If possible, be sure to prepare birch sap for the winter. This spring drink is not only delicious, but also very healthy.
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Useful properties of the drink
Outwardly, the juice resembles ordinary water and is no different from it. However, an analysis of the vitamin composition suggests that “birch tears” leave many popular fortified cocktails far behind.
The beneficial properties of birch sap are due to its unique composition. It has a lot of trace elements necessary for normal life, phytoncides, essential oils, tannins, vitamins, enzymes and organic acids. Often this clear liquid from birch is called the elixir of health and beauty. Herbalists consider it the best natural remedy for improving metabolism.
And also recommend a sweet drink:
- with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- diseases of the genitourinary system, the presence of stones;
- radiculitis, rheumatism, arthritis;
- bronchitis, tuberculosis, runny nose;
- helminthic invasion;
- headache;
- identified tumors;
- increased blood pressure;
- obesity.
A unique natural fluid is capable of providing indispensable assistance for spring vitamin deficiency, as well as in the fight against seasonal colds and infectious diseases. Juice is often recommended for expectant mothers to drink, as it perfectly improves placental circulation and reduces the unpleasant manifestations of toxicosis. The maximum allowable daily dose during pregnancy is 200 ml.
It is best to eat 30 minutes before the main meals half a glass or just drink instead of ordinary water (but not more than 350 ml per day).Unlike fruit and berry juices with a high acid content, the birch drink is absolutely harmless to tooth enamel, you can take this "elixir" without any fears.
How to collect birch sap
They do this in early spring - from about the second half of March and throughout April. During this period, there are still no leaves on the branches, only the buds are swelling, but the process of sap flow is already in full swing. As a rule, it lasts no more than 3 weeks.
It is better to choose a large tree, with a trunk of at least 20 cm in diameter, growing far from roads and industrial enterprises. At a height of 20–25 cm from the ground, it is necessary to carefully clean the trunk from the bark in the form of a small square and drill a shallow hole (not more than 4 cm). A clear, water-like liquid will start to flow from it. It is most convenient to collect it in a wooden container or glass jars, directing the stream with a straw or straw.
The optimal time of day for collection is from 12 to 18 hours of the day, since during this period the juices move especially intensively.
The hole must be closed and covered with something, for which you can use wax, plasticine, pieces of moss. If this is not done, bacteria can penetrate inside, and the tree itself can become ill and die. This rule cannot be forgotten - nature must be protected.
Long fresh juice is not stored. Even in the refrigerator in a hermetically sealed jar, it can stand for no more than 3 days, then quickly acquires a sour taste and begins to ferment. You can save the drink at home for the winter with the help of conservation. Therefore, if there is a birch grove or forest nearby, it is a sin not to use such a gift from nature.
Classic winter recipe
There are many options for harvesting birch sap for the winter - with dried fruits, and with raisins, and with citrus fruits, and with rose hips. Other additional components can be added to the drink, but for the usual method of obtaining the product, only 3 ingredients are required.
Classic version: 5 l of juice, 625 g of regular sugar, 25 g of citric acid.
Cooking:
- Pour juice into the pan. Heat to maximum and turn off immediately. You do not need to boil, since this affects the vitamin composition badly, and the juice itself becomes not so useful. Be sure to remove the foam, otherwise it will ruin the taste.
- Add granulated sugar and citric acid.
- Pour into sterilized jars and roll up.
You can make such a drink in large quantities.
A good alternative to sweet drinks is caramel birch juice. To do this, follow the standard recipe by adding a few pieces of barberry or pear caramels. A similar drink is enjoyed by children.
With orange and lemon
Birch juice with orange is prepared in the following way:
- Strain 5 l of juice, bring to a boil.
- Cut one orange into slices, scald and arrange in 2 pieces. into pre-prepared and sterilized containers.
- In boiled juice add 1 tbsp. regular sugar and 0.5 tsp. citric acid.
- Stir and reheat to boiling point (nothing more).
It remains only to pour the drink into cans and roll up tightly.
Birch sap with lemon and other citrus fruits is a real vitamin bomb. It is especially useful to drink it in the season of exacerbation of colds. The combination of fruits and “birch tears” is almost perfect.
If there are no such fruits or there is no opportunity to buy them, it is perfectly acceptable to use any other or berries, apples, cherries, pears, currants.
How to make raisins
Recipe with raisins - an excellent option for cooking healthy kvass.
Sequencing:
- Prepare the components. For 2.5 liters of birch sap, take 100 g of raisins and sugar and 3 crusts of bread from rye flour.
- Strain the juice in a jar, add other components. Pull a regular medical glove over the hole and set it on for 3 days.
- Strain again and leave to insist for 2 days.
After that, the drink is ready to drink.
With the addition of dried fruit
Dried fruits can be used any - apples, pears, plums, dried apricots, raisins. It is better that all this is home-made, since the purchased product is often treated with substances that are unhealthy. Therefore, it is better not to use purchased dried apricots and prunes for harvesting.
Cooking:
- Prepare the ingredients: 5 l of juice, 150 g of dried fruit, 2 tbsp. l raisins.
- Strained "birch tears" pour into a suitable glass container. Add the remaining ingredients and mix.
- Tie a hole on top with gauze and put in a dark place to ferment.
- After about a week, strain the ready-made kvass through cheesecloth.
The resulting drink should be bottled and put in a cold place to store.
Cooking with wild rose
A drink with a rosehip is also tasty:
- For 3 liters of juice, you need to take a handful of berries and 150 g of sugar.
- Combine all components, boil and pour into jars.
- Roll up.
This drink is an excellent prophylactic against cardiovascular and seasonal colds, so it can be prepared for future use in large quantities.
As an option, rosehip is able to replace barberry, taken in the same proportions. The drink acquires a beautiful shade and a pleasant rich aroma.
Preserving birch sap is an easy task. Having spent a little time on the preparation of the product, in winter you can enjoy a tasty and healthy drink, strengthening your health. “Birch tears” is a unique product, the use of which brings only benefits. Most of all it is recommended to drink to those people who are engaged in hard mental work.
