Birch sap began to be especially popular in the middle of the last century in the territory of the former USSR. Now in the post-Soviet space they talk about it much less, but this product is in great demand in the USA and European countries.
Thus, many cosmetic brands in Sweden have introduced it into their products, in Finland its beneficial properties are compared with the properties of aloe vera, and in South Korea, medicines have been developed based on it to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and migraines. In addition, in the United States, birch sap has recently replaced another popular natural tonic - coconut water.
Birch juice
Many people collect birch sap when it is time for plants to flow sap, and when people are in the season of colds and vitamin deficiency. Now no one doubts its usefulness; even in the European Union and America, the production of drinks based on birch sap has been launched. It is drunk by advanced wellness practitioners in Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Canada, USA, England, Japan, and China.
For many residents of these countries, natural birch sap is an exotic drink, just like coconut water is for us. But they have already figured out the usefulness of exotics, and the consumption of birch sap in these countries is increasing every year. Once upon a time, our citizens, entering the “Juice and Water” departments of stores, could freely drink a glass of birch drink, which was in 3-liter bottles on the windows of all commercial food enterprises. Now those who collect it with their own hands can enjoy a free drink.
Parks and nature reserves will not be suitable
According to the law, birch sap cannot be collected in city parks and forest parks, in places of public recreation, in dendrological parks and botanical gardens. And also in historical and cultural reserves, memorial parks, in habitats of wild animals and wild plants included in the Red Book. These restrictions also apply to the areas of sanatoriums, holiday homes and healthcare institutions. So if you have set your sights on a pleasant forest surrounding a suburban department of a hospital, then be prepared to pay a fine.
How to collect correctly
To collect fresh sap, trees are chosen that grow far from highways and industrial enterprises. The time for collection comes in the spring after the first thaw, before the buds on the tree begin to swell. Collect the sap in such a way as not to damage the tree. To do this, select birch trees whose trunk diameter has reached 40 cm. At a height no higher than human height, a hole is made on the southern side of the tree using a 2 mm nail or screw. To do this, take the appropriate tools with you into the forest - pliers for driving and pulling out a nail, a small brace or a battery-powered screwdriver for drilling a hole using a 3-4 mm screw.
The depth of the hole is on average 2-3 cm, the angle of inclination is 20-30°. After sap begins to ooze from it, the hole is washed with water brought from home to cleanse the tree’s wound from sawdust. Then a long plastic cocktail tube with a curved end or a needleless tip of a medical dropper is inserted into it. Collecting sap using a dropper does not harm the tree. In addition, stainless steel tubes with rubber hoses stretched over them are often used. A hole of the required diameter is drilled for them.
In the caps of bottles intended for collecting juice, holes are first made with a diameter equal to the outer dimensions of the cocktail or medical tubes. The free ends of the tubes are threaded through these holes and inserted into the bottles. The lids are screwed on. The bottles are tied or taped to the tree. After the collection is completed, the tubes through which the natural fresh drink flowed are removed from the tree. Tree wounds are covered with either pine resin or garden pitch. Some pickers hammer a dry peg into the wound of the tree, which swells and seals the hole in the birch.
The benefits of water for the human body
Collection rules
Transparent drops appearing from cuts in the bark in the spring and have a slight sweetish taste - this is the famous birch sap, famous for its many beneficial properties.
It is collected both by amateur methods and on an industrial scale. For two weeks, while the sap is flowing, people try to drink a priceless natural cocktail that restores strength, fresh.
When analyzing information prescribing when to collect birch sap, it is necessary to focus on the period of early spring, before the swollen buds have yet begun to bloom.
To take full advantage of the beneficial properties of birch sap, you must carefully choose the collection location. Birch trees should not grow closer than 50 meters from highways. Trees located within the city are not suitable as a source of vitamin drink.
In an ecologically clean place, an adult birch tree (with a diameter of more than 30 cm) is selected and a hole is made in the bark to a depth of a maximum of 2 cm. In order not to weaken the trees, approximately 2 - 3 liters of a unique liquid are taken from each specimen and the wound is covered with garden pitch.
The most suitable option would be birch, which grows not in the lowlands, but on a hillock. Instead of drilling a hole, you can cut one of the rather thick branches at a height of about 2 meters from the surface. A tube is attached to the wound, through which life-giving moisture flows into the container. The signal for the end of the harvest season is the complete leafing of the crown.
Why is it useful?
Vitamin C, which is part of the fresh birch drink, helps the human body resist viruses and bacteria; in addition, with its participation, epithelial regeneration processes occur. B vitamins support the body's strength during periods of physical and emotional overload, strengthening the nervous system and accelerating energy metabolism. The level of potassium content allows you to normalize heart function, achieve optimal oxygen supply to the brain, reduce the load on the kidneys, and prevent the appearance of edema.
Medicinal properties
Like everything that enters the body, birch sap has its benefits and harms. Its composition has been discussed in some detail above. But let’s look at how birch sap is useful for specific ailments now.
- for vitamin deficiency, birch sap helps to enrich the diet with missing vitamins;
- for chronic fatigue, nervousness, lack of sleep and other signs of depression, B vitamins in the drink stimulate brain metabolism and the synthesis of serotonin - the hormone of happiness;
- tannins contained in the juice strengthen the gums and stomach walls;
- birch grass has a positive effect on blood quality, increases the number of red blood cells;
- It is useful to drink this drink when intoxicated, since birch sap has a unique property of helping to remove harmful substances from the body;
- since birch sap stimulates skin renewal processes, it is useful to take it for diseases such as furunculosis and dermatitis;
- many compounds in birch sap have a positive effect on digestion and normalize the absorption of substances by the intestinal villi;
- the rich vitamin and mineral composition of birch sap helps strengthen the immune system;
- In folk medicine, this drink is widely used to treat kidney diseases, as it has a mild diuretic effect. In addition, it is able to wash away fine sand, preventing urolithiasis;
- It also helps cleanse the liver and also stimulates the functioning of the gallbladder;
- birch sap has antimicrobial and antifungal effects, so it can be used in the complex treatment of sore throat for gargling;
- it is taken orally and made into compresses in the treatment of gout and arthritis.
How much can you drink per day
For two weeks, while collecting fresh natural birch sap with your own hands, you can replace it with your daily individual intake of drinking water, but not more than 1-1.5 liters during the day. The amount of additional fluid the body receives from fruits, first courses and other drinks should be taken into account. Ingestion of fluid in large quantities can be fatal.
Healthy Drinks
What is the nutritional value of the drink?
Birch sap does not contain proteins or fats at all; it contains only carbohydrates. Approximately 2% of the product’s mass is occupied by plant sugars, giving it a pleasant sweet taste. And malic and citric organic acids add slight sourness. The drink can be safely consumed on a diet; it contains virtually no calories: 100 ml contains 8–10 kilocalories. Birch liquid is rich in phytoncides, essential oils, tannins, glycosides and other useful microelements.
How to save
When fresh, birch sap can even be stored in the refrigerator for only a few days. If you leave it in the sun or at room temperature, then after a few hours you will get a fermented sour birch drink, unfit for consumption due to the presence of microorganisms in it that cause fermentation.
For long-term storage, the juice is sterilized. First, preheated to 80 ° C, pour into clean boiled glass jars. 1L jars are hermetically sealed with tin lids and then kept in hot water at 85°C-90°C for at least 15 minutes. For larger jars, the sterilization time is increased by 10 minutes. for every additional liter.
Birch sap can be stored in the freezer in the form of small cubes placed in one large container or bag. To do this, use the small forms included with any refrigerator for freezing drinks. You can freeze it in any other food-grade plastic form. The volume of the mold should be small so that the freezing time is short. After a day, the ice cubes are taken out of the molds, and fresh birch sap from the next batch is poured into them.
Contraindications
However, with all these benefits, the harm from birch sap can also be significant. It is contraindicated for the following diseases:
- allergy to birch pollen;
- exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum;
- acute form of urolithiasis.
It is not recommended for children under one year of age, as well as for people with individual intolerance to the components of the drink.
The question of how much birch sap you can drink per day is also important. Indeed, if you abuse this drink, diarrhea can begin.
Standard dosage: 1 glass of juice 3 times a day for 1 month.
For diabetics, it should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2.
If there are no contraindications, the daily intake of juice can be increased, but then after every 2 weeks of consumption it is necessary to take a week's break so as not to harm your health.
How to preserve
Birch drink can be preserved in its pure form or with the addition of natural flavors and flavor enhancers, which are sprigs of mint or thyme, juice from raspberries, cherries, oranges, and tangerines. The basic recipe calls for adding 10 tbsp per 10 liters. sugar and juice of one lemon.
The mixture is boiled over high heat for 2-3 minutes, while removing the foam that appears on the surface. Then the intensity of the fire is reduced and allowed to simmer for another 5 minutes. Pour into sterile jars and seal tightly with clean, boiled lids for preservation. The jars are taken to a warm place and covered with thick things that will not allow them to cool for 12-16 hours. Cans of juice are stored for 8-12 months at a temperature of no more than 20 °C.
The benefits and harms of thyme
Find a tree with a thick trunk
Anti-aging pill
Sensational development by NASA
The romantic thin birch trees that artists love to draw are not suitable for our purposes. Collecting sap will only be safe for trees with a trunk thickness of more than 20 cm in diameter. Choose a strong, mature tree with a developed crown. This indicates that its root system is quite deep and branched, which means that the tree takes moisture not from the surface, where the roots feed contaminated meltwater, but from clean subsoil.
To determine whether you have chosen the right tree, make a shallow puncture in the bark - just a centimeter and a half. If transparent drops quickly appear on it, you can drill a hole and tie up a container to collect the juice.
Benefits and harm to the body
Despite all the beneficial qualities of birch sap for humans, some people can only take it in limited quantities or not at all. The drink is contraindicated if you are allergic to birch pollen or other components, if you have cholelithiasis or kidney stones. It is not given to small children under 3 years of age. Those who have been diagnosed with diabetes should consult a doctor before drinking birch sap.
For diabetes
There are recipes with the addition of fresh birch sap that improve the condition of the body in case of diabetes. Fresh birch and lingonberry juice is prepared. To do this, 150 g of lingonberries are washed and ground to a pulp, from which the juice is then squeezed. Birch and lingonberry sap are mixed in a 1:1 ratio and boiled over low heat for 5 minutes. The mixture is cooled and 1 teaspoon of honey is added to it. Take 100 ml 2 times a day before meals.
What to eat if you have diabetes
For women
By drinking 200 ml of natural birch sap 30 minutes before meals, you can achieve weight loss, especially if you avoid fatty and sweet foods. Nectar taken in this mode can improve immunity, relieve fatigue and drowsiness, increase body tone, improve mood, eliminate headaches and depression during menopause.
For children
Children over 3 years old should be given juice diluted in a 1:1 ratio, no more than 1 tsp. for the first time. This is necessary in order to make sure that the child does not have negative reactions to its components. Gradually the amount of drink is increased, and the amount of water is decreased. Natural freshly collected environmentally friendly juice without impurities is given to children no more than 2 times a week. The norm for a child over 3 years old is 100 ml at a time, over 7 years old – 150 ml.
For pregnant
Natural tannins and natural plant acids, vitamins and minerals that make up birch sap are necessary during pregnancy for both the mother and her fetus. Consumption in quantities recommended by the doctor will help get rid of swelling, normalize blood pressure, relieve symptoms of toxicosis, further improve lactation, and strengthen hair and nails.
For men
The period of sap flow in trees lasts only 15-20 days. During this time, the body of a man who drinks at least 2 glasses a day of fresh natural birch sap is able to cleanse himself of toxins and waste, improve the functioning of the liver, stomach, genitourinary and hormonal systems, and strengthen joints. With the arrival of spring, both women and men suffer from vitamin deficiency and loss of strength. The juice will help you regain confidence in your capabilities and strengths.
For gout
Drinking the drink not only at the beginning of spring, but also over the next 2-3 months will help get rid of joint diseases. At the same time, painful inflammatory processes are reduced, the regenerative functions of the body are stimulated, and the process of restoration of articular cartilage is accelerated. At this time, it is necessary to limit the consumption of meat foods, salt, beer, and try to reduce body weight. Drink 200 ml of juice three times a day.
Gout: symptoms, diet
For gastritis
The use of birch sap for stomach diseases occurs in a diluted form in a 1:1 ratio. Drink 50 ml of the drink 3 times a day before meals. To improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, oatmeal is prepared with birch sap. To do this, pour 50 g of flakes into 120 ml of birch drink overnight and put it in the refrigerator. In the morning, the mixture is placed in a water bath and boiled until the volume of the porridge is reduced by half. The resulting amount of porridge is eaten throughout the day. This porridge should be eaten every day for 30 days.
For oncology
Birch sap restores strength and cleanses the body of a cancer patient after undergoing treatment procedures. All recommendations for use must be obtained from your doctor. Birch elixir can be an immunostimulant, an antiseptic, a diuretic, and improve the functioning of the heart and liver. But all these qualities are used at the stages of prevention or recovery after receiving the main treatment.
Chemical composition
Birch sap (birch tree) is a very valuable drink. From the point of view of vitamin and mineral composition, this is one of the richest natural drinks. So what is the benefit of birch sap? It contains an extensive list of vitamins:
- A (retinol) is needed for the visual organs and the immune system;
- B1 (thiamine) regulates the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates in various organs;
- B2 (riboflavin) promotes hematopoiesis and iron absorption;
- B4 (choline) supports the liver and regulates metabolism;
- B5 (pantothenic acid) stimulates skin renewal;
- B6 (pyridoxine) is needed for the synthesis of serotonin and is involved in the removal of toxins from the body;
- B7 (biotin) affects the nervous system and skin;
- B9 (folic acid) is important for cell growth, normalizes intestinal microflora;
- B12 (cyanocobalamin) stimulates brain activity and improves memory;
- C (ascorbic acid) strengthens the immune system and blood vessels;
- vitamin D ensures the absorption of calcium and phosphorus;
- E (tocopherol) is a powerful antioxidant;
- PP (niacin) normalizes metabolism and energy in cells.
The drink also contains a large number of different minerals and trace elements:
- sodium regulates water-salt metabolism;
- potassium and magnesium are needed for the proper functioning of the heart and brain;
- iodine is necessary for the thyroid gland;
- manganese ensures proper bone formation;
- iron is important for blood formation and the immune system.
Birch tree contains a lot of sugars, tannins, saponins, essential oils, and organic acids.
Thanks to this composition, birch sap can serve as an assistant in the treatment and prevention of certain diseases. But precisely for the same reason, there are a number of diseases for which taking birch drink is strictly contraindicated.
Recipes
Kvass
The classic version of birch kvass involves the presence of an oak barrel into which 10 liters of sap are poured. 200 g of rye bread crackers are placed in a canvas bag and tied with a long cotton rope. The bag is lowered into the barrel, the rope should remain outside.
Two days later, after the start of fermentation of kvass, crackers are extracted from the fermented juice. Add 100 ml of crushed washed and boiled oak bark, 2-3 stalks of dried dill and 300 g of dry cherries to the barrel. All ingredients must be washed and then dried. After 15 days, the kvass should stop fermenting and be ready for use.
How to make kvass at home
Birch syrup
To prepare 0.5 liters of syrup you will need 20 liters of juice. Pour half of it into the pan and let it boil. After the foam appears, the fire intensity is reduced and the foam is removed. As it boils, add juice to the pan and continue to cook over low heat. After each boil, it is necessary to remove the foam and reduce the heat. The liquid should evaporate, not cook. The result is a thick, dark, sweet mass.
Wine
To obtain wine with the aroma of citrus fruits you need:
- zest of 10 lemons;
- raisins of light grape varieties - 200 g;
- sugar - 5 kg;
- natural birch sap - 12 l.
Preparing the wort. To do this, mix 5 liters of juice with 2 kg of sugar and cook over low heat for about 60 minutes. Let the liquid cool and add the remaining ingredients. We transfer the closed container to a dark, warm place for five days. After 5 days, a sediment should form at the bottom of the pan. We separate the liquid from the sediment by passing it through a gauze filter. The drink is bottled and left for a month in a cool room with a temperature no higher than 15 °C to stabilize the taste.
Smoothies for weight loss and cleansing the body
Application in cosmetology
To improve the condition of dry skin, prepare a mask based on honey - 10 g, sour cream - 15 g, birch sap - 30 g. The mask is applied to cleansed skin before bed. After 15 min. the mixture is washed off with warm water, and then wiped with a swab dipped in birch drink diluted half with water.
Softening the skin can be achieved by using birch sap lotion with honey in the evenings. The juice (200 ml) is heated and 1 tsp is added to it. honey This mixture can be used not only in the evening, but also during the day.
Reviews
We were in the forest this spring, but didn’t even think about making a hole in the side of the tree and taking the sap from it. In my opinion, this is barbaric. There are so many natural drinks you can make yourself at home from oranges, apples, and lemons. They are no less useful.
Irina, 33 years old, Novaya Olkhovka
I tried canned birch sap. It seemed to me that it was colored sweet water, but that’s all.
Kira, 19 years old, Kineshma
To understand the meaning of collecting birch sap, you need to start drinking it from an early age. And drink freshly picked, not canned.
Stepan Nikolaevich, 47 years old, Domodedovo
Drinking fresh birch sap as medicine has its advantages and disadvantages. A self-made product is actually a free medicine, but in order for the benefits to be noticeable, you need to drink it not for 2-3 weeks, but much longer. But the hike itself or a trip to the forest for juice, clean air and the smell of awakening buds will remain in the memory for the whole year, giving hope that all this will be repeated more than once.
Health to you and your loved ones! Natalya Belokopytova.
Blank
Birch sap is collected in the spring, when sap flow along the roots and trunks of trees just begins.
As a rule, this process begins with the melting of snow and most actively continues until the buds swell.
In order to determine whether it is time to prepare this drink, a puncture is made in the birch trunk with an awl, and if droplets of liquid appear, then the time is right.
The extraction of birch sap is completed when the leaves bloom.
Like any living organism, birch has its own biorhythms and the most active movement of sap occurs during the daytime. For this reason, it is collected from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Not every birch tree is suitable for extracting sap. Firstly, the location where the tree grows is important. Despite the fact that birch has a tap root system and receives the bulk of its liquid from the deep layers of the soil, some of the surface roots can absorb toxins dissolved in water from the top layer of soil.
Therefore, to collect the drink, it is worth choosing plants that are far from roads, industries and residential areas.
Secondly, the birch tree must be mature so that the holes made and the nutrient fluid taken from it do not cause significant harm to its health. The diameter of the tree trunk must exceed 20 cm.
To extract birch sap you will need:
- knife, axe, awl or gimlet;
- straws (can be used for cocktails);
- containers made of plastic or glass and a rope for tying them to the trunk.
Some collectors use grooves, pieces of rope or wood chips instead of tubes to drain birch sap, and plastic bottles or plastic bags instead of jars.
The list of devices for collecting birch sap depends on your ingenuity and capabilities. In Soviet times, special kits were produced, but today everyone must assemble it with their own hands.
Birch sap is collected according to the following rules:
- holes in the tree are made 2-3 cm deep at a height of 40-50 cm from the ground surface.
- it is better to make the slots on the north side of the trunk, since here the movement of fluid is more active;
- a wide tube or gutter is inserted into the hole made;
- a container is attached to the outer edge of the tube, placing it directly on the ground or tying it to the trunk;
- if the trunk diameter is 20-25 cm, then 1 hole is made in the tree; if it is 26-35 cm, then the trunk is pierced twice; and if more than 35 cm, then three times;
- from one tree you can get on average about 2-3 liters of birch sap;
- Upon completion of the workpiece, the holes must be sealed with wax, soap or moss so that fungi do not get inside the trunk and its rotting does not begin.
By following these simple rules, you can get the maximum amount of juice with minimal damage to the plant.
