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Preparing fruits and berries allows a person to get the necessary portion of vitamins during the cold season. Blackcurrant juice for the winter is a real storehouse of nutrients and microelements. A large number of different recipes will allow you to choose the perfect drink that all family members will appreciate.
The benefits and harms of blackcurrant juice
A drink made from this berry is an excellent tonic. Since ancient times, it has helped restore strength after a working day, and also acted as a general tonic during vitamin deficiency. The juice helps remove harmful toxins from the body, cleanses the kidneys and urinary tract.
According to folk recipes, blackcurrant juice effectively fights stomach and duodenal ulcers. It also helps with gastritis with low acidity. The drink is used as an additional medicine in the treatment of diseases of the liver and digestive system.
Vitamin C, present in large quantities in berries, has an excellent effect on the body during colds. It helps relieve flu and cold symptoms - headaches and nasal congestion. The juice is most destructive for such strains of the virus as A2 and B.
Despite all its usefulness, there are several restrictions on the use of this berry drink. In the first place in terms of contraindications is individual intolerance to the components of the product, as well as a person’s tendency to allergic reactions. Carbohydrates contained in large quantities in berries are contraindicated for people who have problems with excess weight or diabetes. It is not recommended to drink blackcurrant juice for people who have recently experienced a stroke or heart attack.
How to make blackcurrant juice
To prepare a quality drink, you need to approach the process of preparing the main ingredient with special responsibility. Freshly picked berries must be carefully sorted to remove leaves, insects and various foreign objects. The tail and the remainder of the flower are removed from each berry.
Over several centuries of harvesting black currants, they have learned to extract juice from it in several ways. Traditionally, all these methods are divided into 2 large groups - with and without a juicer.
Blackcurrant juice through a juicer
Using a juicer to get a delicious drink is the easiest option.Preparing blackcurrant juice through a juicer for the winter greatly simplifies the entire canning process for housewives. Berries are placed in the juicer bowl, the device is turned on, after which the finished drink is poured through a special hole. The remaining cake from the berries is thrown away.
There are 2 types of juicers - auger and centrifugal. To obtain liquid from black currants, it is not recommended to use more expensive screw models. Although they are capable of squeezing out every last drop of juice, a simple centrifugal juicer will do it much faster.
Blackcurrant juice without a juicer
In order to make a drink without using a juicer, you will have to spend a little more time and effort. Among all the methods, there are 3 most popular:
- Using a meat grinder. The berries are placed in the bowl of a meat grinder and scrolled on the smallest grate.
- Using a blender. A homogeneous puree is made from the fruits. You can use either an immersion blender or a stationary one.
- Using a masher. The berries are crushed to extract the juice inside them.
Despite the various devices, the common point of all methods is the preparation of berry mush. To get pure juice, it should be strained. A fine sieve or gauze rolled up in several layers is best suited for this.
Blackcurrant juice recipes for the winter
The resulting blackcurrant concentrate is rarely used as a finished drink. Although there are people who prefer the pure product, most supplement it with all sorts of additives. The first place among such additions is confidently occupied by sugar - in addition to sweetness, it is also an excellent preservative that can extend shelf life for a long time.Many people replace sugar with honey - this complements the taste and aroma of the drink.
Among the additions to the drink, you can use other varieties of currants, as well as a variety of fruit and berry crops. Black currant goes well with red berries. Drink recipes with the addition of apples and raspberries are very popular.
A simple blackcurrant juice recipe
Since blackcurrant in concentrated form has a rather strong taste, experts advise adding a small amount of clean water when preparing it. For the recipe you will need:
- 3 kg black currants;
- 250 g sugar;
- 300 ml water.
The fruits are mashed with a masher, mixed with liquid and put on fire. After the mixture boils, reduce the heat and boil the berries for half an hour. The liquid is cooled and filtered to remove berry skins.
Pure juice is mixed with sugar and put back on the stove. Boil the liquid over medium heat for 15 minutes. The finished drink is cooled and poured into prepared sterilized jars.
Blackcurrant juice without sugar
A sugar-free drink is considered the most healthy - it will contain the maximum amount of nutrients and vitamins. This recipe will produce concentrated blackcurrant juice. To prepare it you will need 2 kg of berries and 150 ml of boiled water.
The fruits are crushed in any convenient way, mixed with water and placed on the stove. It is very important to stir the berry mixture periodically to avoid burning.Half an hour after the start of boiling, the pan is removed from the stove, the juice is filtered through gauze folded in several layers. The finished drink is poured into cans, which are rolled under the lids.
Black and red currant juice
The combination of red and black currants creates a unique berry taste. The drink will include all the beneficial properties of both varieties. If desired, it can be sweetened with a little sugar. To prepare you will need:
- 1 kg black currants;
- 1 kg of red currants;
- 500 ml water;
- sugar to taste.
The berry mixture is ground in a blender or meat grinder, water is added to it and sent to the fire. When the mixture boils, reduce the heat to a minimum, and cook it for half an hour with constant stirring. During this time, most of the water will boil away, leaving only a concentrated berry drink. After filtering, the juice is tasted - if it is too sour, you can add 200-300 g of sugar. The finished product is poured into jars and sent for further storage.
With the addition of apples
Apples, like blackcurrants, are an excellent source of vitamins. In addition to their incredible benefits, they can give the drink an excellent taste and subtle fruity aroma. If sweet and sour varieties are used to prepare the drink, it is advisable to add a small amount of sugar to the finished product. For the recipe you will need:
- 1 kg of fresh apples;
- 1 kg black currants;
- 300 g sugar.
First, the juices are prepared separately. Apples are peeled and cored, after which they are sent to the juicer. Black currants are squeezed in the same way. Then both drinks are mixed and sugar is added to them. The resulting mixture is placed on the stove, brought to a boil, boiled for 10-15 minutes, then removed from the heat.When the finished juice has cooled, it is poured into sterilized jars and sent for storage.
With honey and mint
Honey has always been considered one of the best folk medicines. In combination with black currant, the drink can become a real vitamin bomb that can easily get rid of any cold. Mint, in turn, adds a unique aroma that will not leave anyone indifferent. To prepare this drink you need:
- 2 kg black currants;
- 250 ml water;
- 150 g liquid honey;
- a small bunch of mint.
The berries are crushed with a masher, mixed with water and brought to a boil. With constant stirring, the mixture is boiled for 15-20 minutes, then cooled and squeezed to obtain a clear liquid. Honey is added to it, mixed and boiled along with whole mint leaves for 10 minutes. Used leaves are placed in jars along with the drink.
With raspberries
Raspberries, like honey, are an excellent remedy against colds. It has a bright taste, which in combination with blackcurrant allows you to get a great berry drink. Depending on the variety of berries, you can add a little sugar to taste. For the recipe you need:
- 1 kg black currants;
- 1 kg raspberries;
- 300 ml water;
- 200-300 g sugar.
The berries are mixed and passed through a meat grinder. Add water to the berry mixture and send it to boil for 20 minutes. After the mixture has cooled, squeeze it through a fine sieve or gauze folded in several layers. If the resulting juice is too sour, add sugar and boil for 5 minutes. Only after this is it poured into jars and sent for storage.
Terms and conditions of storage
If the preparation technology is followed correctly, blackcurrant juice can be stored for up to 6-8 months. At the same time, adding sugar to the finished product increases its shelf life to 12 months. Also, do not neglect sterilization - this action will help protect the juice from the development of harmful microorganisms.
In order for the shelf life of berry juice to be as long as possible, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to ensuring the right conditions. Dark places that are not exposed to direct sunlight are best. The ideal temperature for storage is 4-8 degrees.
Conclusion
Blackcurrant juice for the winter allows you to preserve all the beneficial vitamins and microelements of fresh berries. In combination with other fruits and various additives, you can get a magnificent product that can amaze even the most demanding gourmet with its taste.
