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Honeysuckle is a healthy berry containing a storehouse of vitamins. From it you can make not only preparations in the form of jams, preserves, compotes, but also alcoholic drinks. Honeysuckle tincture can take center stage in the medicine cabinet and even on the holiday table.
The benefits and harms of honeysuckle tincture
These small bluish berries contain a lot of useful vitamins and minerals: magnesium, calcium, iron, iodine, copper, phosphorus and much more. In folk medicine, honeysuckle tincture with vodka or any other alcohol base occupies a special place, since its medicinal properties help to avoid many diseases:
- strengthens the immune system;
- improves digestion;
- has a positive effect on the nervous system;
- cleanses the body of waste and toxins;
- helps cleanse the blood;
- fights obesity;
- has tonic properties, which helps restore strength and recover faster from illness.
Jams, preserves, decoctions, poultices and extracts are made from these berries.
The benefits of vodka, alcohol or moonshine tincture are quite multifaceted, but this drink can be harmful to some people. Here it is very important to take into account the characteristics of the body, allergic reactions to components, and past illnesses. In some cases, drinking this drink can cause surges in hemoglobin, skin rashes, constipation, and frequent urination, which leads to the removal of beneficial substances from the body.
How to make a tincture from honeysuckle
At home, honeysuckle tincture is often made with moonshine or vodka. Berries in any form are suitable for preparing a medicinal drink: frozen, fresh or dried. In the latter case, you will need 3 times less fruit than indicated in the recipes. Before cooking, frozen berries must first be thawed and excess liquid drained. You can also use honeysuckle jam, but then you should not add sugar. The classic tincture includes vodka, but instead of it you can use moonshine, food alcohol, cognac or any other alcoholic drink.
Honeysuckle tincture recipes
To make this drink, no special equipment is required, which allows you to prepare it at home. Below are simple recipes for honeysuckle tinctures using different alcohol bases.
Recipe for honeysuckle with moonshine
The sweetness of the drink can be adjusted to your taste
The tincture will require the following ingredients:
- berries – 250 g;
- moonshine – 0.5 l.;
- sugar – 1 tbsp. l.;
- water – 100 ml.
Preparation:
- Sort the berries, do not use spoiled or damaged ones.
- Rinse the honeysuckle, place it on a towel to drain excess liquid and dry slightly.
- Transfer the workpiece into a jar, fill it with moonshine and mix the contents.
- Close the lid and put it in a dark place at room temperature. Honeysuckle moonshine must steep for at least 5 days. To make the tincture a rich and bright color, the contents of the jar must be shaken daily.
- After this time, sugar syrup should be poured into the container. To do this, add a spoonful of sugar to a glass of water and stir.
- Close the lid again and let it brew for another 2 days.
- Using gauze folded 3-4 times, strain the tincture from the berry mass.
- Pour the drink into bottles or decanters.
- Refrigerate before use.
It is allowed to make adjustments to the recipe for honeysuckle moonshine tincture if necessary. You can change the proportions of sugar at your discretion or do without it altogether, but in this case the bitterness will be stronger. In addition, you can add additional ingredients to the drink, for example, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, orange, lingonberries, chokeberries or blueberries.
If you have a large amount of berries, you can make honeysuckle moonshine at home, which has a tart taste and bright aroma. So, for honeysuckle mash for moonshine you will need only 4 components:
- berries – 5 kg;
- sugar – 1 kg;
- wine yeast – 70 g pressed or 15 g dry;
- clean water – 2 l.
Preparation:
- Mash the honeysuckle in an enamel pan.
- Mix sugar with water and pour this solution over the berry mixture.
- Pour into a glass bottle.
- Add yeast, stir.
- Instead of a water seal, you can put a rubber medical glove on the container. As it swells, you need to make holes in it with a needle.
The ripening period is at least 7 days. You can tell when the glove is ready when it deflates. The shelf life of this drink is 5 years.
An indicator of the ripening of the mash is a rubber glove, which blows off when ready
Honeysuckle tincture with alcohol
For tincture, you can use ethyl alcohol diluted to 40-45%. The following ingredients will be required:
- honeysuckle fruits – 300 g;
- alcohol – 1 l.;
- sugar – 150 g;
- water – 0.2 l.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Sort the berries and rinse.
- Grind them, try to preserve the juice.
- Transfer the berry mass to a jar for infusion, add alcohol, mix thoroughly.
- Close the container with a lid, place in a dark place for 5 days, shake the contents daily.
- Mix water and sugar in a saucepan, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes over low heat, skimming off the foam.
- Strain the berry infusion through cheesecloth, add the cooled sugar syrup.
- Close the lid and put away again for 5 days.
- If the drink turns out cloudy, it can be filtered through cotton wool.
- Pour the finished tincture into bottles and seal hermetically with stoppers.
Before cooking, the berries must be crushed using a blender, food processor or regular crusher.
Recipe for honeysuckle tincture with vodka
For this drink you will need:
- honeysuckle – 400 g;
- water – 2 l.;
- sugar – 300 g;
- water – 400 ml.
Cooking process:
- Wash the berries, dry with a towel and chop.
- Transfer the resulting mixture into a glass container and add the remaining ingredients to it.
- Close the container tightly and shake the contents well.
- Place in a dark place for 2-3 weeks.
- After this time, filter and bottle.
Only whole fruits of good quality are suitable for this drink.
Honeysuckle vodka with honey
When replacing sugar with honey in the tincture, the beneficial properties increase. To prepare a medicinal drink you will need:
- honeysuckle – 400 g;
- vodka – 2 l.;
- liquid honey – 300 g.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Wash the fruits, dry them slightly with paper towels, and grind them using a blender or meat grinder.
- Transfer the resulting mass into a glass container, add honey and vodka.
- Shake the contents well.
- Transfer the container to a dark place.
- Infuse for 2-3 weeks, after which the drink should be strained.
- Pour the finished tincture into bottles.
If the drink turns out to be strong, you can dilute it with water.
Honeysuckle tincture with cognac
For this drink, you should take good quality cognac, since the taste of the future tincture will depend on it. To do this you will need:
- dried honeysuckle – 200 g;
- cognac – 500 ml;
- dried tea rose petals - 1 tbsp. l.;
- sugar – 1 tbsp. l.;
- cloves – 1-2 buds;
- vanilla sugar – ½ tsp;
- nutmeg – ½ tsp.
Cooking process:
- Place the berries in a glass container.
- Fill them to the top with cognac and place in a dark, warm place.
- After 5 days, add all remaining ingredients.
- Mix the contents thoroughly and leave for 7 days.
- Filter the finished tincture; if desired, you can add more sugar and pour it into bottles for storage.
It is not recommended to use boiled water to prepare a medicinal drink.
How to properly use honeysuckle berry tincture
Undoubtedly, honeysuckle tincture is beneficial for the body, but only in moderation. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is recommended to take 50 ml orally after meals, once a day. Abuse can lead to constipation, cause an allergic reaction, and also increase the urge to urinate.
Contraindications for use
Children, nursing and pregnant women should avoid such drinks. It is also not recommended to take it orally for people with low blood pressure or exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases. To avoid side effects, you should consult a specialist before treatment.
When poisoned by poisonous berries, symptoms such as difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat and convulsions appear. In such situations, you should immediately seek medical help.
Terms and conditions of storage
Honeysuckle tincture should be stored in glass bottles with tightly capped caps. For long-term storage, it is advisable to keep it in a cool place, for example, in a cellar or basement. If these conditions are met, the shelf life can be about 5 years.
Conclusion
Honeysuckle tincture is not only a pleasant drink with a slight sourness, but also a useful medicine that fights various ailments.It is quite simple to prepare it at home. The main thing is to choose the recipe that you like and be sure to follow the cooking recommendations.
