Spring is not only a celebration of greenery andflowering trees, but also the period of seasonal colds and vitamin deficiencies. To strengthen the immune system and protect ourselves from diseases, we try in every possible way to replenish our vitamin reserves, and one of the healthiest drinks in the spring is birch sap. Juice treatment was practiced even in times when fast-acting drugs were not invented. And now birch sap is considered not only healthy, but also a tasty drink.

Birch Juice: Useful Ingredients

Birch sap has a rich compositionmicroelements, it contains carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, organic acids and phytoncides, as well as saponins, tannins, fruit sugar, essential oils. In addition, the juice contains: betulol, magnesium, copper, calcium, sodium, potassium and manganese. Birch sap is considered a real elixir of longevity and health. Outwardly, it looks like a colorless liquid, but in chemical composition it surpasses many vitamin cocktails. Birch sap is very low in calories, there are only 22 calories per 100 grams of liquid, so nutritionists like to include it in the diets of their clients.

Useful properties of birch sap

Since ancient times, birch sap has been called “living”water”, and for good reason, because it helps in the treatment of even the most severe diseases and supports the body during periods of vitamin deficiency. What properties does birch sap have?

• Juice helps in the treatment of cough, headache, bronchitis and even stomach ulcers. It is used for radiculitis, arthritis and rheumatism.
• Birch juice has regenerating properties, it normalizes metabolism, helps to remove toxins from the body and is simply a refreshing diet drink.
• Regular use of juice leads the body to tone and helps strengthen the immune system.
• Birch juice helps with scrofula, scurvy, anemia, allergic diseases, beriberi and kidney stones.
• The juice consists of malic, glutamic and nicotinic acids.
• Potassium, calcium and magnesium strengthen the vessels and prevent the occurrence of heart disease.
• Biological enzymes and stimulants, which are rich in birch sap, stimulate the body's defenses.
• Tannins act as antiseptics, and glucose and fructose stimulate the brain.
• Birch juice helps to lower the temperature, and with a sore throat they rinse their throat.
• Juice helps with edema and joint diseases, and with a chronic cold it is recommended to drink every morning.
• Juice is treated with various skin diseases: psoriasis, neurodermatitis, eczema, itchy skin; when acne is wiped with a wet fleece face, and when dandruff juice is washed with a head.

We collect birch sap

Birch sap used to be found inany grocery store, where large jars crowded the delicatessen shelves. Now it is also produced in glass and cardboard packaging, but the chemicals used for preservation “kill” the beneficial properties of the drink, leaving nothing in it except the taste familiar from childhood. Therefore, if possible, it is better to collect birch sap yourself. This procedure is carried out from March to April, when the leaves have not yet blossomed on the branches. Usually, collection takes only 2-3 weeks. Let's consider in more detail how to collect birch sap. To collect sap, choose trees with a spreading crown and at least 20 centimeters in diameter, preferably growing in ecologically clean areas. About 20-30 cm from the ground, the trunk is stripped of bark (a small square is cut out), and later a hole 3-4 cm deep is drilled. The sap moves between the upper layers of wood and the bark, so a very deep hole is not required. A birch bark tray, a plastic or aluminum groove or other device is inserted into the prepared slot, through which the liquid will flow into the container. A container for the juice is placed under the stream, this can be a jar, a bottle or any other device. To make the stream flow directly into the jar, it is directed with the help of a bandage or a straw twisted into a tourniquet. Sometimes the juice is extracted by attaching an ordinary plastic bag to the cut. It is better to collect birch sap during the most “fruitful” time. The most active movement of sap occurs between 12 and 18 o’clock. In addition, the thicker the trunk of the birch, the more holes for collecting sap can be drilled. For example, if the trunk diameter is 40 cm, then up to 4 holes can be made at the same time. A small tree produces up to 3 liters of sap, and a larger plant - all 7. After the period of collecting the sap has passed, do not forget to carefully close all the holes so that harmful microelements do not get in, which can cause the tree to get sick and dry out. The holes can be sealed with pieces of moss, wax and even plasticine. We have already considered the process called "How to collect birch sap", now it's time to move on to an equally important point - its preparation.

How to keep birch sap

Fresh birch sap in the refrigerator is acceptablestore for only a couple of days, after which the drink loses its transparency and begins to ferment and foam. Naturally, it is best to drink birch sap fresh, but if the harvest is large enough and you want to preserve all the beneficial properties of the drink "in a bottle", you can make preparations using the following recipes.

For 1 liter of the drink, add half a cup of sugar and 5g of citric acid. Then we mix everything thoroughly, pass through the filter and pour over the containers (cans), after which the juice is pasteurized, rolled up and stored in a cool place.

Birch sap can be the basis for the vitaminsyrup, which is used for making soft drinks. To do this, take a fresh juice, evaporate it over low heat, without covering the lid, until the contents take a consistency of honey. As soon as the syrup has cooled, pour on the tanks and put in a cold place, preferably in the refrigerator.

We prepare a delicious foamy drink from birch sap. We take half a liter of freshly picked juice, pour into a comfortable bottle, add 2 teaspoons of sugar, 3-4 raisins and zest of the fourth part of the lemon. Next, the bottle is sealed with a cork, wrapped in wire, and put in a cold place for 2 months. Once the drink "ripens", it looks like a soda. It is drunk with sugar.

"Birch" cosmetics

Birch sap is not only healthy and tastya drink, but also a base for natural cosmetics. To keep your skin fresh and your hair healthy, take note of a few recipes. Nourishing mask Take 2 tbsp. birch juice, mix with 1 tbsp. sour cream and add 1 tsp. honey. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly and apply to the skin for 10-15 minutes. After several sessions of applying such masks, the skin acquires a delicate matte shade. Lotion for oily skin Take dry birch buds, grind them into powder and fill with vodka (1:5), then pour into a tightly closed container and leave for a week. As soon as the buds have infused, squeeze out and drain the liquid. The resulting lotion is a good way to cleanse the skin before applying a moisturizer. Decoction for strengthening hair A decoction of birch leaves will help preserve the natural shine and strength of your hair. To prepare it, take 1 tbsp. birch leaves, pour 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, strain through a sieve. Rinse your hair with the resulting decoction after washing. For excessive sweating, it is recommended to wipe the skin with birch bud tincture a couple of times a day. You need to take 1 part buds and 5 parts alcohol and leave for 10 days.

Analogues of birch sap

The movement of sap in spring does not occurnot only birch, but also other trees. The analog of birch sap in terms of the amount of useful substances is the sap of sugar and American maple. In our areas, maple sap is very rarely extracted, since sugar maple is common in North America, and other species grow quickly, so they are not so productive. But in the eastern United States (Vermont) and in Canada, maple sap is used to obtain sweet syrups.

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