How is birch sap useful for the body? How to collect birch sap: useful tips How to find out whether or not diluted birch sap is

Salads
27.08.2021

Energy value and composition of birch sap. Useful properties and contraindications to its use. How is it harvested and what can be prepared from it? Recipes for drinks and dishes.

The content of the article:

Birch sap is a favorite drink of many, which symbolizes the arrival of spring. The clear liquid (sap), which is released under root pressure, is collected from an incision in the trunk of a tree belonging to the Birch family (Betulaceae) during the period of bud swelling (March-April) before they bloom. Birch sap is popular in Russia, Eurasia and North America, especially in cold regions, North China. Since ancient times, birch has been honored, respected and loved by the Slavs, and today the drink is in great demand in Russian and Ukrainian cities and villages.

Composition and calorie content of birch sap


Since ancient times, birch has been considered a symbol of Russia, and birch sap has been known to us since childhood not only as a delicious gift of nature, but also as a rich source of nutrients that has a complex beneficial effect on the human body. Outwardly, it is difficult to distinguish it from ordinary water, since the juice is colorless, but its chemical composition fully reflects the advantages over the most useful vitamin cocktails.

The calorie content of birch sap is 240 kcal per 1 liter of product, of which:

  • Proteins - 1 g;
  • Fat - 0 g;
  • Carbohydrates - 58 g;
  • Ash - 0.5 mg.
Macronutrients per 1 l:
  • Potassium, K - 273 mg;
  • Calcium, Ca - 13 mg;
  • Silicon, Si - 0.1mg;
  • Magnesium, Mg - 6 mg;
  • Sodium, Na - 16 mg;
  • Phosphorus, Ph - 0.01 mg.
Microelements per 100 g:
  • Aluminum, Al - 1.5 mg;
  • Barium, Ba - 0.01 mg;
  • Iron, Fe - 0.25 mg;
  • Manganese, Mn - 1 mg;
  • Copper, Cu - 0.02 mg;
  • Nickel, Ni - 0.01 mg;
  • Selenium, Se - 0.6 μg;
  • Strontium, Sr - 0.1 mg;
  • Titanium, Ti - 0.08 mg;
  • Zirconium, Zr - 0.01 mg.
In addition, this drink is rich in organic acids, essential oils, phytoncides, tannins, saponins, saccharides and enzymes.

Useful properties of birch sap


Birch sap has a wonderful taste and aroma, but it is also rich in various useful substances, which makes it a necessary drink in the diet of people, especially during the period of its collection, i.e. it is recommended to consume it fresh as a tonic and tonic. It will relieve chronic fatigue, increased drowsiness and lethargy.

Let's take a closer look at the benefits of birch sap:

  1. Boost immunity... The presence of biological enzymes and stimulants in the composition of birch sap helps to strengthen the body's immune forces. For this purpose, it is advised to drink it with milk and the addition of starch.
  2. Fight against colds and infectious diseases... Consumption of birch sap will increase the body's resistance to these diseases due to the large amount of tannins in the drink. In addition, it removes the remains of the decay products of viruses and bacteria from the body.
  3. Normalization of the digestive tract... This drink is an excellent stimulant for the production of gastric juice, which leads to better digestion. It also controls acidity. Regular consumption of fresh birch sap normalizes metabolism, while regulating metabolism in the body, relieves constipation, promotes weight loss, since the drink is also a dietary product.
  4. Lowering blood pressure... Due to the diuretic effect, birch sap will become an indispensable drink for hypertensive patients. The juice is recommended to drink on an empty stomach 1 hour before breakfast, without giving up the use of antihypertensive drugs. A cocktail of birch sap, carrot and beet juice will lower blood pressure. And a glass of fresh drink will relieve swelling in people with hypertension.
  5. Improving kidney and bladder function... Birch sap breaks down stones in these organs, and also flushes sand out of them. Relieves swelling and helps to remove excess fluid from the body.
  6. Respiratory diseases treatment... Birch bead treats cough, sore throat, bronchitis and pneumonia. In addition, it will be beneficial for tuberculosis as well.
  7. Removal of harmful substances from the body... The rich composition of birch sap speeds up the process of removing toxins. In addition, this drink has the ability to purify the blood.
  8. Prevention of vitamin deficiency and scurvy... Regular consumption of fresh birch sap will help with the lack of vitamins after the winter period, at the beginning of spring, and will also relieve fatigue and depression. This is due to the rich composition of this product.
  9. Eliminate headaches... The large amount of glucose and fructose in the juice makes it useful for the brain, and also increases the efficiency of the body. For this reason, it is advised to drink it with great mental stress.
  10. Strengthening the heart and blood vessels... This beneficial property is due to the presence of calcium, potassium and magnesium in the composition. The unique mix of minerals renews the vascular walls and prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
It is also recommended to drink birch sap for gout, pancreatitis, rheumatism, radiculitis, arthritis and varicose veins. It has a preventive effect on cancer. In addition, this drink has an anthelmintic effect and will help get rid of heartburn. Unlike fruit and berry juices, which are rich in acids, birch does not harm the tooth enamel.

Fresh birch sap is useful for expectant mothers at all stages of pregnancy, as it can improve placental blood circulation, weaken the manifestations of toxicosis, and prevent puffiness. Remember that in an "interesting position" you can consume no more than 100-250 ml of birch sap per day.

Outwardly, birch sap is used for diseases such as furunculosis and eczema, ulcers, acne, pigmentation and increased dry skin. It can help treat hair loss, dandruff and non-healing wounds.

Contraindications and harm to birch sap


Despite the large list of useful properties, birch sap can also bring harm. We must not forget about the allergic pollen of the plant that gives such a healing drink. In addition to this, for some ailments, it is not at all advised to use it.

Who needs to refuse the introduction of birch sap into the diet:

  • People with individual intolerance or allergies... Birch pollen is something that can provoke an unhealthy reaction in our body when consuming this drink. 15-20% of all seasonal allergies in the northern parts of the world are associated with it.
  • Suffering from urolithiasis... If you have such health problems, you should drink birch sap, especially fresh, with caution, as it can cause the movement of stones in the kidneys and organs of the genitourinary system, as well as drive the sand out of them.
  • Patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers... For these diseases, diet food and the same drinks are recommended, but juices are not, therefore, this product should be taken with caution.

Important to remember! One glass of the drink (150-350 ml) per day will only benefit the body, so it should be drunk in moderation. However, do not forget that only homemade birch sap is characterized by beneficial biological stimulation, without various chemical additives and preservatives.

When and how to collect birch sap?


It is difficult to say exactly when is the best time to collect birch sap, as it depends on the weather conditions. Birch sap can flow after the March thaw, but the process will stop if frosts suddenly hit.

In general, the "useful water" from birch begins to collect in the spring with the melting of the sap, when the buds swell on the tree, from March to April, and sometimes to May, and stop when the leaves bloom.

To collect birch sap, you should choose trees that grow away from highways and large enterprises, otherwise the sap will contain the entire table of chemical elements and will not be useful. A birch with a thick trunk is best suited (the larger the diameter, the better), growing in an area where the sun shines well.

A hole (5-8 cm) is made on the tree trunk with the help of a drill or brace at a distance of 20-25 cm from the ground. Next, a prepared tube is inserted into the incision and a container is placed under it for collecting juice, which tastes like spring water. It flows best from noon to 5 pm.

Important! The "wound" on the tree must be covered with wax, or it can be hammered in with a peg.

Birch sap drink recipes


Birch sap has a pleasant aroma and excellent taste, moreover, it also contains many useful substances, but it does not stay fresh for a long time. After three days, it already has a sour taste and begins to ferment. Therefore, it is important to know how to close the birch sap.

Delicious drink recipes:

  1. Birch sap kvass with raisins... First of all, we filter 20 liters of juice; gauze folded in several layers is well suited for this. After that, add 1 kg of sugar and 100 g of raisins and leave to infuse for 3 days. Then we filter the kvass, pour it into bottles and put it in storage in a cold place.
  2. Birch kvass with barley... We filter 3 liters of birch sap and put in a cool place for a couple of days. In a dry skillet, fry 100 g of barley until golden brown. Add it to the juice and leave for 4 days. The drink is ready! It will perfectly quench your thirst in hot weather.
  3. ... First, pour the strained juice (5 l) into a saucepan, then add 150 g of sugar and bring to a boil, but do not boil. At the same time, cut 400 g of bread into slices and dry in the microwave or oven. We put them in a saucepan with juice, cover with a lid and leave to infuse for 2 days. The drink is ready. We bottle it and refrigerate it before use.
  4. Kvass from birch sap with dried fruits... We wash with 150 g of dried fruits (it is best to take pears and prunes in the same quantity). Put them in a jar with a capacity of 3 liters and pour 2.5 liters of birch sap. We close the container with gauze folded in several layers, or with a special nylon lid with holes. We put in a warm place for 10-14 days. Warmer in the room - the drink will be ready faster. We bottle the finished product.
  5. Birch sap kvass with honey... We filter 5 liters of juice. In a bowl, dilute 50 g of yeast in 50 ml of warm water. Take 1 lemon and squeeze the juice out of it. Pour birch sap into a container, add lemon juice, 100 g of honey, diluted yeast and 10 g of raisins. We insist the drink in a cool place for 2-4 days.
  6. Carbonated kvass... In a large bowl, pour 20 liters of birch sap into a bottle, add 0.5 liters of dried fruit, a handful of raisins and 1 glass of fried barley (instead of cereals, you can take a crust of black bread, after drying it in the oven). Insist this drink for 1 month in the cold.
  7. Kvass from birch sap for the winter... The drink prepared according to this recipe can be stored in the cellar for the whole winter. First of all, pour the juice into a bottle. Then we put the crusts of rye bread in a linen bag and place it in a container with future kvass for 2 days. After this period, we pull it out. Add oak bark (natural preservative), cherry leaves, various berries and dill. And we insist for another 2 weeks.
  8. Berezovik drink... We need 10 liters of birch sap. We pour it into a large container and put it in a cool dark room for 3 days. Now add 60 g of rye bread crumbs and roasted barley to taste. And we still insist 1 day.
  9. Recipe with birch sap cocktail for kids... With a mixer, mix 2 cups of birch sap, 4 tablespoons of canned fruit syrup and 100 g of ice cream. Before serving to the table, you still need to add the same amount of ice cream to the cocktail.
  10. Birch sap moonshine... We need 15 liters of birch sap, 3 kg of sugar, 100 g of yeast, currant and cherry leaves at our discretion and taste. We warm up the juice a little, add yeast, sugar and leaves to it. We send our dishes with components for a week to a warm place. After this period, we filter the mixture and now we are working moonshine still.
  11. Birch wine ... For this recipe, fresh juice, only harvested, is suitable. Bring 30 liters to a boil, remove the foam. Add 7.5 kg of sugar and 9 g of lemon peel. We cool, pour into a bottle and make an air seal. After 2 weeks, we bottle the wine and put it in the cellar.
  12. Canned birch sap... Pour 7 liters of birch sap into a saucepan, put 3 dry sprigs of mint, 0.5 teaspoon of citric acid and 10 tablespoons of sugar. Before rolling the birch sap, bring the liquid and components to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, while removing the reddish foam. Pour into sterilized jars and seal. Of course, many vitamins are destroyed, but some of the minerals are still preserved. In addition, such a drink is both very tasty and healthier from store-bought sweet water.
  13. Orange Storm drink... Put 5 liters of birch sap on the fire, bring to a boil, remove the foam, add sugar (1-1.5 cups) and add 25 g of citric acid. At the same time, we prepare the jars: we sterilize and put 3-4 orange slices in each (we need 3 pieces). Pour the finished drink into a prepared container, cork and wrap it up.
  14. Lemon Breeze drink... For this recipe, we need the following components: juice, sugar and lemons (you can take citric acid). For a 3-liter jar of birch "liquid" take 1 cup of sugar and 1/3 of a large lemon (or 1 teaspoon of citric acid). So, bring the juice to a boil and add sugar to it. Then we pour it into the prepared one, i.e. sterilized, jar with sliced ​​lemon wedges. Cork and wrap.

Note! Birch sap can be frozen fresh in the freezer, while all its useful substances are preserved.

Birch sap recipes


3-4 days after collection, birch sap acquires a pleasant sour taste, which makes it the basis for a popular cold dish - okroshka.

What and how to cook with birch sap:

  • Urban okroshka... We need the following products: 300 g of boiled sausage, 3-4 cucumbers, a bunch of green onions, 4 eggs, mayonnaise and salt to taste. You need to take such an amount of birch sap so that the dish turns out in density, like a soup. First of all, boil the eggs, cool and clean. Then we wash the onion, chop it, salt and mix well (this will help remove the bitterness from this greens). After that we cut cucumbers, sausages and eggs. Add these ingredients to the onion and season with mayonnaise. Fill with juice and mix well. Our dish is ready. You can add dill or parsley. You need to eat chilled. Piquant taste add 1 tablespoon of non-dry mustard, diluted right in the plate.
  • Rural okroshka... We wash the green onions and dill and chop finely. Add a little salt and crush these ingredients with a pusher or potato press. Chop 1 cucumber and 2 boiled but peeled potatoes finely and add to the herbs. We cut 200 g of doctor's sausage into cubes and send it to a saucepan with already prepared products. Boil 2 eggs, separate the whites from the yolks. Grind the first component and add to the pan. Now we make a dressing for the dish: grind the yolks with 1 teaspoon of mustard, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise and dilute this mass with a small amount of birch sap. We spread this mixture into okroshka, mix and pour in 300 ml of juice, mix well again. Garnish with tomato wedges and dill. Serve chilled.


During the existence of the USSR, in the middle of the 20th century, birch sap was one of the cheapest drinks. One glass cost 8 kopecks. They sold it at 3 liter cans.

The largest amount of "birch tears" was collected in Belarus, in the north of Ukraine and in the middle regions of Russia. The Chernobyl accident and the collapse of the Soviet Union - these two factors influenced the decrease in the production of the drink we are considering.

There is an enterprise called Festival of Birch Sap in the Leningrad Region that sells frozen products.

In Russia, 70 00 tons of fresh drink are collected every year, but the latent potential is 875 505 000 liters. The cost of 1 liter is 50 rubles, and in Japan it will be 60 dollars!

Every year a festival is held in Russia in the Leningrad region. It is used for tasting the product, demonstrating the operation of a juice pipeline connecting about 40 trees, with a collection rate of 7 liters per hour. In addition, event participants and guests can watch the process of evaporation of birch syrup. In the world, this product is produced in a volume of 5000 liters. To get 1 liter, you need 100 liters of juice. Hence its high cost: 1 liter costs $ 90.

The Belarusian cities of Molodechno and Bykhov produce fresh juice, as well as drinks with oregano, rose hips, St. John's wort and thyme.

Aseptic containers preserving beneficial features juice has long been the business card of the Borisov cannery.

In the United States and Great Britain, the popular drink "coconut water" has been replaced by birch sap.

How birch sap is harvested - watch the video:


So, birch sap is a wonderful drink that has many useful elements necessary for our body. It is a wonderful thirst-quenching drink and an excellent healing agent. Due to its taste and aroma, it is a component of many drinks, including alcoholic ones. A cold dish okroshka is prepared on a simple or mineral water with the addition of citric acid, but it will be tastier if you use birch sap. The product can be bought at the supermarket, but one prepared at home will be healthier as it does not contain harmful chemical additives.

Birch sap is a clear liquid that is released from the trunk of a tree under the influence of root pressure when the bark is broken or cut. A tube or small groove is inserted into the incision site, through which the juice flows into a prepared container. After collecting, the place of the incision is sealed with wax so that the tree does not subsequently dry out.

The movement of juices near a birch begins in early March along with the first buds, and the sap is collected for 1.5 months, from early April to mid-May. Besides Russia, this juice is drunk in Scandinavia and North China.

It tastes like fresh spring water, but with sweet woody notes due to the low concentration of natural sugars.

The benefits of birch sap are great, because it contains many minerals, vitamin C, tannins, phytoncides and essential oils. On hot days, it invigorates, quenches thirst thanks to its pleasant light taste and replenishes the supply of mineral salts that a person loses during strong sweating.

Interestingly, in the United States and Great Britain, interest in this drink has increased recently, displacing another popular tonic - coconut water.

Nutritionist Eva Kalinik says: “Birch sap is close to chemical composition, electrolyte balance, potassium and other phytonutrients to coconut water, but its main advantage is in saponins. "

It is the saponins that are responsible for most of the beneficial properties of the original Russian drink.

  • Throat diseases: cough, sore throat. For treatment, it is necessary to take warmed birch sap mixed with milk and starch. It is recommended to drink a glass of this drink daily until recovery.
  • To improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This spring nectar stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and enzymes necessary for normal digestion. Birch sap normalizes stool, relieves constipation.
  • To relieve inflammation in the mouth and prevent tooth decay, you can rinse your mouth with this juice. Are you going to have a glass of juice? Just hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. Unlike many acid-rich fruit juices, this drink does not damage tooth enamel.
  • Helps relieve migraines and headaches.
  • With a cold of any origin, especially a chronic one, you should take a glass of pure birch nectar daily. Natural anti-inflammatory compounds will expel disease from your body in no time.
  • Edema caused by impaired kidney function, stones and sand in the kidneys and gallbladder also surrender under the influence of birch sap. It has diuretic properties, but drinking with such diseases is possible only with the permission of a doctor.
  • If you have already received your doctor's approval, you can drink one glass three times a day, for two weeks, but no longer.
  • Long-lasting healing wounds, ulcers, abrasions must be treated with undiluted liquid. Its beneficial properties help to quickly heal open lesions on the skin.
  • Recommended as a supportive agent for people with anemia and other blood diseases.
  • With a sharp rise in body temperature, a balm of birch sap, sugar, wine and finely chopped lemon helps. All this is required to be insisted in a dark place for three months.
  • Helps to cope with spring depression and vitamin deficiency. To do this, you need to drink a glass of healing liquid daily for two weeks.
  • Birch sap promotes the elimination of toxic substances from the kidneys and liver - European healers knew about this back in the 12th century. To test for yourself its cleansing properties, you need to drink 200 ml every morning before breakfast. The course of treatment will take 4-6 weeks and 6-8 liters of healing fluid.
  • Fresh tree sap is an excellent dietary drink, it contains absolutely no proteins or fats. If you have already started to work on yourself and have lost a few pounds, but then weight stagnation has occurred, include this healthy liquid in the diet.

For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, the drink should be consumed in 1 glass for about a month. A preliminary medical consultation is required!

Cosmetic properties

Rinsing hair with birch sap makes hair stronger, restores the moisture balance of the scalp, and prevents dandruff. You can make a honey-infused lotion and rub it into your hair roots. Also, a mask of birch nectar, brandy and decoction of burdock root helps against hair loss. It is applied for 15-20 minutes, then washed off with warm water.

In Scandinavia, this drink is considered an excellent remedy for nourishing and rejuvenating the skin. With its help, women cope with the first signs of aging.

  1. To get rid of blackheads, you need to apply a mask to the skin, consisting of egg white, birch sap and honey. To prevent acne, wipe your face with undiluted liquid morning and evening.
  2. To preserve the medicinal qualities of the drink, you can freeze it in the form of ice cubes. If necessary, wipe the skin of the face, neck and décolleté with them.
  3. To smooth out fine wrinkles, a cream mask of 2 tbsp is suitable. l. birch nectar, 50 g of sprouted wheat and 200 g of mashed sea buckthorn.
  4. For dry skin, a mask of tree sap and honey in a 1: 1 ratio will be useful.

The listed masks are applied to cleansed face skin, and after 15 minutes they are washed off with warm water.

Healthy drinks based on birch sap

  1. Birch kvass. For him, juice, a few raisins and sugar are mixed in the calculation of 2 tsp. per liter.
  2. Multivitamin juice. The drink goes well with natural citrus juices.
    It is necessary to store the juice in the refrigerator, but not more than two days.
  3. Birch syrup. Obtained by liquid evaporation method. It can be added to compote, tea, or plain water. But finding it on the market is more difficult than, for example, maple syrup.

Harm of birch sap and a list of contraindications

If you like tasty and healthy liquids, you can safely drink birch sap. The benefits and harms of this drink are not equal. Experts assess its negative effect on the body as weak.

This juice can be drunk by adults and children over one year old, healthy and sick. It is approved for pregnant and lactating women, especially those who suffer from edema.

It is impossible to drink birch sap in case of stomach ulcers and allergies to the pollen of birch catkins. A reaction in the form of a rash and irritation on the skin is a good reason to refuse the drink.

If you consume excessive amounts of alcohol, are an active or passive smoker, are under stress, take a lot of medications (such as statins, hypertensives, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone and analgesics), and the body's defenses are running out, do not neglect this wonderful gift nature.

In spring, nature comes to life, and at this time of year, sap flows along the trunk of a birch. The taste is not sweet at all. It resembles water from a spring. But this is a storehouse of useful substances. To get the most out of it, you need to know when to harvest birch sap.

What time of year do they collect

Nobody knows the exact number of when the juice can be collected. It depends on the climate, weather conditions. If the buds begin to swell on a birch tree, you can try to collect a drink. If the kidneys are dry, there is no need to rush.

The sap is usually harvested after the vernal equinox. To find out if he has appeared, you need to come to the forest at the end of March, make a cut with a thin awl. This should be done on the southern side of the tree - this side is more warmed up by the sun. It is better to choose a thick tree. If a drop appears at the incision site, then sap flow begins, you can collect it.

What month is the juice collected? The liquid runs from the end of March to the end of April. First, it appears on birches heated by the sun (at the edge of the forest). Then the sun moves deep into the thicket, distant birches warm up, and you can collect juice from them. Speaking about whether it is possible to collect in the city, it should be remembered that the air is polluted, therefore, the juice may not be useful, but, on the contrary, cause harm or cause allergies. Therefore, the city does not collect liquid from birch.

Important! The air temperature should warm up to 5 degrees. The best time to collect is from 11.00 to 16.00.

If, after warm days, frosts or rains began, then it is better to postpone the hike for a drink. Many people wonder if it is possible to collect juice in May? It is possible, but the taste becomes bitter. Nevertheless, it retains its useful properties. Therefore, we can say that the taste depends on the time of collection, and not only on weather conditions and terrain.

How to collect juice correctly - ways

You need to collect birch sap without harming the trees. The rules should be followed:

  1. Do not make deep cuts with an ax, since the liquid is between the bark and the wood. It is better to take a drill with a drill no more than 1 cm (the bark grows better).
  2. Do not take all the juice from the tree. It is better to collect no more than 1 liter from one tree per day (it is recommended to collect no more than 10 liters from one tree in just a season).
  3. Do not collect liquid from young trees. It is believed that the sap is sweeter from mature birches. You need to choose trees with a diameter of more than 25 cm.
  4. After collecting the juice, drive a wooden plug into the hole. The tree will heal faster.

So, in order to collect correctly, you need to choose a tree with a slight slope (it will be more convenient to install the bottle this way). Three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) you need to come and pick up the drink. If it can be seen that birch gives little product, you should not drill other holes in it, expand what has been done. You just need to change the tree. Usually birch gives 2-3 liters per day.

When it becomes clear that no more liquid can be collected from the tree, you need to help him heal the wound. In order not to damage the tree, you should find an old dry twig with a diameter slightly larger than the drill, plug the hole with it. So the juice will not pour out, but will flow along the branches. Next year, there will be no trace of the hole.

Collection methods:

  1. With a groove. Drill a small hole about 30 cm from the ground. Clean the top layer of bark around the hole so that no dirt gets into the juice. Position the V-groove with an ax at a 45 degree angle. Substitute a bottle (bag, bucket).
  2. Collection without tools. Find an even place on the birch, make a v-shaped incision. Bend the incised bark slightly (to make a hook). Attach a container for a drink.
  3. In packages. Select a thick branch. It should branch out from another thick branch (not from the trunk) to the side, not up. Cut off the end. Attach the container. You can just put the bottles on the branches.
  4. With a dropper. Drill a hole in the birch, clean it. Remove the needle from the dropper, insert the spout. Put a needle on the other end of the dropper, pierce the bottle with it. The dropper will flow into the bottle.

Anyone can choose the collection method that suits them best.

How to store birch sap

Of course, it is best to drink fresh birch sap. You need to drink at least 0.5 liters per day to feel the benefits. In the refrigerator or cellar, it is stored for no more than a month. It is best to store it by freezing it: this way it will retain more nutrients.

Storage methods:

  1. Pasteurization. For 1 liter of liquid, take 150 g of sugar, a pinch of citric acid. Stir everything thoroughly, filter through cheesecloth, pour into jars and boil for 10 minutes. Roll up the lids, put in the pantry. The disadvantage of this method is that sugar and citric acid will change the taste of the juice.
  2. Fermentation. Strain the juice, pour it into a container. Cover with lids and a cloth. Put in a place where the optimal fermentation temperature will be 10-15 degrees for 3 days. The drink may become cloudy. You can store it until mid-summer.
  3. Freezing. Pour the drink into glass bottles and freeze.
  4. A healthy drink. Mix the juice with mint and rose hips. Pasteurize.
  5. Evaporation. Evaporate 5 liters of liquid in an open saucepan. You should get 0.5 liters of syrup with a sugar concentration of 70% (like honey).
  6. Leaven. Add sugar, yeast and raisins to the juice. When it begins to ferment, pour into containers, close tightly with lids, put in a dark, cool place (cellar). Stored for at least three months.
  7. Birch kvass. Take 1 tsp for 0.5 liters of juice. sugar, three raisins, a little lemon zest. Ferment the drink in glass bottles, attach the lid tightly. it folk recipe, patented by the Academy of Medical Sciences.
  8. Birch-coniferous drink. For 50 liters of juice, take 3 kg of pine needles (scalded), heat to 80 degrees, leave for 6-7 hours. Then strain, add sugar, citric acid. Pour into glass jars, pasteurize for 30 minutes at 95 degrees.
  9. Storage in cans. Pour the drink into stainless steel cans. Insert a tube into the lid, plug it with a wooden stopper. Pour well-fried young barley into a gauze knot and place in a can (so that the juice does not turn sour). The juice will change its color and taste (to bread), but it will be tasty and healthy for the liver.

There are a lot of recipes, all of them do not require much effort to prepare.

Birch drink has a positive effect on the body:

  • normalizes digestion: relieves cramps and colic, improves appetite;
  • stabilizes the acidity of gastric juice: a low level of acidity increases, an increased level - lowers;
  • dissolves kidney stones, has a diuretic property;
  • helps with atherosclerosis - cleans blood vessels from cholesterol plaques;
  • has expectorant properties, it can be used for bronchitis;
  • restores metabolism, being a low-calorie drink;
  • treats anemia, increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood;
  • helps with colds: increases sweating, lowers the temperature;
  • treats a runny nose;
  • brings pressure back to normal;
  • fights vitamin deficiency and spring blues;
  • relieves age spots (juice is used externally in the form of a lotion);
  • stimulates hair growth and reduces oiliness;
  • fortifying agent, increases immunity.

The benefits are due to the fact that it contains the following substances:

  • organic acids;
  • tannins;
  • fructose;
  • enzymes;
  • a large amount of vitamin C;
  • mineral elements.

Contraindications:

  • exacerbation of stomach ulcers;
  • exacerbation of urolithiasis;
  • individual intolerance.

Birch sap is used in folk medicine. It helps to get rid of many diseases, improving the general condition of the body:

  1. With anemia, they drink it, mixing it with carrot or apple. Taking 50 ml 15 minutes before meals can increase the hemoglobin level.
  2. To increase immunity, birch drink is mixed with milk in equal proportions and consumed internally.
  3. In case of diseases of the digestive system, they drink 50 ml of pure juice.
  4. Skin diseases are treated with birch lotions and compresses.
  5. To cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, drink 200 ml in the morning before breakfast for 6 weeks.

Important! When treating a cough, birch sap is heated.

Birch sap can be found on store shelves. But assembling it yourself will not be difficult. The main thing is to choose a method that is convenient for yourself that will not harm the tree. Birch sap collected in spring is a very valuable and healthy product.

In spring, villagers drink birch sap, its benefits and harms have been known for a long time. Allergy sufferers who fear tree bloom are considered forbidden sap. For everyone else, this is a delicious vitamin gift from nature. Birch sap signals the awakening of nature after hibernation. Strong roots return useful substances from the pantry to the ground part. The larger the tree, the more juice is required to awaken it. Let's borrow some life-giving moisture from nature.

Characteristics of birch sap

In the spring birch grove in the lowlands there is snow, and the trees standing in the open are already beginning to cry. If in winter someone made a careless tread on a tree, with the beginning of the sokogon, the wounds emit droplets of a transparent sweetish liquid. Life-giving moisture carries a priceless cocktail, nourishing the tree. This is the time when birch sap is collected.

Sap flow in spring begins in many trees. Only birch sap is used and collected on an industrial scale.

People understood that the healing liquid can be drunk by deepening the wound and collecting the flowing moisture. Bereznitsa was mined to quench their thirst, to treat children after a monotonous winter meal. After two weeks of regular use of the juice, people felt a surge of energy. Later it turned out that the benefits of birch sap in a multi-composition, and there is no harm from it to anyone.

However, the concept of environmental safety concerns birch sap in the first place. Could there be healing land along highways, industrial sites or in the city? The roots do not choose the soil, they feed on what they have. In a strip of 50 m from a busy road, birch sap will not be beneficial, and the harm from the presence of lead is guaranteed. It turns out that a medicinal product can only be taken in a clean area.

Sap is collected in early spring, before budding from adult trees, in a section of more than 20 cm.

Taking away the gifts of nature, we weaken. The zealous collector will take a little sap from several trees, cover the hollow, draining the tears of the birch.

The undoubted benefits of birch sap in the composition, per liter:

  • calorie content - 240 kcal;
  • carbohydrates - 58 g;
  • fats - 0.0;
  • proteins 1.0 g;
  • ash - about, 5 mg.

Micro and macronutrients are present in the liquid in a ready-to-digest form. A waste-free dietary product, biochemical composition acts as a therapeutic and prophylactic device of a wide spectrum. There are no absolutely healthy people. What birch sap is useful for is its versatility. It can be drunk as a preventive, vitamin, stimulant. The body itself will find a use for the valuable composition.

It is most useful to use fresh not canned juice when biochemical processes are active. You can store a healing drink in the refrigerator for 2 days.

How is birch sap treated?

In folk medicine, taking a delicious drink three times a day for 2-3 weeks is prescribed to cleanse the body:

  • with diseases of the heart and hematopoietic system;
  • Gastrointestinal tract, including ulcerative diseases;
  • arthritis, gout, rheumatism;
  • for the treatment of external diseases.

To get rid of rashes and age spots on the face, it is enough to wash with healing liquid in the morning.

Treatment with birch sap is seasonal, you need to seize the moment and be close to the source of strength and health at the right time. Save healing properties composition is possible if you freeze the liquid immediately after collection. All methods including heat treatment, biologically active substances are taken out of circulation. In the canned product, trace elements remain, the beneficial effect of such a product will be, the therapeutic one will not.

Juice can be preserved by evaporation in a water bath at a temperature of 60 0 С, removing 75% of the water. The remaining syrup is rolled into sterilized jars.

The question is often asked whether it is possible to use birch sap for a nursing mother during pregnancy. The life-giving liquid does not contain allergens, and doctors recommend recharging the body with a biological activator. In addition to saturation with useful substances, the drink is a diuretic, removes fluid from the body, reduces puffiness. During pregnancy, a drink is necessary; when feeding, the mother's body receives protection and nutrition.

Some simple recipes juice applications:

  • anemia - drink 100 g of juice 3 times a day;
  • to remove stones from the kidneys, drink juice in a glass 3 times a day;
  • bronchitis is cured by drinking juice with honey;
  • the drink removes toxins and poisons.

We just need birch sap, its benefits and harms are obvious. But taking care of your own health can destroy the tree.

Kvass from birch sap is prepared in a glass bottle with a handful of raisins and 2 tsp. sugar per liter of drink. Close the bottle tightly and keep it cool. You can use the drink after 2-3 months, or after a few days.

The correct techniques for collecting birch sap

The best juice will come from a birch tree standing on a hillock. The bark of the tree should be white and black, which means that the tree is mature. Such a tree will yield up to 6 liters of juice per day. If the sap is taken during the entire period, the tree will weaken without receiving nourishment. Multiple trees must be used, sealing the cuts after use. Creating a groove 2 cm deep with moisture extraction through a tube is the most gentle option.

The beneficial properties of birch sap are preserved until it ferments. Therefore, the container must be emptied daily by the collector.

The most gentle selection of healing liquid will be a method based on cutting a branch. At a level of 2 meters above the ground, a thick branch is cut off, a container for collecting juice is arranged. An open wound drains out of juice, which must be collected, and the wound will heal within two weeks. The wound medicine will deliver the juice.

For industrial gathering, felling areas are used, set aside for felling. In this case, it is not scary to pre-dry the tree. Currently, there are few juice processing enterprises left, it is a success to buy such a product.

Video about the benefits of birch sap

7

Health 04.04.2019

One of the most popular cults of the ancient Slavs was the worship of birch: people turned to it with prayer, made healing infusions from leaves and buds, and cured diseases with juice. This sacred tree is the patron saint of women. The beginning of spring is a great time to go to the forest, collect tasty and healthy birch sap, and recuperate after a long winter. Today, dear readers, we will talk about the benefits and possible harm birch sap for our body, we will learn what is right to collect and use it, how to preserve it and much more.

From childhood, I also have memories of going to the forest for birch sap, and I even remember the store where my mother and I bought it in three-liter glass jars. Oh, what a taste it was, a taste of childhood ...

And remember how in the song of Benjamin Basner from the movie "The World Guy" it is touching and very tenderly sung:

As soon as the snowdrop blooms on time,
As soon as the first thunderstorms approach,
Juice appears on white trunks -
Either birch trees cry, now birch trees cry.

This is a real spring elixir, easy to digest and beneficial to the body. It is considered a diet drink and is good for refreshing.

The composition of birch sap is unique and diverse, it includes a large number of useful substances:

  • Organic acids (citric, malic, etc.);
  • Sahara;
  • tannins;
  • phytoncides;
  • essential oils;
  • vitamins of group B, C;
  • mineral complex (potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, etc.);
  • saponins;
  • betulol.

The density of birch sap ranges from 1.0007-1.0046 g / ml, the dry matter content is 0.7-4.6 g / l, and the total amount of sugars is 0.5-2.3%. The composition of birch sap will vary greatly depending on the condition of a particular tree and its growth zone.

Birch sap is colorless, transparent. The taste is slightly sweet, very pleasant. All its components are easy to digest. There are no proteins and fats in the product, there are only carbohydrates.

Calorie content

The calorie content of the juice, with all the variety of its composition, is low: per 100 g - only 24 kcal. It is a very light, refreshing drink and does not cause allergies. Due to its lightness and "openness", birch sap can be perfectly combined with other juices.

Did you know that in Finland birch sap is going to be equated in value to aloe vera extract? Are cosmetic brands in Japan and Sweden increasingly incorporating it as an ingredient in their products?

The Indians used birch sap as a remedy for arthritis and other joint problems. In Korea, it is used to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and it can also reduce migraine attacks.

The benefits of birch sap for the human body

Having full information about the composition of birch sap, you can effectively use it in the treatment and prevention of certain diseases. Let's talk further about how birch sap is useful, about its beneficial properties for our health.

Useful properties of birch sap

  • Improves digestion and metabolic processes. Does not irritate the mucous membranes, it can be taken for ulcers and gastritis;
  • removes toxic substances, helps to cleanse the kidneys and liver;
  • helps in dissolving salts. Removes sand, kidney stones. Cleans the bladder. The juice is used for urolithiasis - a monthly course of 1 liter every day;
  • in combination with a diet, it helps to reduce weight;
  • stimulates the intestines, relieving constipation;
  • good for joints. Drink for arthritis, radiculitis, rheumatism;
  • stimulates the immune system, helps to resist colds and infections;
  • helps to lower blood cholesterol levels;
  • in folk medicine used to treat the respiratory system; Used for bronchitis, asthma. There is evidence that birch sap helps with tuberculosis;
  • as a remedy against dehydration, it helps with fever. Used for tonsillitis, flu, acute respiratory infections;
  • has a diuretic effect. Helps well with edema;
  • bioactive substances give the juice an antitumor effect;
  • has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic process;
  • the regenerating action is used for external use. Treat wounds, ulcers, boils, eczema;
  • used in cosmetology. Removes blackheads, pigmentation, tones the skin of the face. Moisturizes dry skin. Strengthens hair roots and removes dandruff.

Also, birch sap has a general strengthening effect, therefore it helps to get rid of migraines, loss of strength, depression. But take a close look at the contraindications, we will talk about them below.

Birch sap is low in calories and healthy for metabolism, which is appreciated by many athletes. There is evidence of the benefits of birch sap for combating inflammation of the oral cavity. It also began to be used to prevent tooth decay.

Let's hear what doctors have to say about the benefits of birch sap.

When birch sap is harvested

When can you collect birch sap? The period of movement of juices is the end of March and April. This process depends on the latitude and weather conditions. The main thing here is the beginning of a stable thaw.

The collection of birch sap continues until the first buds appear. For the entire period of juice circulation, a birch tree is capable of producing 3 - 6 liters of life-giving moisture. The volume depends on the size, age and place where the birch grows.

How to collect birch sap correctly?

Collection time

It is better to organize the gathering during the daytime - from 10 to 18 hours. It is then that the juice flows most actively. Avoid picking up from trees near roads and large settlements. It is ideal to find an ecologically clean place where birch cannot take anything bad from the soil.

A little test before collection

You should choose a tree of medium size (at least 20 cm in diameter) - not very old and not very young, so as not to harm. First, you should conduct a small test to understand that this birch is ready to share its wealth with you. At a height of at least 20 cm from the ground (optimally half a meter), make a neat puncture of the bark with an awl and see if drops of juice appear. If this does not happen, choose a different birch.

When you see drops on the bark, you can proceed directly to collecting the juice. There is no need to try to extract all the sap from one tree - it is better to collect it from several birches.

Remember that 1–2 liters is the amount of sap that one healthy birch tree is ready to lose per day without consequences (depending on its size). A large amount of collected sap can lead to a negative effect, up to the death of the tree.

The collection of the juice itself

There are several ways to competently collect juice, but not one does not involve the active use of an ax! By making impressive breaks in the bark, you cause irreparable damage to the plant. Such a birch will not only no longer give sap, but may dry out soon.

Therefore, the use of an awl, drill or knife is recommended. The depth of the hole that needs to be made is about 3 cm. It makes no sense to make it anymore, since the juice moves between the bark and the wood. To make the juice flow smoother and in the right direction, an additional device is inserted into the hole. It can be a cocktail or drip tube, or from “natural” options, a groove made of dry grass or bark. The point is that the juice flows directly from the hole into your container, and does not disappear, going down the bark.

What container to use

You can use a plastic bottle with a narrow neck or a jar as a collection container. They need to be tied securely to the tree just below the hole.

The process of collecting juice itself takes place without the constant participation of a person, however, it is necessary to periodically visit the birch tree in order to have time to remove the container filled with juice and replace it with a new one. See how fast the juice is going and calculate the approximate time. It is ideal to observe the process every 3 hours.

After collecting the juice

After the sap is collected, remember to take care of the tree. The hole you made should be carefully plugged with moss or a peg, or covered with garden varnish or wax. This will help the tree recover from fluid loss as soon as possible.

There are several tricks for successfully collecting birch sap, known since Soviet times, when this activity was very popular:

  • it is worth choosing an older birch, as its juice is sweeter and richer;
  • it is better to make an incision on the north side of the tree, there is a stronger sap movement;
  • it is better to start harvesting in the southern parts of the forest - there the juice appears faster.

I suggest watching a video, where everything is clearly shown how to properly collect birch sap.

How to take birch sap

Birch sap is good for almost everyone. It is easily absorbed, does not lead to allergies, tones up. And drinking fresh juice is very easy. It is enough to take a glass of juice three times a day on an empty stomach. It is recommended to drink it 30 minutes before meals. The preventive course is about a month. But you can drink a little and without a clear system, if you are healthy.

As a tonic and cleanser, this juice is drunk with acute respiratory infections. Then it is heated quite a bit.

Compotes and jelly are cooked with birch sap. It can be added to various cereals. But, in my opinion, it is best to drink it fresh. In Canada and the USA, syrup is made on its basis.

The use of birch sap in traditional medicine

Folk recipes, which include birch sap, are very popular and are considered effective in the treatment of many diseases. Here are some recipes:

  • for the treatment of anemia and enlargement: mix birch, apple, beetroot and carrot juices in equal proportions, take 50 ml 3 times a day;
  • for the treatment of colds: birch sap along with rose hips and lemon juice(1: 1 ratio) increases sweating, thereby helping the body fight the symptoms of the disease;

Birch sap copes well with many cosmetic problems, and for this it is not only consumed internally, but also externally. It improves skin tone and treats skin diseases (psoriasis, acne, age spots), prevents hair loss.

  • Birch ice helps to preserve youth and. It's easy to prepare: just freeze birch sap in special ice cube trays and wipe your face and décolleté.
  • A nourishing mask based on birch sap helps to saturate the skin with vitamins, moisturize, and improve skin color. Wipe your face with a swab smeared with vegetable oil... Then take a mixture of birch sap, sour cream and honey and apply it on your skin for 15 minutes.
  • For hair, birch sap can be a medicine not only against hair loss, but also against dandruff. You can simply rub it into the scalp without rinsing, or prepare a mask: mix birch sap, honey and castor oil in a 5: 1: 1 ratio, apply to hair and keep for 20 minutes.

A slight cosmetic effect will be noticeable even if you simply wipe your face with birch sap, like a lotion, and, of course, take it internally.

Harm and contraindications

The benefits and harms of birch sap are not at all equivalent. The harm from it is minimal and belongs to several contraindications.

It is imperative to consult a doctor if there are kidney stones. The same goes for bladder stones. The juice can cause stones to move.
In some cases, birch sap is not recommended for stomach ulcers. A very small percentage of people are allergic to birch pollen. Here juice may also be contraindicated. Children are given birch sap after a year. With diabetes mellitus, birch sap should be taken with water in a 1: 2 ratio.

How to store birch sap

Of course, the biggest benefit comes from fresh birch sap that has just been harvested. To preserve the beneficial properties of this drink for a longer period, the effect of factors such as light, oxygen and temperature must be taken into account.

Storing the collected juice

The juice is best kept sealed in a glass container in a cool dark place, the shelf life is 3 days. Then the juice begins to ferment, actively losing its benefits, and you should think about its conservation. There are 2 main ways to preserve juice:

Juice preservation without added sugar

The taste of this juice will be more natural, and the benefits will be more pronounced. Filter the collected juice through cheesecloth, separating from the pieces of bark and wood that usually come across there. In an enamel saucepan, heat to 80-90 degrees.

The juice should be poured into clean, sterilized jars and immediately rolled tightly. After wrapping the jars with a blanket, leave to cool completely. The drink should be stored in a cool place, consumed within six months.

With added sugar

Such a drink will have a sweetish flavor. As in the first case, filter the juice through cheesecloth and heat. When you see that a yellowish foam has appeared on top, remove it and remove the juice from the heat, without bringing to a boil. For each kilogram of juice, add a tablespoon of sugar and citric acid on the tip of a knife. Roll up like in the previous recipe.

You can prepare many simple, tasty and healthy drinks that contain birch sap.

Birch kvass

Take 2 liters of juice, add 1 tablespoon of raisins and 100 g of sugar. Leave in glass jar in a dark, warm place for three days, allowing it to wander. Then strain the mixture and the kvass is ready. Store it in the refrigerator.

Birch sap kvass with bread

For 1-2 days, insist 3 liters of fresh birch sap in the refrigerator. Cut 200 g of black (best of all Borodino) bread into small cubes. You can fry them in the oven or in a skillet. Pour croutons into a glass container and pour birch sap (it is advisable to preheat it a little). The juice should be about 20'C. Add 0.5 cups granulated sugar and mix everything thoroughly.
Cover the container with gauze and leave in a warm place for 3-5 days. Then ready drink strain.

Birch sap kvass with raisins

Heat the juice to 35`С. Take 20 g per liter of juice fresh yeast, three berries of raisins. Lemon zest is often added. The container is tightly closed and placed in the dark. Kvass is suitable for one and a half to two weeks.

Birch sap with honey

Birch sap with honey - tasty combination, which allows you to keep all the beneficial properties of the juice for a long time. You will need 5 liters of birch sap, 30 g of honey, 25 g of fresh yeast and 15 raisins. Put the mixture in a dark place for 2 weeks, after this time you can use it all summer.

Birch lemonade

Birch Lemonade is a refreshing drink full of vitamins. For 4 liters of juice, take 2 large lemons and 14 tablespoons of sugar. Cut the lemon into slices, pour over the juice and cover with sugar, boil the resulting mixture and let it brew for 3 hours. After straining and chilling the lemonade, you can drink it all summer long if you store it in the refrigerator.

Health drink

For 3 liters of birch sap, you need to take 2-3 tablespoons of sugar, add 1/3 teaspoon of peppermint + 1/3 teaspoon of oregano + 1/3 teaspoon of thyme + 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid and 1/2 teaspoon spoons of St. John's wort, bring to a boil and preserve in a prepared dish (roll up the boiled lid in a sterilized jar with a ready-made drink poured into it).

Poems about winter as a mirror image of the Russian soul