensive items we’re recommending — so if they’re not in your budget, try a different option.
Best elderberry gummies for families
Zeal Naturals Elderberry Gummies
- Price: $$
- Pros
- dosages available for kids and adults
- contains added vitamin C and zinc
- high elderberry content
- Cons
- third-party tested but doesn’t disclose the identity of the third party
The Zeal Naturals Elderberry Gummies provide 100 mg of elderberry extract in a full adult dose and 50 mg in a child’s dose. And that dosage variation is why this product is our top pick for families.
One gummy is enough for 2 and 3-year-olds and two gummies make up a good dose for everyone over 4 years old. Customer reviews highlighted that a single product used for everyone in the family saved them money and storage space.
This formula also gets high marks for added vitamin C and zinc for a little more immune system support.
However, the product has been tested by a third party, but exactly who this third party was isn’t clear. It’s therefore sensible to take their health claims with a grain of salt. But the list of ingredients is a healthy one, and the dosage of elderberry is pretty high, so it bodes well.
Best bang for your buck
NutraChamps Elderberry Gummies
- Price: $
- Pros
- added antibacterial and nutritional benefits of echinacea and propolis
- high elderberry content
- low price
- Cons
- 4 g sugar
NutraChamps’ elderberry formula has extra ingredients that don’t pop up in many of the other gummies — namely, echinacea and propolis.
Echinacea, a coneflower with possible antibacterial properties, is probably more familiar than propolis. Propolis is pretty much bee glue. Bees make and use it to stick their hives together. But, like echinacea, it might provide antibacterial properties and nutritive benefits.
NutraChamps also offers the highest elderberry extract dose of elderberry out of all the gummies on our list at 200 mg.
The downside? Well, 4 grams of sugar isn’t *too* high, but it’s higher than you might want in a daily gummy.
Shopping tips for elderberry gummies (how to choose)
Elderberry gummies may not be one of the best-known supplements, but there’s still a whole lot of mixes and formulas to sift through. Elderberry extract typically comes with a few extra add-ins to boost their health benefits. So when you’re on the search, here are some general guidelines for finding the right formula.
Product purity
Watch out for unnecessary fillers, extra sugar, and excess gelatin. Make sure the gummies you buy have as much elderberry as possible with a minimal amount of additional ingredients that provide no nutritional value.
Third-party certifications
Third-party testing and certification add credibility and validity to any claims like “all-natural” or organic labeling. However, take a look at what the third party actually tested. If it’s certified organic, that’s great, but it could still have a high sugar content.
Check claims
Supplement companies tend to overinflate their claims (some by a little, others by a lot). Most supplements, including elderberry gummies, aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution to preventing the common cold or any other illness.
There is *some* scientific evidence supporting the benefits of elderberries, but it’s a small body of work that needs more testing. Make sure the product’s marketing doesn’t overplay its hand.
Does an elderberry supplement provide some nutrients and compounds your immune system needs? Yes.
Will they prevent you from ever getting the common cold again? No.
Manufacturer reputation
Check the Better Business Bureau and see if a company lives up to its claims and reputation. We did.
Every company gets complaints, but the kinds of complaints and how they handle them can give you a good idea of their values and business practices.
While some of the companies on our list have gotten complaints (and some a few lawsuits), they’ve used good practices, and none of their complaints have to do with their elderberry gummies.
A quick-fire list of things to look for in your elderberry gummies
Check that your gummies have:
- low sugar
- high elderberry extract
- pectin (plant-derived) versus gelatin (animal-derived)
- additional ingredients like vitamin C and zinc (a bonus, but not absolutely necessary)
The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way as drugs. So you have to be a little savvy to the ways of supplement advertising and be sure to dig a little deeper on those you buy. Elderberry gummies are no exception.
Takeaway
Let’s talk straight: There isn’t a huge amount of research into the benefits of elderberry extract and supplements. These dark little berries might have antioxidants, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. However, how those properties work in gummy form isn’t known.
That being said, these gummies certainly have the potential to fuel your immune system, especially when they also contain other immune boosters like vitamin C and zinc.
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