"Birch cried" and gave us its tender juice, like spring water refreshing on a hot day. From ancient times, people collected "birch tears", which were considered useful and even life-giving, saved many ailments. Particularly popular were drinks from birch sap, which for some reason were forgotten over time. Now you rarely see a person who knows and uses the recipes of antiquity. And you wonder if birch sap is healthy? And does it taste good?
The beauty and benefits of one tree ...
Birch is the most Russian tree. How many songs and verses are sung is dedicated to this beauty with spreading branches and a thin, as if fragile girl, trunk. No wonder they love and praise her so much. In addition to beauty, birch gives us health, every spring releasing a clear juice rich in vitamins and other beneficial substances. You can drink it just like that: the taste resembles fresh spring water with a slight sweetness. Our ancestors knew how to make it even healthier and tastier, creating drinks from birch sap.
Berry and mint birch drinks
Berries are a popular component of such health smoothies. For example, a good diuretic is an infusion of birch sap with ripe mountain ash. You can get a boost of vitality, as well as enrich the body with vitamin C and organic acids by drinking a glass of cranberry-birch juice. Want to improve digestion? Add the mint. 150 grams of grass need to pour 100 grams of juice and insist for several hours, and then add sugar and lemon to taste. This drink will also help get rid of nausea and dizziness.
Refreshing Birch Kvass
Many people love kvass, but do not know that birch sap can be used to make it. The recipes for this drink are different. Here is one of the easiest. A liter of juice should be heated to 35-40 degrees and add about 15 grams of yeast, a few raisins and lemon zest to taste. Then close the jar tightly with a lid and leave to insist for 1.5-2 weeks. As a result, you will get a very tasty carbonated drink. Before use, it is better to cool it.
Alcoholic drinks with birch sap
It turns out that there are even alcoholic drinks from birch sap. Of course, they are not so useful, but, no doubt, tasty. We will cook a punch. To do this, mix a liter of white (preferably dry) wine with the same amount of birch juice, add half a glass of sugar and mix well. Put the drink in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. When you are planning to serve this cocktail, add half a glass of vermouth, 4 tablespoons of tincture of golden mustache and 500 milliliters of sparkling water, mix and shake. Such a birch pendant will be a great addition to a summer dinner in nature. Another low alcohol drink was prepared in barrels, infusing juice without adding sugar. It was called "birch" and was a frequent "guest" of Russian feasts.
The benefits of birch in every sip
Drinks from birch sap (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) can be insisted on dried fruits, herbs and berries. Each recipe carries a particle of benefit to the body. Birch sap stimulates the kidneys, relieves pain from rheumatism and arthritis, has a beneficial effect on lung function, is used as lotions for lichen, gout and helps with other diseases. Take advantage of the opportunity that nature presents, collect "birch tears" and prepare healthy and tasty drinks with them.