Blackcurrant juice: benefits and harm, how to prepare, recipes

Content

1 What are the benefits of blackcurrant juice?
2 Currant juice during pregnancy
3 Blackcurrant juice during breastfeeding
4 Currant juice for children up to one year old
5 Blackcurrant juice recipes
6 Contraindications to currant juice
7 Terms and conditions of storage
8 Conclusion

Black currant is a tasty and healthy berry that has a high content of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid gives the fruit a sour taste and also saturates it with beneficial qualities. Currants are used to make preserves, jams, and various drinks. Blackcurrant juice is especially in demand due to its vitamin and mineral complex enriched with organic acids.

What are the benefits of blackcurrant juice?

For a classic recipe for making fruit juice, you can use frozen blackcurrants or freshly picked berries. The benefits of the drinks will be the same.This depends on the effects of the complex of vitamins and minerals contained in the fruit. The advantage of preparation is the use of minimal heat treatment to which the fruits are subjected. It is known that under the influence of high temperature, some of the beneficial properties of vitamin C and related components can be destroyed. Therefore, berry drinks are especially useful when prepared before direct consumption. Currant drink is appreciated:

As a tonic. Vitamins and minerals help increase the body's defenses and increase the body's ability to resist the spread of viruses and bacteria.
As an antioxidant. Volatile compounds, essential oils, organic acids prevent oxidation processes inside cells. This makes the drink promote cell regeneration, rejuvenate the skin, improve the condition of blood vessels, and normalize blood flow.
As an anti-inflammatory agent. Vitamins and minerals help relieve inflammation. Examples of such an effect: the use of warm blackcurrant drink for diseases of the upper respiratory tract to relieve swelling of the larynx.

The running and antipyretic effects of warm blackcurrant drinks are also noted. This is due to the increased content of vitamin C, essential oils, and organic acids. The action of the components is aimed at normalizing body temperature, relieving symptoms of fever, and eliminating chills. These manifestations make the drink especially useful for cold symptoms. Many mothers in winter prepare a fruit drink from frozen currants for their child to relieve symptoms during ARVI and influenza.

Currant juice during pregnancy

Blackcurrant is known for its effect on blood pressure, so pregnant women often think twice before consuming it. During pregnancy, blackcurrant fruit drinks or compotes can be useful to eliminate the signs of a cold. In addition, they normalize blood pressure and activate vasodilation processes, which may be needed when toxicosis or migraine pain occurs.

At the same time, the black variety is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women with high stomach acidity or diagnosed diseases of the intestines or stomach. Black berries should not be consumed if there is a risk of an allergic reaction.

Blackcurrant juice during breastfeeding

When breastfeeding, it is recommended to drink berry drinks little by little, starting from the moment the baby is 3-4 months old. The only obstacle to drinking blackcurrant drinks while breastfeeding may be an allergic reaction in the baby.

Currant juice for children up to one year old

Black and red berries begin to be introduced into the diet of infants from 6 to 7 months of age. The timing may vary if mothers or pediatricians adhere to special feeding rules. If the baby does not show signs of an allergic reaction, then fruit drinks can become one of the most popular drinks in the children's diet. They are tasty, healthy, replenish the baby’s need for fluid, and also have a slight strengthening effect, which affects the consistency of stool in infants.

Blackcurrant juice recipes

Currant juice can be made from frozen berries, as well as from freshly picked fruits.In addition, there are several options for preparing the drink:

with minimal heat treatment;
without cooking;
using a multicooker.

Black currants can pair well with citrus or other fruits. Therefore, there are various recipes for multicomponent blackcurrant compositions.

The basic rule of preparation is to use intact, whole fruits that have reached the consumer stage of ripeness. Damaged or dry berries can affect the taste of the future drink. Liquids are prepared using glass containers, jugs, decanters, and glass bottles.

Important! One handful of black currant berries can completely satisfy the daily requirement of the human body for ascorbic acid.

How to make fruit juice from frozen blackcurrants

Frozen berries completely retain their beneficial properties. Many housewives take the frozen fruits out of the freezer in winter in order to start making blackcurrant juice before eating it. For preparation take:

berries - 400 g;
sugar - 200 g;
water - 2.5 l.

The berries are defrosted in a colander, then the released juice is squeezed out. Boil the mixture on the stove with sugar for 10 - 15 minutes. After cooling, the resulting mixture is mixed with the released juice and topped up with water.

How to make fruit drink from fresh blackcurrants

Fresh berries release juice worse than frozen ones, so to activate the process, they are crushed with a masher or spoon. Then the juice is removed and the berries are boiled. After cooling, all ingredients are mixed.

Recipe for currant juice without cooking

Without heat treatment, drinks are prepared using a cold method. To do this take:

1 tbsp. fruits;
3 tbsp. water;
from 2.5 tbsp. l. Sahara.

The berries are sorted, washed and dried.Then the fruits are crushed with a blender. Add sugar to the mixture and leave until the crystals are completely dissolved. After dissolution, add water and mix thoroughly. The liquid is filtered through a small sieve. Serve with ice and mint leaves.

Homemade currant and lemon juice

One of the recipes with the addition of lemon is called a “vitamin composition”. The vitamin C content in this drink is increased many times. For preparation take:

200 g fruits;
1 lemon;
from 5 to 8 tbsp. l. Sahara;
1 liter of water.

Blackcurrants are crushed, sugar, zest and juice of a large lemon are added. Then the mixture is diluted with water and stirred. The drink is served strained.

How to make currant juice in a slow cooker

The multicooker simplifies the cooking process. You can make a fruit drink from frozen blackcurrants in it without first defrosting it. To prepare, take 200 g of berries, add 200 g of sugar, and add 2 liters of water. On the multicooker panel, set the cooking mode for 5 - 6 minutes. After this, the liquid is pureed using an immersion blender. Serve after additional straining.

Advice! In addition to a submersible blender, they use the method of grinding the mixture through a medium-sized sieve.

Recipe for currant juice with apples

Black berries are often mixed with apples. This is how compotes, preserves and even jams are prepared. Sour apple varieties are suitable for currant drink.

Add quarters of two medium-sized apples to 300 g of fruit, add water, boil for 15 minutes until softened. The liquid is drained, the remaining puree is ground through a sieve. Combine the puree and syrup obtained after cooking, add sweetener to taste.

Blackcurrant and basil juice

For preparation use sprigs of purple basil. For 1 glass of currants take:

2 medium basil sprigs;
sweetener - to taste;
1.5 liters of water;
orange zest.

Basil leaves are added to the prepared blackcurrants, then using a masher or spoon, crush the berries until the juice comes out. Pour boiled water over basil, berries, add orange zest and sweetener. The syrup is left to infuse for 30 minutes. Before use, strain through a medium-sized sieve.

Currant juice with mint flavor

Drinks with mint have a slight calming effect, this is due to the content of mint essential oils in the stems and leaves. Sprigs and mint leaves are added to the composition prepared according to the classic recipe and left to infuse for 30 - 40 minutes. Mint and currant drink is served with ice.

Blackcurrant ginger juice

The addition of ginger makes blackcurrant drink popular during the cold season. Warm drinking has an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect. Ingredients:

berries – 200 g;
ginger root – 100 g;
water – 2 l;
sweetener - to taste.

Ginger is crushed and mixed with berries. Pour boiling water over the mixture and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Sweetener is added. The drink is drunk in small sips.

Attention! Honey is added only to warm drinks. Hot liquids change the structure of honey, after which it loses its beneficial properties.

Orange and blackcurrant juice

Black currant goes well with orange to taste. The ingredients are selected according to your own preferences. To give a characteristic orange aroma, take 2 oranges per 300 g of berries. To enhance the taste, use 3 citrus fruits.

Black fruits and oranges along with the peel are crushed in a blender, poured with water, and boiled for 5 - 10 minutes.Then leave for 30 - 40 minutes, add honey. This drink is served completely chilled, with pieces of ice and mint leaves.

A variation of this recipe can be prepared using sparkling mineral water without additional cooking. Then the drink is infused longer, about 1 hour.

Contraindications to currant juice

The benefits or harms of blackcurrant fruit drinks can be discussed taking into account individual health characteristics. Fruit drinks made from black berries may be completely contraindicated for those diagnosed with serious diseases:

thrombophlebitis, diseases associated with blood clotting parameters;
gastritis, ulcers with high stomach acidity;
intestinal diseases complicated by regular constipation.

Terms and conditions of storage

Berry fruit drinks are drinks that are prepared before consumption. During long-term storage, fermentation processes begin, characteristic of the technology for preparing homemade liqueurs and tinctures with berries. There are basic storage rules:

The liquid is stored at room temperature for 10 to 20 hours;
The drink is stored in the refrigerator for 4 - 5 days.

Conclusion

Blackcurrant juice is a healthy drink, valuable for its content of ascorbic acid and unique essential oils. Traditional blackcurrant drinks are prepared in different ways. Adding additional ingredients improves flavors and complements the list of beneficial properties of the main drink.