If birch sap in our region is quite common, then the extraction of nectar from maple is considered exotic. And in vain, because maple juice is not inferior in taste, or maybe even ahead of its fellow, extracted from white trees. Information on how to collect juice, what qualities it has and how to use maple water correctly - in our article.

Composition, calorie content and nutritional value of maple juice

Nature offers people to take advantage of the wealth that is around. In Canada, the unique composition of maple tree sap has long been appreciated and is actively using its properties to enhance health.

Transparent liquid, like all wood juices, is 90 percent plain water. The second component in terms of percentage is sucrose (from 1 to 9%), due to which the drink has a pleasant sweet taste. The amount of sugar is affected by the period of collecting the juice, from which tree it is collected, and most importantly - where this maple grows.

The liquid is also present:

  • vitamin C;
  • B vitamins, tocopherol and retinol;
  • organic acids - more citric, acetic and malic, slightly succinic, fumaric, abscisic;
  • glucose;
  • polyunsaturated fatty acids;
  • minerals - potassium, iron, silicon, calcium, manganese, sodium, zinc, phosphorus;
  • tannins;
  • flavonoids;
  • antioxidants;
  • aldehydes.

In one glass of the drink is almost half the daily rate of manganese for an adult.This element promotes the rapid absorption of nutrients.

Since 100 ml of the drink contains only 12 kcal, it is perfect for diet food.

Benefits for the human body

A large number of vitamins allows using the regular use of the drink to significantly strengthen the body's immune forces. Especially these properties help in the difficult season of vitamin deficiency, which begins with the advent of the calendar spring, as well as during the epidemic of colds.

What else is maple juice useful for:

  • prevents the development of cardiac pathologies, strengthens the myocardium;
  • increases the elasticity of blood vessels, prevents thrombosis, atherosclerosis;
  • improves blood formation, cleanses the blood of toxins;
  • normalizes the functionality of the pancreas;
  • contributes to the treatment of liver and gall bladder diseases;
  • reduces the risk of infections of various nature and oncology;
  • improves the condition with diseases of the urinary system, exerting a diuretic effect;
  • promotes skin regeneration with external use;
  • strengthens bone tissue;
  • reduces the rate of development of neuropsychiatric pathologies - Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases;
  • fights fatigue, energizes;
  • increases resistance to stress;
  • improves potency in men;
  • prevents prostate cancer.

All these properties have fresh juice, not subject to heat treatment. After conservation, most of the healing features disappear.

How and when to collect maple juice

It is important not to miss that short period of time when the trees give the sweetest and healthiest nectar. There is only one to collect, two weeks from the beginning of the swelling of the kidneys to the appearance of the first leaves. If you are late, maple water will become bitter and unsuitable for drinking.

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Increased sap flow is observed on clear sunny days, and when spring frosts appear, it will not work to collect a lot of juice.

In order not to injure the young trees, it is better to choose a maple with a trunk of at least 30 cm in diameter.

The process itself consists of several stages:

  1. At a height of 30 - 35 cm from the ground, a hole is made in the crust with a diameter of 1 - 2 cm, a depth of not more than 6 cm.
  2. Insert wooden or plastic spouts, through which the juice comes out with the help of tubes.
  3. Under the tree put a bowl for juice, which is hermetically connected to the other end of the tube.

In one tree you can make no more than three holes. Of these, about 10 liters of maple water will be collected per day.

To get the maximum benefit from a tasty drink, you need not save time, but go far away the forest. Away from cities, motorways and factories, where there are fewer hazardous emissions into the soil and atmosphere, you can collect juice enriched with useful trace elements.

Application in traditional medicine

For more than three centuries our healers have been using a simple recipe based on maple water. A useful potion is prepared from two tablespoons of syrup (evaporated juice) and a glass of milk. This mixture helps to prevent and treat many diseases.

Among them:

  • gallstone and kidney stone disease;
  • liver pathology;
  • immunodeficiency;
  • asthenia;
  • increased irritability;
  • stress and depression;
  • colds - flu, acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis, pharyngitis;
  • high cholesterol
  • avitaminosis;
  • arterial hypertension;
  • scurvy;
  • frequent vomiting.

Maple juice is also used to strengthen hair. Rinsing with such a natural tonic makes the curls shiny and silky.

Cooking use

A glass of juice will perfectly refresh in the summer heat, give energy and a good mood.

If the natural composition of maple water does not suit you too well, you can prepare original drinks from a clear liquid.

  1. Kvass is obtained after the process of juice fermentation. Water in an airtight container should be put in a warm place.As soon as it starts to roam, you should open the lid and add rye crackers or malt. After standing in an open vessel for another day, the drink is ready to drink.
  2. The invigorating nectar is obtained with the addition of dried fruits. To do this, the juice must be brought to a boil, but not boiled, add a spoonful of honey and your favorite dried fruit. Then leave for 30 - 40 minutes, after which you can enjoy the bright taste of a healthy drink.
  3. A sedative will be obtained if a couple of leaves of mint or lemon balm are thrown into slightly heated juice. The drink normalizes sleep and cheers you up.

So that you can drink maple juice at any time when you want, it is canned.

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The process is very simple:

  1. Bring liquid to 80 degrees on fire.
  2. Pour into sterilized containers.
  3. Pasteurize the drink directly in containers for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Roll up the lids.

Fans of sweets can add sugar at the first stage at the rate of 100 g per 1 liter of drink.

The most famous "maple" product in the world is maple syrup. It is very simple to cook, and the taste of such a treat is especially gentle and pleasant.

To get 1 liter of syrup, you need to take about 30-40 liters of fresh juice and put in a bowl on fire. After all the water (and, as you remember, about 90% of it in the liquid) evaporates, a mass of viscous consistency with caramel color will remain. This is the famous syrup.

It must be stored in a sealed glass container in a cool and dark place.

Maple syrup:

  • goes well with desserts: pancakes, waffles, yoghurts, ice cream;
  • replaces sugar in tea or coffee;
  • part of caramel;
  • suitable for sauce for meat and fish dishes;
  • used when brewing beer;
  • used in vegetable salads;
  • added to cereals and granola.

Can I drink a drink during pregnancy?

The gestation period is not a contraindication to juice intake. It will help the expectant mother and her baby to enrich the body with vitamins and minerals.

But you should be careful in the dosage of the drink, do not drink more than half a glass a day. Refuse the drink will have to those women who have a tendency to increased sugar, as well as with a high tone of smooth muscles of the uterus.

When breast-feeding a baby, a possible allergic reaction to a new product should be considered. Therefore, if you really want to try maple water, you need to do this gradually, carefully monitoring the reaction of the baby.

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Possible harm from maple juice

The determining factor on which the quality of the resulting drink depends is the correct conditions for the collection of maple water. You do not need to do this in environmentally polluted places where the decomposition products of heavy metals, toxins and toxic substances are contained in the soil. Such a drink will do more harm than good.

In addition, in some cases, doctors do not recommend introducing this juice into their diet.

Contraindications are:

  • diabetes;
  • allergic reactions;
  • increased uterine tone during pregnancy;
  • children's age up to 6 months.

And do not forget that the maximum benefit comes from a fresh drink, and not subject to heat treatment.

The benefits and harms of maple juice depend on whether the rules for collecting the product were followed, whether recommendations for the use and dosage of the drink were taken into account. If everything is done wisely, natural nectar will enrich the body with useful vitamins, give a charge of vitality and health.

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