Many of us do not want to wake up without a cup of pleasant aromatic coffee. Even Monday morning does not seem so depressing if you have already recharged energy from this invigorating drink.
But, unfortunately, not everyone can share the joys of such a morning ceremony. We are talking about people suffering from high blood pressure. "So what to do?" - you ask.
If health does not allow, and it is not possible to refuse the coffee drinking procedure, in this case it is worth taking a closer look at what is lying under your feet. While strolling through the park on fall nights, pay attention to such a fruit as acorns. Which of us did not make crafts for school exhibitions from them? Many are even aware of the existence of stomach pain. It was especially popular during the war years and during the famine. When wheat flour was in short supply, people tried to find a way out in the current difficult situation. But few people think that acorn coffee is a good option for those who like such an ancient drink, but due to health reasons they cannot afford to use it regularly from coffee beans.
The best time to pick oak fruit
To make coffee from oak acorns, it is best to use ripe fruits. The best time to harvest is, of course, autumn. Rather, its beginning. The fruit must be ripe, otherwise the drink may not work. It is better to collect them in the forest, where there are no cars, factories, landfills and all that pollutes the environment.
The fruits of ordinary oak have a characteristic bitter taste, so before making coffee from acorns, they must be soaked.
How to pick fruits
There are several rules that must be followed when collecting acorns.
You need to collect only those fruits that fell to the ground with little effort or on their own.
Coffee made from acorns that have not yet matured can turn out to be not only tasteless, but also dangerous to health. Remember that with green acorns you can get serious poisoning. It is also important to understand that an unripe fetus will no longer mature at home. This is not a tomato. As a result, an unripe acorn ripped from a branch is a useless product. Another important sign of a quality fetus is its cap. If it is absent, then the acorn may be empty or rotten inside. Also, when harvesting, make sure that the nut is not damaged or stained. The oak fruit should be smooth, without any visible cracks or scratches.
Fans of such a coffee drink do not recommend picking the fruits for its preparation from black oak. A drink from its fruits is obtained, although useful, but very bitter.
If you do not have the opportunity to collect the raw materials for such coffee yourself, and you go to the store to buy it, look at the same nuances that were described above. Pay attention to the time when acorns are sold. If the collection period has not yet arrived, then this is most likely last year's or green acorns.
The nutritional value of the oak drink and its chemical composition
Acorns are a fairly high-calorie product. They can fully replace any other finished dish. 100 g of product contains 500 kcal. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are present in coffee from acorns. Useful properties are quite high. Despite the fact that the fruits contain a large amount of carbohydrates, such a drink can be consumed by obese people. The advantage of acorns over other nuts is that the substances they contain only accelerate metabolism and are not deposited in the tissues in the form of fats. This is noted in reviews of overweight people.
Due to the content of a substance such as quercetin, acorns have a good effect on the body as an antioxidant. They also relieve edema, relieve inflammation and cramping.
In a drink like coffee made from acorns, the benefits and harms are almost commensurate with each other. They contain a large number of such beneficial substances as calcium and magnesium. This is a definite plus of any product. But at the same time, acorns contain a minimum amount of vitamins. So, we will talk more about the benefits and dangers of the product.
Coffee made from acorns. Benefit
If you drink this drink on a regular basis, then over time it will be possible to note a number of positive changes. People with diabetes, regularly drinking coffee from acorns, will be able to notice that their blood sugar levels are significantly reduced.
Also, thanks to this drink, heart function improves, arrhythmia decreases. People with coronary heart disease in their responses note that the use of an acorn drink on an ongoing basis helps to get rid of a feeling of constriction in the chest, as well as a palpable heartbeat.
Plus, coffee from acorns before the usual one is that it can be consumed by people suffering from hypertension, since it does not increase pressure, but, on the contrary, stabilizes it.
Doctors mostly note the positive effect of the drink and recommend it to people with asthma, as it relieves coughing attacks. Patients with this ailment write in their reviews that acorn coffee makes breathing easier.
It is a good antiseptic and prevents infectious diseases. People suffering from chronic colitis are advised to consume this drink, as it can alleviate their condition.
Very useful for women, especially during menstruation. Since it relieves pain and helps to reduce profuse blood secretions. It helps very well with chronic inflammation of the genitourinary system.
A drink from acorns is also very useful for healthy people. If you drink at least a cup a day, then the risk of cancer is reduced.
The harm of acorn coffee
Such a drink can only be harmful if you drink more than five cups per day.
It is contraindicated to drink coffee from acorns to people with slow digestion, since it is digested for a very long time. It is very important that the drink was prepared from the right raw materials, otherwise you risk harming your genitourinary system. Acorns must be ripe and collected on time.
Also, do not forget to soak and dry acorns before preparing a drink from them, otherwise such a useful quercetin can harm the body.
In general, the drink has no contraindications for pregnant women, however, before using it, it is best to consult a doctor. It is also undesirable to give a drink to children under the age of three.
Acorns, like any other product, can cause allergies. In this case, there is no point in dosing a drink. It is best to be completely out of its use.
Having figured out how much the drink can be harmful and healthy, consider the question of how to make coffee from oak acorns correctly.
Coffee preparation
If you have already harvested the fruits, observing all the rules, before making a coffee drink from them, you need to carry out several manipulations.
At the first stage, we immerse acorns in water, which should be at room temperature. Those nuts that float to the surface, you must immediately get out and discard. The rest is left in the water for about thirty minutes.
After the fruits are wet, you need to drain the water and throw them in a colander.
Preheat the oven to 100 °. On the baking sheet we spread the parchment paper and spread the acorns on it. We dry them until they turn brown. Most often, the drying procedure takes about ten minutes. As a result, the fruits should be well peeled.
At the next stage, the kernels must be minced or grinded in a coffee grinder. Finished raw materials must be completely dry. If the ground mass is raw, then it must be brought to a readiness in a dryer or oven. Now the raw materials are laid out in banks. It is advisable that the container in which you plan to store the powder from acorns be glass.
Before you plan to brew coffee, the necessary amount of workpieces must be calcined in a hot pan. Fans of this drink note in their reviews that the duration of frying the powder affects the taste and depends on the individual preferences of each.
Coffee made from acorns. Recipe
A classic acorn drink is prepared using the same technology as coffee beans.
It can be steamed with boiling water in a mug, or you can boil it in a Turk. Of course, coffee drinkers can say that the steaming procedure is not a complete way to make coffee. But there are those who will appreciate this cooking method.
So, for one Turk 200 g in size, we need one teaspoon of acorn powder. Fill it with water and set it on fire. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Sugar or honey may be used as a sweetener. For people with diabetes, a sweetener is added.
Add spices
There are many recipes. One of them is the preparation of coffee with the addition of various spices. Most often, cinnamon or cloves are used, which are added to coffee after the drink is ready. Black pepper is added while coffee is brewing. Some in the reviews say that they love peppercorn.
Gourmet Acorn Drink
This coffee is prepared with the addition of salt. Pour one teaspoon of the dry mixture into the turk, add a pinch of salt. All this is filled with water and set on fire. Bring to a boil. No need to add sugar.
Interesting Facts
Today, botanists around the world have more than five hundred species of oaks. Each species produces acorns. In this case, the most useful fruits can be harvested from trees that grow in our country. The main thing is to find a suitable tree.
Another interesting fact is noted in the reviews: the taste of coffee from acorns can be different each time. It all depends on a few points. Firstly, as already mentioned above, the taste of the drink is affected by roasting the mixture. Secondly, it all depends on the amount that you put in the Turk. An acorn drink can taste like cocoa once, and in another it may look like coffee, which we make from coffee beans.
In this article, several recipes for how to make coffee from acorns were considered. But do not be limited to them. If desired, you can mix other ingredients.