Sambucol vs. Popple Tree Creek Farm Elderberry Syrups
- Benjamin Machlitt
- Jan 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 26
Understanding What’s Really in Your Elderberry Syrup
When customers ask us how our elderberry syrup compares to larger, national brands, we understand the question. From the outside, many elderberry syrups look similar, but once you look at ingredients, process, elderberry type, and how elderberry content is measured, the differences become clearer.
This post isn’t about saying one product is “better.” It’s about explaining how elderberry syrups can be made very differently, and why those differences matter when you’re choosing what to take.
Two Different Approaches to Elderberry
Sambucol
Sambucol is a well-known black elderberry supplement brand. Their products are formulated for consistency, long shelf life, and standardized dosing, and are widely available in stores.
Popple Tree Creek Farm
At Popple Tree Creek Farm, we grow, harvest, and process American elderberries (Sambucus canadensis) right here in northern Minnesota. Our elderberry syrup is made in small batches using whole-food ingredients, with minimal processing.
Both approaches are valid. They’re just designed for different priorities.
Ingredients: A Simple Comparison
Sambucol Elderberry Syrup ingredients (as listed by the brand):
Elderberry extract/concentrate
Glucose syrup
Purified water
Citric acid
Potassium sorbate (to retard spoilage)
Popple Tree Creek Farm Elderberry Syrup ingredients:
American elderberry juice
Local honey
Citric acid
We keep our ingredient list short on purpose. Our goal is to make an elderberry syrup that feels like a food, not a formulated supplement.
American vs. European Elderberries
One important difference is the type of elderberry used.
Sambucol uses European black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), which is commonly used in extracts,concentrates and supplements.
We use American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), a native species traditionally used in syrups and foods in North America. American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is valued for its higher antioxidant density and deeper phytochemical profile compared to European elderberry. It contains elevated levels and unique ratios of compounds such as cyanidin-3-sambubioside, cyanidin-3-sambubioside-5-glucoside, and key phenolic acids, contributing to its rich color, robust flavor, and more durable antioxidant activity.
We’ve written more about this in other posts, but the key takeaway is that these are different species with different traditional uses, especially when comparing extracts to juice-based syrups.
How Much Elderberry Is Actually in the Syrup?
This is one of the most confusing parts of comparing elderberry products, because brands measure elderberry content differently.
How We Measure Elderberry
In our syrup, the elderberry comes from real, pressed American elderberry juice.
Based on how our syrup is made, each serving contains approximately 9,500 mg (9.5 g) of elderberry, measured as whole-berry juice, not an extract or powder.
This number reflects what’s actually going into the pot when we make our syrup.
How Sambucol Measures Elderberry
Sambucol reports elderberry content using extract equivalency, which is standard for supplement products.
On their website, Sambucol states that their syrup can provide up to 16,720 mg of black elderberries per day at maximum (intensive) use. This figure represents total daily intake across 4 servings, and it reflects the amount of elderberry used to create the extract, not whole berries in the bottle. Meaning that one serving actually contains the "equivalent" of 4,180 mg (4.18 g) of elderberry concentra.
Because extracts are concentrated, these numbers are calculated very differently than juice-based measurements.
Why These Numbers Aren’t a Direct Comparison
Seeing milligram numbers side by side can be misleading if you don’t know how they’re calculated.
Extract-based products concentrate specific compounds and report equivalent berry weights.
Juice-based products, like ours, reflect the amount of real elderberry used without concentrating or isolating components.
A simple way to think about it:
Extract measurements answer the question: “How concentrated is this supplement?”
Juice measurements answer the question: “How much real elderberry went into this serving?”
With juice you get you get real elderberry juice.
With concentrates/extracts you supposedly get the equivalent to the amount of juice. The issue here is that there is now rule or regulation on what the "equivalent" is and the way to get the concentrates/extracts is unnecessary processing usually involving excessive heat which we all know degrades the beneficial properties of elderberry.
Shelf Life, Storage & Packaging
Sambucol
Designed for long shelf life
Shelf-stable for extended periods
Optimized for retail distribution
Popple Tree Creek Farm
1 year unopened when stored in a cool, dark place
Refrigerate after opening
Best used within 60–90 days once opened
Can be frozen for up to 6 months
Bottled in glass, not plastic
We choose freshness and minimal processing, even though it means a shorter window once opened. And we specifically use glass bottles for quality and recyclability.
Choosing What’s Right for You
If you’re looking for a shelf-stable, lower potency, proccesed supplement-style elderberry product, a brand like Sambucol may fit your needs.
If you’re looking for an elderberry syrup made from American-grown berries, real juice, high potency, simple ingredients and more real American elderberry per serving that’s what we focus on here at Popple Tree Creek Farm.
Understanding how each product is made makes it easier to choose the option that aligns with your values, whether that’s convenience, consistency, freshness, or sourcing.
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