Perhaps there is no drink in our country that a Russian person would treat with the same trepidation as to birch sap. As soon as the drops ring and the buds swell on the trees, we gladly hurry to the forest, where a real mystery unfolds - the spring sap flow.

To understand that the birch has begun to give sap is simple - it is enough to make a small incision on the tree trunk, and the first droplets will immediately appear from under the bark. As a rule, birch gives 2-3 liters of this life-giving moisture per day, although the release of sap largely depends on the age of the tree and the diameter of the trunk, on the availability of sunlight, as well as on the time of day (at night the tree "rests", and the main sap flow falls on middle of the day). This miraculous "forest mystery" does not last long, just a couple of weeks, and as soon as the first leaves appear on the birches, the sap flow stops.

Since childhood, we have loved birch sap for its consistently pleasant taste. But as we mature, we begin to appreciate this natural gift for the incredible benefit that it gives to each of us. And in order to remind you of this once again, in this article we will tell you about the healing power of this drink, we will reveal the most valuable recipes with it, and we will figure out what are the benefits and harms of birch sap.

Valuable composition of the drink

In order to fully understand what natural storehouse this nutrient moisture is, consider its chemical composition. Birch sap is really unique, because it contains vitamins (C, B1 and B12), minerals (sodium and nickel, magnesium and iron, manganese and potassium), tannins and acids, fructose and essential oils, saponins and phytoncides, and also the unique organic compound betulin, which is called the "death medicine". Is it any wonder that such a drink, which the beautiful birch trees give us, has a healing effect on the body.

Why is birch sap useful?

We can talk for a long time about the benefits of this unique juice. Since time immemorial, our ancestors used birch sap as a natural immunostimulant, which perfectly restored strength and helped to strengthen the body after suffering diseases. Modern research fully confirms the guesses of past generations. According to them, if you drink a glass of juice a day for 2-3 weeks, you can help the body cope with depression, eliminate weakness, distraction, fatigue, and again feel vigorous, full of strength. Birch sap has a diuretic, anthelmintic, antitumor effect.

However, such juice is useful not only for general strengthening of the body. This is a real natural healer, thanks to which existing diseases can be prevented and treated. Here are some examples of the most effective use of this drink.

1. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Birch sap is a real salvation for people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This life-giving moisture perfectly relieves cramps and colic in the stomach, cleanses the liver and gall bladder. Moreover, when it enters the body, birch sap eliminates inflammatory processes and relieves pain, improves appetite and restores intestinal microflora.

2. Pathology of the urinary system

It should be said that birch sap is famous for its diuretic properties, thanks to which it is considered one of the best folk remedies for eliminating stones in the bladder. To combat this ailment, healers advise drinking 6 glasses of fresh juice a day. In this case, calculi will split up and leave the body with minimal pain.

3. Rheumatic diseases

Not many people know that fresh juice is an effective remedy for rheumatoid arthritis and gout pain. Moreover, this life-giving moisture perfectly cleans blood vessels from cholesterol plaques, preventing the development of atherosclerosis. And this drink is also used externally. To do this, it is enough to warm it up a little and use it in the form of compresses, applying it to sore joints.

4. Diseases of the respiratory system

As we mentioned above, the juice in question has a tonic effect, and besides, it has an expectorant effect, which means that it can be used for bronchitis, pneumonia, and even in the case of tuberculosis.

5. Diabetes mellitus

Birch sap is also prescribed for "diabetics", although in this case it is necessary to take it in combination with other medicines and subject to a strict diet. For this purpose, a medicinal drink is prepared, which contains 70% of birch sap (infused for two days), and 30% of blackberry and currant, blueberry and raspberry juices, taken in equal proportions. Only a qualified doctor has the right to prescribe the dosage and duration of the medication. Let's just say that the treatment of diabetes mellitus with phytopreparations must necessarily be carried out under medical supervision with regular laboratory tests.

6. Slimming

Recently, birch sap can often be found in weight loss diets. This drink really helps to get rid of fat deposits, since it is itself a low-calorie product with a large set of nutrients, and besides, it improves metabolism in the body, speeding up metabolism.

7. Anemia

Such a serious problem as anemia (or anemia) is perfectly eliminated with the complex intake of birch sap and iron preparations. Practice shows that it is enough to drink two or three glasses of juice daily, so that after 2 weeks you will forget about the unpleasant symptoms of this disease.

8. Intoxication of the body

We have already mentioned the diuretic properties of birch sap, which, in addition to solving the problems of the excretory system, help the kidneys to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins. Due to this, it is recommended to drink birch sap in case of food poisoning, as well as in case of intoxication with salts of heavy metals. In this regard, there is simply no better drink for residents of the polluted regions of our country than juice taken from a birch tree.

9. Colds

But this natural wealth not only cleanses the blood. It increases sweating, thereby bringing down heat (if used with rosehip and lemon juice). With these properties, birch sap is ideal for the treatment of colds, as well as for the prevention of respiratory diseases and flu.

10. Avitaminosis

It must be said that the valuable birch sap contains the whole variety of chemical elements, which means that such a drink is ideal for preventing spring vitamin deficiency and combating the existing deficiency of vitamins and minerals.

Finally, let's say that in addition to internal use, birch sap is also used externally. They can be used for gargling with throat, nose or mouth (in case of gingivitis, stomatitis, periodontal disease and other diseases of the oral cavity).

Birch sap in cosmetology

Strengthening hair

Healing forest moisture perfectly strengthens hair follicles, fights the cause of dandruff and removes excess sebum on the head. To do this, simply rub fresh juice into your hair and skin. And you can also make hair masks from this liquid, just add castor oil and honey to it in a 5: 1: 1 ratio.

Also, to prevent hair loss, give it silkiness and shine, significantly improve the structure, remove dandruff, wash the hair with birch sap for 2 weeks and rinse with infusion of birch leaves.

Skin problems

Birch sap is no less effective in the case of neurodermatitis and psoriasis, eczema and ulcerative lesions. In this case, lotions with a slightly warmed drink will help. Do the same in the presence of non-healing wounds. If you are faced with acne, suffer from scabies or cannot get rid of age spots, rub the skin with the juice in question every morning and evening. And in parallel with external use, be sure to take birch sap inside, because it is an excellent remedy that will fight skin diseases "from the inside".

Anti-aging skin

To maximize the youthfulness of the skin, it is necessary to prepare birch ice. Simply freeze the liquid in small square molds and wipe your face and décolleté with these ice cubes daily.

Nourishing face mask

First, wipe your face with a cotton swab with vegetable oil. Then you need to mix two tablespoons of birch sap, one tablespoon of sour cream, one teaspoon of honey, mix thoroughly, apply to the skin and leave for 15 minutes. Then wash off the mixture with boiled water, the effect will pleasantly surprise you.

How to take birch sap

Despite the seeming harmlessness, birch sap for medicinal purposes should be taken only after consulting a specialist. Moreover, in the event of any side effects (such as digestive problems or allergic reactions), treatment with this remedy should be stopped immediately.

For all diseases in which the individual dosage of taking birch sap is not indicated, a "universal" dosage should be used, namely 3 glasses / day. Some recipes involve diluting the juice before use, for example, in the case of diabetes mellitus or exacerbation of chronic diseases. For prevention purposes, birch sap should be drunk one glass at a time, but for a long time. Treatment courses about duration are shorter, but the dosages in this case are greater, and a break is required between courses. More specific terms and dosages are prescribed by the attending physician, depending on the existing ailment.

To whom is this juice contraindicated?

I must say that birch sap has practically no contraindications for use. Of course, it should not be drunk with exacerbation of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The acute course of urolithiasis is also a contraindication to taking this drink, as it can worsen the already poor condition of the patient. Finally, people who are allergic to birch sap should refrain from drinking this drink.

Useful "tricks" when collecting juice

Those who go to extract the forest food resource (and this is what the juice is called according to the law), you should know that it is better to start collecting it from the southern part of the forest, gradually moving deeper. It is better to make cuts in the tree from the north side, this will allow you to get more juice. An incision in the trunk is made 50 cm from the ground. Moreover, there is no need to make too deep an incision or drill deep into the trunk - moisture moves between the wood and the bark, which means that to get it, you just need to overcome the bark layer.

Finally, remember that collecting sap, you damage the trees, and therefore after collecting this valuable liquid, the incision must be covered with laundry soap, wax or garden varnish to prevent rotting and damage to the wood.

How to store birch sap

It is better to collect birch "raw" directly in glass containers. But even if you collect juice in plastic bottles or cellophane bags, you should pour it into a glass container upon returning home. Without processing, the extracted birch sap can stand in the refrigerator for no more than three days, because then he starts to wander. This means that you need to decide how to store it in order to drink it after a few months. The best solution would be to preserve juice or make delicious birch kvass.

How to roll birch sap for the winter

Canned birch sap without sugar

The easiest way to preserve the drink is to filter all the collected liquid (by passing it through several layers of gauze), pour it into an enamel pot and heat it to 80-90 °. The heated juice is poured into washed and sterilized jars, and immediately rolled up. The rolled up jars are wrapped in a warm blanket and left to cool completely. Store it in a cool place.

Canned birch sap with sugar

If you want to get a sweet birch drink, then, as in the previous recipe, filter the valuable liquid and put it on fire. As soon as the juice approaches the boiling point, a yellowish foam will appear on its surface. Remove it and remove the juice from the stove without boiling. Add 2 tablespoons to the hot liquid. sugar for every kilogram of juice and citric acid (on the tip of a knife). Pour the juice into sterilized jars and roll up the lids, wrapping the jars until they cool completely.

By the way, when rolling birch sap, you can experiment by adding oranges, lemons, currants, rose hips or mint sprigs. And also, from birch sap, an excellent birch kvass is obtained (perfectly cooling in the summer heat).

Birch kvass

To make real kvass from birch sap, you first need to strain the collected juice and let it brew for a day in an enamel bowl. After that, add to the liquid 100 g of rye crackers 50 ml of sugar (for each 1 liter of juice) and, pouring the mixture into a glass bottle, leave it for 4-5 days, after putting on a rubber glove on the neck. The glove will inflate and stand up, which will indicate the ongoing fermentation process. And when the glove falls, you can safely filter the kvass and bottle it. Delicious refreshing kvass is ready!

A real field for experiments also opens up here, because kvass based on birch sap can be prepared not only with bread, but also with barley, raisins and dried fruits. Each of these drinks will have an individual taste, but they will all benefit the body.

From now on, you know what the benefits and harms of birch sap are, and you also have unique recipes for canning and making kvass based on it. This means that you have another opportunity to strengthen your body and fight a variety of diseases with the help of a very tasty drink.

Birch sap is a real gift from nature. The spring drink is now available all year round. On store shelves, bottles with a transparent, sweetish-tasting liquid flaunt. On sale you can find pure juice or a drink with the addition of lemon, mint and other aromatic herbs. In any case, the product is considered a valuable source of nutrients. It is used for various purposes, is actively used in folk medicine and in cosmetology. The wide distribution of the drink makes you wonder if everyone can use it, who it can harm.

Content:

Features of the selection and storage of birch sap

On sale birch sap is presented in different packages: in plastic or glass bottles, in cardboard boxes. Sometimes you can find three-liter cans. With all the variety of containers, it is advisable to give preference to glass. It has a number of advantages over plastic, polyethylene and boxes:

1. The purity of the material. Unlike plastic, glass does not release any harmful chemicals into the product during storage and sterilization.
2. Sterilization and pasteurization. It is in glass containers that you can buy pure, safe juice processed from microorganisms.
3. Transparency. It is easy to assess the purity of the liquid, the presence of impurities, sediment, notice product deterioration, mold.

A hermetically sealed bottle of pasteurized or sterilized beverage can be stored at room temperature for up to two years. An open product is a breeding ground for microbes. Therefore, you need to store it only in the refrigerator and no more than two days.

Advice! If any unused juice remains, you can freeze it in an ice cube tray and use it for cosmetic purposes.

The benefits of birch sap for the body

Birch sap is rich in potassium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, phosphorus, copper. It also contains sodium, silicon, strontium salts. The drink is rich in saponins, vitamins, essential oils and organic acids.

In addition to the above, birch sap, the benefits and harms of which have been sufficiently studied, has other important qualities:

1. Fights vitamin deficiency. The product contains a number of vitamins, microelements, helps relieve tiredness, tone up, and improve mood.
2. Relieves swelling, has a pronounced diuretic effect.
3. Increases hemoglobin levels. Works well with apple and beet juice.
4. Reduces anxiety, irritability, helps to fight stress and prolonged depression.
5. It is useful for losing weight, accelerates metabolism, while the calorie content is only 24 kcal per 100 ml of drink.
6. Accelerates skin regeneration, healing of wounds, abrasions and other damage to the dermis, helps to fight acne, and normalizes the sebaceous glands.
7. The drink can be taken to prevent diseases of the joints and skeletal system: arthritis, radiculitis, arthrosis, rheumatism.

Attention! Natural birch sap collected on our own may contain harmful, even hazardous substances, traces of the vital activity of insects and animals. It is impossible to use it in its pure form without preliminary sterilization. It is safer to buy a pre-cooked product.

Birch sap for cholesterol

Birch sap contains the phytoelement saponin, which does not allow cholesterol to be absorbed, maintains the lumen in blood vessels, and normalizes blood pressure. It is enough to consume 2 glasses of the drink every day to feel improvements in your condition, to get the first benefit from the product. It is allowed to add lemon juice, mint, ice cream, milk, kefir and various syrups. Thus, a natural medicine can be easily transformed into a wonderful drink or dessert.

Birch sap in cosmetology

Birch buds are often used to treat acne and acne. Decoctions, water infusions and alcoholic tinctures are prepared from them. But it is much more convenient and simpler to use birch sap: it contains more essential oils, phytoncides, acids and tannins with antiseptic properties.

To treat acne, they wash themselves daily with birch sap or wipe problem areas with cotton pads soaked in liquid. To get rid of puffiness under the eyes, relieve puffiness and preserve youthfulness of the skin, rubbing the face with ice cubes made from a drink is practiced.

The juice has a pronounced antimicrobial and sedative effect and is effective in treating the following diseases:

• increased oily skin;
• dandruff.

For hair care and scalp treatment, birch sap is used in pure form or as part of masks. To get rid of dandruff, the liquid is rubbed into the roots 2 times a day until a positive and stable result is obtained. The duration of the course is not limited by anything. The juice will improve the condition of the hair, strengthen it and make it shiny.

Mask recipe for hair growth and shine

Composition:
Birch sap - 100 ml
Water - 100 ml
Alcohol (tincture of red pepper) - 1 tsp.
Burdock root - 2 tsp

Application:
Chopped burdock root (you can use dry) is poured with water, boiled under a lid for ten minutes, cooled, filtered. The broth is mixed with birch sap, alcohol or alcoholic tincture of red pepper, which can be purchased at the pharmacy, is added. The product is well stirred, rubbed into the scalp for several minutes. For oily hair, you can apply the remnants of the product to the length. Next, put on a warming cap. Rinse off the mask after an hour with warm water and shampoo. Store the mixture in the refrigerator for two days, then prepare a new portion.

Recipe for a cleansing and toning face mask

Composition:
Birch sap - 2 tsp
Honey - 1 tsp.
Sour cream - 1 tsp.

Application:
All ingredients are mixed until smooth. The mask is applied immediately after preparation on cleansed skin of the face, neck, décolleté. After 15 minutes, the mixture is washed off with warm water. Then the skin is rubbed with an ice cube made from birch sap or chamomile broth.

Should I give birch sap to children?

Birch sap can be introduced into the child's diet starting from the second year of life. Only pasteurized product is used. The drink is introduced in small portions, starting with one teaspoon per day. The maximum daily portion is 100 ml. The benefits of birch sap for children are also undeniable:

• replenishes the deficiency of vitamins, minerals;
• strengthens the immune system, helps fight viruses;
• strengthens bone tissue, teeth;
• improves appetite.

Birch drink is useful for women during breastfeeding, it has a positive effect on lactation. But it should be introduced into the diet carefully, observing the baby's reaction.

Drinking during pregnancy

You can drink juice during pregnancy if there is no allergic reaction to birch tree products. The benefits of juice during pregnancy are as follows:

• relieves unpleasant manifestations of toxicosis;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• expels water from the body, relieves swelling.

It is allowed to drink up to three glasses of the drink per day in pure form or as part of various dishes, cocktails.

Video: The healing properties of birch sap

Harm of birch sap and contraindications

Not everyone can use birch sap, no matter how useful it is. Since the drink contains a large amount of glucose, it should not be consumed by people with diabetes. Treatment with birch sap for kidney stones is carried out with caution. Taking a diuretic can lead to colic. If a person has an allergic reaction to birch pollen, use the drink for the first time with extreme caution: there is a chance that it will not work and will only harm the body.

The liquid is mined in a birch forest from trees, referred to as birch sap, the benefits and harms of this folk remedy are not known to everyone, so our article appeared. To get the healing moisture, an incision is made in the tree, a special tube is inserted into it, through which it enters the prepared jar. You can read more about the composition.

Main advantages

Berezovitsa has not only medicinal, but also preventive properties. Birch sap is very popular among the people, the benefits do not raise doubts among the population. The first place in the vitamin content of the miracle of the drink is vitamin C.In addition, it is rich in minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, silicon, manganese, fluorine.

Enzymes (enzymes) are present in the liquid and help to improve the digestive function. Biological stimulants increase the amount of gastric juice, which is indispensable for gastrointestinal disorders.

The benefits of birch sap for the body are not limited to a positive effect on the stomach, it can be drunk on hot summer days. Thanks to mineral salts, it perfectly quenches thirst and compensates for the loss of salts that come out with sweat.

Treatment and prevention of diseases

Let's further consider how useful birch sap is for the body and what diseases it can prevent and even cure. In folk medicine, birch is considered a real panacea for many diseases. For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, the drink should be consumed in 1 glass for about a month, but we recommend that you consult your doctor before taking it.

Upper respiratory tract diseases

The drink is useful for various throat ailments. When coughing and tonsillitis (tonsillitis), it is consumed easily warmed up. It is recommended to drink birch tree daily until the end of the disease, they say this will have more positive consequences. The beneficial properties of birch sap in this case have not been studied by official medicine (although it is quite official that the drink contains anti-inflammatory substances), so traditional healers insist on the advantages.

With sick kidneys

If you have kidney pain, it is recommended to use liquid from a tree for no longer than two weeks, but three glasses of drink a day. Kidney disease needs to be taken more seriously, so in this case, be sure to consult with your doctor. A diuretic effect can affect your illness in different ways. Otherwise, the properties of birch sap may not be to your advantage.

Gastrointestinal problems

The gastrointestinal tract will undoubtedly be grateful to you if you use birch sap, the beneficial properties of which increase the amount of enzymes. Thanks to them, your stomach will work like a clock. Also used for diets, it does not contain any fats or proteins.

Possible cons

Birch sap benefits and harms, how to drink, when to collect - we will answer these questions in the next part of our article. We recommend drinking 1 glass of our miracle drink every day - this is for prevention, but if you are going to be treated with it, be sure to see a doctor for a consultation. Although experts assess its negative effect on the body as weak, you need to be extremely careful with various diseases.

Read more about birch sap, the benefits and contraindications of which are actually not comparable. The cons of this drink are scanty. But still, doctors do not recommend using this remedy for stomach ulcers or allergies. May cause a characteristic rash on the skin of the entire body.

We figured out what properties birch sap has in more than detail. Write your notes and corrections in the comments, we will listen to you and possibly make changes to the article.

Birch sap is a liquid flowing inside the trunk of birch trees. From the point of view of nutritional value, this is a very useful product containing many substances necessary for the body.

Since ancient times, the Slavs have honored, respected and loved birch as a source of valuable and healing ingredients. Birch leaves, buds, twigs and sap have been used in folk medicine as a powerful medicine.

Birch remains a valuable medicine - activated carbon, tar, xylitol, a sugar substitute, are made from its wood. A mushroom grows on a birch -.

Birch sap is famous for its rich vitamin and mineral composition and powerful beneficial properties. The juice contains vitamins, saponins, organic acids, tannins, saccharides, enzymes and phytoncides.

Birch sap contains salts of magnesium, sodium, silicon, potassium, calcium, aluminum, copper, manganese, iron, titanium, barium, nickel, phosphorus, zirconium, strontium. Traces of nitrogen were also found in the juice.

Due to the variety of nutrients, birch sap has a complex effect on the body. It is used for vitamin deficiency, to strengthen health and restore strength, to increase tone and cleanse from toxins.

The phytoncides contained in the juice increase the body's resistance to viral infections, kill bacteria and microbes, and strengthen the immune system. The anti-inflammatory benefits of the juice are based on this.

Birch sap improves metabolism, speeds up metabolism, tones up the nervous system, helps to cope with seasonal blues and depression.

Birch sap is used for weight loss. It is not for nothing that they say "slender like a birch tree" - by using birch sap, you can easily restore the slimness and flexibility of the figure, because the nutritional value of the drink is high, and the energy is low - 24 calories per 100 ml of juice. Birch drink is used in the treatment of obesity of varying degrees.

With the regular use of birch sap, the blood is purified, hemoglobin rises, slags, toxins, decay products and harmful substances are removed. Improves wound healing, skin lesions, and ulcers scarring.

The drink has a positive effect on kidney function, which is important for pyelonephritis and urolithiasis.

How birch sap is obtained and stored

The sap is extracted from birch trunks in early spring, as soon as sap flow begins and the buds begin to swell. In a strong tree with a spreading crown and a trunk diameter of at least 20 cm, a hole is made 2-3 cm deep, and a container is placed into which juice begins to drip. One tree can collect 1-2 liters of juice. It is not recommended to collect any more so that the tree does not die.

Freshly harvested juice is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days, for further storage of the juice it is frozen or canned.

Contraindications for birch sap

Such a useful product has no contraindications for use, it can be drunk by everyone, with the exception of people suffering from allergies to birch pollen.

It is no coincidence that the birch sap harvesting season is causing a stir among lovers of this valuable drink. Sweetish natural elixir, which has many useful properties, has long been popularly called "living water". This article is about the beneficial properties and contraindications of birch sap.

Minerals in birch sap

Birch sap contains many valuable substances, the list of which can be compared with the latest vitamin and mineral complexes. It contains such well-known elements as magnesium, nickel, sodium, copper, manganese, aluminum, potassium and iron. And also quite rare components - phytoncides, tannins, fruit sugars, saponins, betulol, more than ten types of organic acids.

It is no coincidence that nature gives birch sap in spring, when after winter the body is weakened and needs special support. The drink is especially useful for people with weakened immunity and who have suffered colds during the cold weather.

Useful properties of birch sap

Birch sap contains many phytocytes, which are a natural "antibiotic". That is why it is useful for angina, bronchitis, pneumonia, and also serves as a good restorative agent in the treatment of tuberculosis and oncological diseases.

Birch sap is a good remedy for anemia. For greater efficiency, it is mixed in equal parts with carrot and apple juices and drunk before meals from 50 to 100 milligrams at least three times during the day. Apple juice can be substituted with beet juice, and then the cocktail will help cope with high blood pressure.

Hypertensive patients can "save themselves" from edema, dizziness, headaches and heartaches if they drink a glass of birch sap every day in two doses.

You can relieve heartburn, relieve the symptoms of pancreatitis and gastritis by taking 50 milligrams of the drink 20 minutes before meals.

The cleansing properties of juice are also known. It relieves swelling, removes toxins and toxins from the body, as well as sand from the kidneys and gallbladder.

Birch sap is indispensable for treating blood diseases and anemia, improves metabolism and liver function, regulates the acidity of the gastrointestinal tract, and prevents vitamin deficiency and scurvy.

Birch sap is used for bone diseases - gout, arthritis, radiculitis, varicose veins and rheumatism. In such cases, experts advise drinking half a glass of the drink before meals three times a day. It is also used as a topical remedy for skin diseases and wounds.

To enhance immunity, birch nectar is mixed with milk, adding half a teaspoon of starch to the cocktail. In such cases, nutritionists advise taking the ready-made mixture as long as possible.

With angina, pharyngitis and tonsillitis, birch sap is not only drunk, but also gargled.

This is one of the few drinks that overweight people can afford, because 100 grams of juice contains only 25 kilocalories.

For whom is birch sap contraindicated?

Birch sap is an ideal diuretic and choleretic agent when it comes to the presence of sand in the kidneys and bile ducts. In the case of the formation of stones in these organs, it is worth refusing to drink the drink.

Ulcers of the duodenum and stomach are also on the list of contraindications, therefore, without the advice and permission of a doctor, you need to drink juice with great care.

Allergy sufferers suffering from individual intolerance to birch pollen are also at risk.

Experts also advise not to rely on the beneficial properties of a product purchased in a store. Studies have shown that such products contain a very small percentage of natural juice. Everything else is water and flavors. You should not collect "living water" from birches that grow near highways - there will be more harmful substances in such a drink than useful ones.

When and how is birch sap collected?

The season for collecting healing juice lasts two months - from March to April. More precisely, before the appearance and during the period of swelling of the kidneys. At this time, the tree can produce up to three liters of sweetish liquid per day. The most valuable drink is considered to be collected from sparsely growing birches, which are well illuminated by the sun's rays. Thin-bore breeds are not suitable. Choose trees with the largest diameter.

The hole for the nectar intake is made with an awl at a distance of 20 centimeters from the ground. As soon as the liquid appears, it is necessary to enlarge the puncture and insert the tube or groove towards the prepared container. The hole depth should not exceed five centimeters. The best time for harvesting is from noon to 5 pm, because during this period the juice circulates most actively. As soon as the liquid stops running out, the "wound" on the tree must be hammered with a wooden peg or covered with wax.

How to store birch sap

The collected juice cannot be kept in the refrigerator for more than three days. After this time, it can ferment. Therefore, craftsmen have come up with several ways to store nectar for a long time. One of the most common ways is to freeze the healing liquid, but this requires a very large freezer.

Canning is considered a less effective, but still effective method. In such cases, three dry sprigs of mint are put in 7 liters of juice for taste, half a teaspoon of citric acid and up to 10 tablespoons of sugar. When the liquid begins to boil over low heat, a reddish bloom will appear on top. It must be carefully removed. Otherwise, a dark precipitate will appear in the container during storage. It takes about ten minutes to boil the juice, after which the drink is poured into sterile jars and rolled up with an iron lid. In the process of preparing canned juice, many vitamins are destroyed, but at the same time, useful minerals are still partially preserved. However, such a fragrant drink is also very tasty.

You can also make carbonated kvass from birch sap. To do this, add a half-liter jar of fruit drying, a handful of raisins and a glass of well-fried barley to a 20-liter container with "living water". The mixture is placed in a cold place for a month. Cereals can be replaced with a crust of rye bread by roasting it in the oven.

Stock up on kvass for the winter with the help of such a recipe. The crusts of rye bread must be placed in a bag made of natural fabric and immersed in a container with birch sap for two days. After that, oak bark is added to the drink, which acts as a natural preservative, cherry leaves, various berries and dill. You need to infuse kvass for two weeks. With the right ingredients, it can last all winter in a cold place.

Juice lovers often prepare a drink called Berezovik. To do this, put a 10-liter container with birch nectar in a dark, cold place for three days, and then add 60 grams of rye bread crumbs and barley heated in the oven to it. The juice is infused after collecting all the ingredients for another day.

A birch cocktail for children is prepared according to a special recipe. 4 large tablespoons of canned fruit syrup, 100 grams of ice cream are placed in two glasses of juice and everything is thoroughly mixed in a mixer. Before the drink is served on the table, the same portion of ice cream is added to it.