Since childhood, many are familiar with the pleasant, slightly sweet taste of birch sap, which can be safely called one of the most wonderful gifts of nature. Birch sap has been used by people since time immemorial, people appreciated it for its beneficial properties. The juice contains a huge amount of vitamins, mineral salts ( potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, silicon, copper, iron, etc.), acids, enzymes, phytoncides, tannins. And this is not a complete list of useful substances that make up birch sap. Thanks to such a rich composition, this natural product has a complex healing effect on the body.
The benefits of birch sap
Birch sap is low in calories and stimulates metabolism.
It is noteworthy that birch sap can be obtained precisely in early spring, when our body, weakened after a long and cold winter, most urgently needs vitamins. In the course of medical research, it has been proven that taking at least one glass of this wonderful juice a day for 2-3 weeks will help cope with spring vitamin deficiency, fatigue, and depression after winter. In addition, the phytoncides and vitamins that make up the birch sap strengthen the immune system and help the body fight viruses and bacteria.
Such a drink is useful for many diseases of the digestive system, especially for gastritis, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer, in which the use of other fresh juices is limited or completely contraindicated. Birch sap stimulates metabolism, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cleanses the body of accumulated toxins and toxins. Thanks to these properties, the juice helps to lose weight and regain a slim figure, it is used in many diets, since its calorie content is very low (only 24 calories per 100 ml), and its nutritional value is quite high.
Birch sap also has a beneficial effect on the genitourinary system. It is recommended to drink it for urolithiasis and pyelonephritis, as well as inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. The juice is useful for pregnant and lactating women, as it helps to increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood. It is useful to drink birch sap for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, diseases of the nervous system, skin, and joints.
Birch sap is very useful not only to drink but also to apply externally. It perfectly tones the skin, helps to restore its fat balance, cure acne, and get rid of age spots. Masks made from a mixture of birch sap and honey (1: 1) improve skin condition and make it look healthy. Birch sap will help strengthen hair, improve its growth and get rid of dandruff, for this you need to rub it into the scalp and rinse your hair with it after washing.
There is only one contraindication to the use of birch sap - an allergic reaction to birch pollen. There is no such thing as "harm of birch sap" simply does not exist. The amount of birch sap that can be drunk per day is not limited, if desired, it can also make up the entire volume of liquid consumed per day. Doctors believe that for an adult to heal the body, it is enough to drink 3 glasses of juice a day half an hour before meals.
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Can birch sap be given to children?
It is not recommended to give birch sap to children under 1 year old. Despite its harmlessness, you should start adding juice to the baby's diet, guided by all the rules for the introduction of new products. For the first time, you can offer your child to drink no more than 1 teaspoon of juice. In the absence of an allergic reaction, the volume gradually increases, but not more than up to 100 ml per day. Children are advised to give only fresh, recently harvested birch sap.
How to collect birch sap correctly?
Birch sap is collected by making a small hole in the tree trunk.
Birch sap is harvested in early spring, when the buds are just beginning to swell on the trees and sap flow begins (about mid-March), until the leaves bloom. You need to choose a strong tree (trunk diameter of at least 20 cm) with a spreading crown. If you notice damage to the bark on a tree or traces that someone has recently collected sap from this tree, then it is better to choose another. Do not collect more than 1–1.5 liters of sap from one tree, otherwise, it may die.
The most intensive sap flow in trees occurs during the daytime, so it is better to start collecting sap in the morning at 9-10 o'clock. The number of holes that can be made in the barrel depends on its thickness. If the trunk diameter is 20–25 cm, then you should not make more than one cut, 25–35 cm, then you can make two holes, 35–40 - three. Even the thickest barrel should not exceed 4 holes.
When starting to collect, you need to make a shallow cut in the tree trunk or drill a hole 1–1.5 cm deep with a gimbal and insert a tube or groove into it, the free end of which must be directed into a container for collecting the juice.
There is another way to collect birch sap, some consider it less traumatic for the tree. You need to cut off the end of one of the branches, wrap it with a clean rag or bandage, and lower the free end into a prepared container.
After you have collected the required amount of juice, a branch cut or an incision on the trunk must be carefully covered with wax, plasticine, laundry soap, or clogged with moss. This will help prevent bacteria and fungi from entering the tree, which can rot the damaged area and kill the tree.
The collected birch sap can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days. To preserve the juice for a long time, it can be frozen, canned, or made into a drink. For cosmetic purposes, the juice is frozen in small cubes in ice-making containers.
How to prepare birch sap?
Conservation
Like any other sap, birch sap, when preserved, loses some of its beneficial properties, nevertheless, most of the vitamins are still preserved. For preservation, it is necessary to prepare sugar (at the rate of 2 tablespoons per 1 liter of juice), citric acid, and lemons to taste (if desired, they can be replaced with oranges). Lemon (orange) should be cut into thin slices, put in a saucepan with birch sap strained through several layers of gauze, add sugar and citric acid (on the tip of a knife) and quickly bring to a boil. Then the juice is poured into sterilized jars, slices of lemon or orange are placed there, after which the jars must be sealed. After cooling, containers with canned birch sap should be stored in a cool dark place. This method will keep the juice until winter.
Birch kvass
In Russian villages, birch kvass has long been considered a traditional drink. To prepare it, you will need birch sap, sugar at the rate of 50 g per 1 liter of juice, and raisins, if you wish, you can add a little lemon zest. Freshly harvested birch sap must be filtered through several layers of gauze to remove forest debris, add sugar, raisins (5-10 berries per liter of juice) and leave to ferment for three days. Then strain again, pour into clean containers, close tightly, and put in a dark cool place. The resulting birch kvass can be stored for 3-4 months. Thanks to this method of preparation, you will get a deliciously refreshing drink that will retain all the beneficial properties of birch sap.
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