When do you get birch sap? With added yeast and honey
In addition to the fact that birch sap tastes good, it is also full of substances necessary for the body. Fresh birch sap can normalize microflora in the intestines, break down kidney stones, and help the immune system fight lung diseases. It is also used for cosmetic purposes. The healthiest sap is the sap you directly collect from the tree. The simple rules of this procedure will help you get this tasty and healing drink easily and without consequences for the birch tree.
We choose the time to collect the juice. Immediately after the spring equinox on March 20, you can begin monitoring sap flow in trees. To make sure that the sap has flowed, find a young birch tree whose thickness does not exceed 10 cm in diameter. Make a thin puncture and observe. A drop of liquid that appears will tell you that you can start collecting juice. And don’t be embarrassed if there is still snow around the tree. Birch trees “come to life” very early in the spring, as soon as the first sun appears. We choose birch. Do not look for sap in thin birch trees, as punctures will only injure it. And the sap in young trees will not have the taste you are familiar with. Also, do not get hung up on one tree, but rather select several trunks for your purposes. The birch tree will give you about a liter of sap without any consequences for its vital functions. Therefore, it is better to collect 5 liters from five trees than the same amount from one. Remember that urban birch trees do not have even a fraction of the beneficial properties that you will find in forest trunks. Trees are excellent at accumulating dirt, dust, exhaust fumes, and fumes from factories. Their juice will be completely harmful to you.
By following simple rules, you can enjoy a healthy drink and protect the birch tree from death.
Mother Nature made sure that after a long winter “hibernation” and spring vitamin deficiency, we could replenish the supply of vitamins and microelements in the body. Natural birch sap is a unique vitamin drink that regulates the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and excretory system. It is rich in mineral salts and microelements and has a different composition at different periods of sap flow.
Spring came. Let's go to the forest for juice
If you know when to collect birch sap, you can accurately select the time of its maximum benefit. Birch sap has long been called a cure for all diseases for its unique properties. Indeed, it perfectly “cleanses” sand from the kidneys, is indicated for gastritis, normalizes the acidity of the stomach, has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body, being a multivitamin, and improves immunity.
The time when you can collect birch sap falls in different years from the end of February to the middle (end) of April, depending on the region and how early spring came. But as soon as the last snow melts, nature wakes up and its life, still hidden from the human eye, begins. There aren’t even the first leaves yet, but sap flow has begun, which means it’s time to collect birch sap.
How to collect birch sap
Knowing when to collect birch sap, you can prepare for this event in advance, especially if you plan to make preparations for the whole year. After all, you can not only drink birch sap regularly all spring, while birch trees provide this opportunity, but also prepare it for future use. Of course, fresh juice brings maximum benefits to the body, but also prepared, for example, in the form of a decoction with dried fruits or mint, it perfectly quenches thirst and has an excellent taste and smell.
Residents of rural areas know better than others when to collect birch sap, and most importantly, how to do it with minimal harm to the tree. To prevent damage to the birch tree, it is not recommended to take more than a liter of sap per day from one tree. This golden rule must be strictly followed if you want to enjoy the gifts of the forest year after year. A hole for collecting juice is made using a screwdriver with a diameter of 6 to 10 mm. In this case, the drill should enter the tree trunk at an angle from bottom to top no more than 3 cm. Plastic bottles, buckets can serve as containers for collecting sap, and sometimes large plastic bags tied to a birch tree are used.
Birch sap for health and beauty
If you are a supporter of a healthy lifestyle, you, of course, will not miss the time when the collection of birch sap in the forest begins on an industrial scale, that is, when the sap flow has gained full strength. After all, in addition to the fact that the juice can be drunk fresh for a month, or even more, it can be prepared for future use. Sterilized, it will last until spring, replacing your fruit and berry compotes. Kvass made from birch sap has a number of medicinal properties and can also be used for a long time as a vitamin and strengthening agent. Ice cubes made from birch sap are an excellent cosmetic product. As you can see, birch sap is not only a tasty drink, but also a powerful therapeutic natural remedy.
Many people have probably seen jars or plastic bottles hanging from birch trees in the spring. These are amateurs natural product They collect its life-giving sap from the tree.
If you care about your health, you will probably be interested in how to make a safe washing gel:
The value of birch sap
Benefit birch sap has been known since ancient times. Our ancestors also used its healing properties. The drink contains phytoncides, minerals and tannins, vitamins, and sugars.
All this makes it possible to use birch sap in the treatment of colds and infectious diseases, as a general tonic. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, problems with the gallbladder and kidneys, rheumatism, radiculitis - all these diagnoses are indications for the use of birch sap in food.
The drink will help relieve headaches, slow down the development of tuberculosis, and will even be useful in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. Well, for those who do not complain about their health, birch sap will raise the overall tone of the body.
Birch sap collection period
You can enjoy a fresh drink only during a certain period of the year – in spring. Not everyone knows when it is possible to collect birch sap, and they begin to “injure” trees from the first days of spring. But this cannot be done, because... The birch may not yet wake up by this time.
But now we’ll tell you when to collect birch sap. The signal for fermentation of juices in the body of the tree will be swollen buds. Therefore, you will have to wait for this moment, and only then start collecting the healing drink.
And you will have to stop the procedure when leaves begin to hatch from the buds. In total, the entire collection period takes about one to one and a half months. Everything will depend on the temperature of the spring air.
Rules for collecting birch sap
Before you start collecting birch sap, you should understand a number of rules:
1. The “wound” that you make in the tree under the groove should be very small - treat the plant that gave you respect.
2. Having finished collecting juice, be sure to plug the hole, from which it flowed: insert the chop, cover with paint or varnish. Otherwise, the birch tree may get sick.
3. Do not take juice from young plants– the yield of the drink will be minimal, so the “trauma” caused will be inappropriate. “Milk” perennial specimens.
4. An adult birch tree can produce up to 7 liters of sap per day. But you shouldn’t use this, because... No more than 1-2 liters can restore a tree at once. Therefore, do not hang one plant with jars - distribute them evenly over the entire grove.
How to collect birch sap
So, collecting birch sap should begin with choosing the tool with which the “wound” will be applied. No rough cuts with an ax - do not hurt the tree. Can be used drill with thin bit. As a last resort, screw in and unscrew the self-tapping screw.
A tube (metal, plastic) or a clean cloth is inserted into the hole formed. The juice will saturate it and flow down it into a container (glass jar, plastic bottle or wooden container).
The second way is to make a small deep groove under the bark from bottom to top, in which a device for draining liquid is attached. But the most gentle option is not to touch the tree trunk, but to cut off part of one of the branches. Hang a container to collect the juice at the cutting site.
Having completed these steps, you can return home - the juice will drip very slowly. So come back the next morning for the finished “nectar”. If you want to stock up on more juice, pour the resulting liquid into another container and place the jar under the groove again.
Juice in reserve
But when collecting a large “harvest”, do not forget that birch sap cannot be stored for a long time even in the refrigerator - after 4 days it will ferment. But our ancestors knew how to store birch sap. Their experience will be useful to you too.
You can use the juice's ability to ferment by turning it into a tonic carbonated drink. Fresh juice is poured into glass containers (sterilized), sugar is added (per 1 liter of drink - 2 tsp), raisins (5 pcs.), lemon zest (a little) and placed under a water seal for 2-3 days.
Birch syrup, which is similar in color to honey, will be stored for a long time. To do this, the juice needs to be evaporated a little.
In spring, nature comes to life, and at this time of year sap flows down the birch trunk. It doesn't taste sweet at all. It resembles water from a spring. But it is a storehouse of useful substances. To get the maximum benefit, you need to know when to collect birch sap.
What time of year is it collected?
Nobody knows the exact date when the juice can be collected. It depends on the climate and weather conditions. If the buds on the birch tree begin to swell, you can try collecting the drink. If the kidneys are dry, there is no need to rush.
The sap is usually collected after the spring equinox. To find out if it has appeared, you need to go to the forest at the end of March and make a cut with a thin awl. This should be done on the south side of the tree - this side is heated more by the sun. It is better to choose a thick tree. If a drop appears at the cut site, it means sap flow has begun and you can collect it.
In what month is the sap collected? Liquid flows from the end of March to the end of April. First it appears on birch trees warmed by the sun (at the edge of the forest). Then the sun moves deeper into the thicket, the distant birch trees warm up, and the sap can be collected from them. When talking about whether it can be collected in the city, it should be remembered that the air is polluted, therefore, the juice may not be useful, but on the contrary, harm or cause allergies. Therefore, in the city, liquid is not collected from birch trees.
Important! The air temperature should warm up to 5 degrees. The best time to collect is from 11.00 to 16.00.
If frosts or rains begin after warm days, then it is better to postpone the trip for a drink. Many people wonder whether it is possible to collect juice in May? You can, but the taste becomes bitter. However, it retains its beneficial properties. Therefore, we can say that the taste depends on the time of collection, and not just on weather conditions and terrain.
How to collect juice correctly - methods
Birch sap must be collected without causing damage to the trees. The following rules must be followed:
- You cannot make deep cuts with an ax, since the liquid is between the bark and the wood. It is better to take a drill with a drill no more than 1 cm (the bark overgrows better).
- You should not take all the sap from the tree. It is better to collect no more than 1 liter per day from one tree (in total, it is recommended to collect no more than 10 liters from one tree per season).
- You cannot collect liquid from young trees. It is believed that mature birch trees produce sweeter sap. You need to choose trees with a diameter greater than 25 cm.
- After collecting the juice, hammer a wooden plug into the hole. The tree will heal faster.
So, in order to assemble correctly, you need to choose a tree with a slight slope (this will make it more convenient to install the bottle). Three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) you must come and pick up a drink. If it is clear that the birch tree produces little product, you should not drill other holes in it or expand what has been done. You just need to change the tree. Usually, birch produces 2-3 liters per day.
When it becomes clear that no more liquid can be collected from the tree, you need to help it heal the wound. To avoid damaging the tree, you should find an old dry twig, slightly larger in diameter than the drill, and plug the hole with it. This way the juice will not spill out, but will flow along the branches. Next year there will be no trace of the hole left.
Collection methods:
- Using a groove. Drill a small hole about 30 cm from the ground. Clean the top layer of bark around the hole to prevent dirt from getting into the juice. Install the v-groove using an ax at a 45-degree angle. Place a bottle (bag, bucket).
- Collection without equipment. Find a flat place on the birch tree and make a v-shaped cut. Bend the cut bark a little (to form a hook). Attach the drink container.
- In packages. Choose a thick branch. It should move away from another thick branch (not from the trunk) to the side, and not up. Cut off its end. Attach the container. You can simply put the bottles on the branches.
- Using a dropper. Drill a hole in the birch and clean it. Remove the needle from the dropper and insert the spout. Place a needle on the other end of the dropper and pierce the bottle with it. The liquid will flow through the dropper into the bottle.
Anyone can choose the most suitable collection method for themselves.
How to store birch sap
Of course, it is best to drink fresh birch sap. You need to drink at least 0.5 liters per day to experience the benefits. It can be stored in the refrigerator or cellar for no more than a month. It is best to store it by freezing: this way it will retain more nutrients.
Storage methods:
- Pasteurization. For 1 liter of liquid, take 150 g of sugar and a pinch of citric acid. Stir everything thoroughly, filter through cheesecloth, pour into jars and boil for 10 minutes. Roll up the lids and place in the pantry. The disadvantage of this method is that sugar and citric acid will change the taste of the juice.
- Fermentation. Strain the juice and pour into containers. Cover with lids and cloth. Place in a place where the optimal fermentation temperature is 10-15 degrees for 3 days. The drink may become cloudy. You can store it until mid-summer.
- Freezing. Pour the drink into glass bottles and freeze.
- Healthy drink. Mix the juice with mint and rose hips. Pasteurize.
- Evaporation. Evaporate 5 liters of liquid in an open pan. You should get 0.5 liters of syrup with a sugar concentration of 70% (like honey).
- Leaven. Add sugar, yeast and raisins to the juice. When it starts to ferment, pour it into containers, close the lids tightly, and place in a cool, dark place (cellar). Stored for at least three months.
- Birch kvass. For 0.5 liters of juice, take 1 tsp. sugar, three raisins, a little lemon zest. Ferment the drink in glass bottles, attach the lid tightly. This is a folk recipe patented by the Academy of Medical Sciences.
- Birch-pine drink. For 50 liters of juice, take 3 kg of pine needles (scalded), heat to 80 degrees, leave for 6-7 hours. Then strain, add sugar and citric acid. Pour into glass jars, pasteurize for 30 minutes at 95 degrees.
- Storage in cans. Pour the drink into stainless steel cans. Insert a tube into the lid and plug it with a wooden stopper. Pour well-roasted young barley into a gauze bundle and place in a can (so that the juice does not turn sour). The juice will change its color and taste (like bread), but it will be tasty and healthy for the liver.
There are a lot of recipes, all of them do not require much effort to prepare.
Birch drink has a positive effect on the body:
- normalizes digestion: relieves spasms and colic, improves appetite;
- stabilizes the acidity of gastric juice: a decreased level of acidity increases, an increased level decreases it;
- dissolves kidney stones, has a diuretic property;
- helps with atherosclerosis – cleanses blood vessels from cholesterol plaques;
- has expectorant properties, it can be used for bronchitis;
- restores metabolism, being a low-calorie drink;
- treats anemia, increases blood hemoglobin levels;
- helps with colds: increases sweating, reduces temperature;
- treats runny nose;
- brings blood pressure back to normal;
- fights vitamin deficiency and spring blues;
- eliminates age spots (the juice is used externally in the form of lotion);
- stimulates hair growth and reduces oiliness;
- tonic, improves immunity.
The benefits are due to the fact that it contains the following substances:
- organic acids;
- tannins;
- fructose;
- enzymes;
- a large amount of vitamin C;
- mineral elements.
Contraindications:
- exacerbation of stomach ulcers;
- exacerbation of urolithiasis;
- individual intolerance.
Birch sap is used in folk medicine. It helps get rid of many diseases, improving the general condition of the body:
- For anemia, drink it mixed with carrot or apple juice. Taking 50 ml 15 minutes before meals can increase hemoglobin levels.
- To increase immunity, birch drink is mixed with milk in equal proportions and consumed orally.
- For diseases of the digestive system, drink 50 ml of pure juice.
- Skin diseases are treated with birch lotions and compresses.
- To cleanse the body of waste and toxins, drink 200 ml in the morning before breakfast for 6 weeks.
Important! When treating cough, birch sap is heated.
Birch sap can be found on store shelves. But assembling it yourself will not be difficult. The main thing is to choose a method that is convenient for you and that will not harm the tree. Birch sap, collected in the spring, is a very valuable and healthy product.
Nature is rich in various gifts. With autumn comes the berry season, mushroom pickers also go “hunting”. In the spring, you can please yourself with others, the main thing is to figure out how to properly collect birch sap, how to find the right time.
Collection time
Birch sap is indeed collected from birch trees, but the exact time is quite difficult to determine. Nature is changeable, you can’t just set yourself an exact date for collection and follow it every year. It's better to watch what's happening around you. Usually, birch sap flows with the beginning of snow melting, and when the buds swell, this is a sure sign of the beginning of harvesting.
You need to stop collecting from the moment the leaves appear and actively grow.
Birch is a beautiful, unique tree, it is difficult to confuse it with something else. The birch tree is sung by poets, described by artists, and is sung about in some songs. Indeed, a beautiful and, as it turned out, useful tree. After all, you can collect a little sap from birch trees every year. The main thing here is not only to collect it, but also to store it correctly.
Look at the diameter of the tree to see how many holes you can make:
When the diameter is 20-25 cm - 1;
25-35 cm - two, if 35-40 - 3;
When the birch is large, the diameter is above 40 cm - up to 4.
After harvesting, be sure to help the tree heal the wound faster. Close the hole tightly with a cork, or varnish, or wax or moss. Otherwise, bacteria and bugs will quickly get into the trunk from there, which will then become a serious threat. It is better to take care of the surrounding birch trees, then you can safely collect sap for many years, especially since it is defenseless.
Almost immediately after drilling, the birch tree will begin to heal the resulting wound and the amount of sap will drop. This is fine! Do not drill a hole by making it deeper. It is better to wait patiently for the required amount of sap or change the tree when the collection rate drops further.
Juice storage
Fresh juice cannot be stored for more than 2 days, even in the cool of the refrigerator. Those who want to stock up on juice then make kvass from it.
Recipe for kvass
Harm of juice
Yes, it can also cause harm, especially when the juice is collected near highways or in general in a city where the environment is unfavorable. Allergy sufferers should also be careful. When you are allergic even to birch pollen, there is no need to risk the sap.
