Today, the market for soft drinks is experiencing a real boom. Many manufacturers offer various products that are distinguished by their unique taste and aroma. They can not only quench thirst instantly, but even give a person strength and energy. It is worth noting that with all its diversity and all its positive qualities, the drinks offered in stores today are mostly not very good for health. The fact is that manufacturers, in the pursuit of profit, are trying to increase the shelf life of their products by adding preservatives to them. In addition, the use of natural components - dyes and flavors is not very advisable in terms of the final cost of any product, and this leads to the introduction of artificial chemical constituents in the composition of drinks.
Natural juices obtained from natural products are another matter. They can not only give pleasure from drinking, but also give the body a wide range of vitamins and minerals, which is so necessary to maintain human health. This is especially true for birch sap - a drink that has been used as a medicine since ancient times. Many people remember the taste, but do not know the recipe for making birch juice, and yet it is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance.
So, the recipe for making birch sap involves several steps. Firstly, it is the procurement of birch sap. Harvesting is done in early spring, when the leaves on the trees have not yet blossomed. It is worth noting that harvesting should be done only in ecologically clean areas, away from roads and industrial facilities. In addition, in order to obtain birch sap, only mature trees with thick trunks are suitable - in this case, the yield of sap is greater, and the tree is less harmful.
It’s better to drill holes or cut the bark higher, not near the ground itself. In this case, the resulting juice will be more fragrant and sweet, although a smaller amount will be obtained. In addition, the low location of the undercuts causes birch more harm. After the holes are drilled or cuts are made, a tube or tray made of wood is inserted into them so that the juice drips dropwise into a substituted or suspended container. Here is such a simple recipe for making birch sap, or rather its preparation. Do not forget to treat the tree, after the flow of the juice stops - hammer a wooden peg into the hole, and also cover the damaged surface of the tree with clay.
Next, the next step is the conservation of birch sap. It is clear that in order for the recipe for making birch sap to make sense, the finished product should be stored as long as possible. Canning birch sap is easily feasible at home. To do this, pour the juice into a saucepan, add sugar and citric acid into it, after which the juice is brought to a boil and sugar is dissolved. After this, the juice is filtered while hot and bottled. The bottles are sealed and, for complete sterilization, are kept in water at a temperature of 90 degrees for 15 minutes.
There is another recipe for making birch sap, which involves fermentation. Fresh juice is filtered through cheesecloth and, without additives, is poured into clean barrels or large glass bottles. After casting, the containers are closed and sent to a cool, dark place. After a few days, fermentation will begin, and the juice will acquire a sour taste, and also become more cloudy. In this condition, the juice can be stored until mid-summer.
We hope that birch sap will give you real pleasure!