Dried bird cherry: how to use it, what it helps with

Since ancient times, people have used the gifts of nature for their own purposes. The use of dried bird cherry was no exception to the rule. Due to its nutritional composition, this plant was used not only in medicine and cosmetology, but also in cooking. Moreover, not only fresh fruits are used, but also dry bird cherry berries. In cooking, there are many different recipes for dried bird cherry dishes.

The benefits and harms of dried bird cherry

Bird cherry trees grow in South America, Central Europe and the western part of the Russian Federation. Now gardeners have more than 20 edible varieties of this plant, but picking the berries is very difficult due to the height of the trees, sometimes they reach the height of a five-story building. And bird cherry bears fruit only once every 2 years.

Many lovers know that the benefits of dried bird cherry are higher than those of fresh berries. Moreover, the most valuable and expensive is red dried bird cherry.

The use of dried bird cherry in cooking is due to its low calorie content, only 101 kcal per 100 g of product. At the same time, it contains no fat, and per 100 g of berries there are only 6.4 g of proteins, and 16.8 g of carbohydrates.

All properties of dried bird cherry are due to its composition:

• vitamins (A, B, C, E, PP);
• trace elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium, iodine, copper, chromium, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, sodium, phosphorus, boron, aluminum, silicon);
• organic acids (malic, citric);
• beta-carotene and rutin;
• essential oils;
• tannins;
• flavonoids;
• phytonicides, glycosides.

The highest concentration of these substances is in dried bird cherry berries.

It is not surprising that it is more profitable to use dried bird cherry; the benefits from it are enormous:

1. Thanks to this berry, metabolic processes throughout the human body are normalized. Bird cherry helps cleanse the liver and stomach of toxins and stabilizes cholesterol levels in human blood.
2. Many specialists use preparations from bird cherry to eliminate harmful pathogens and internal parasites that cause purulent infections and chronic diseases of the digestive system.
3. Thanks to bird cherry, muscle tone of the whole body is restored.
4. The composition of the blood and the functioning of the human vascular system improves.
5. It is precisely because of the composition of dried bird cherry that its use leads to strengthening the immune system, restoring the nervous system in various stressful situations and mild disorders.
6. The functioning of the genitourinary system improves. Potency increases in men.
7. You should also consume bird cherry during colds. It reduces fever well and also has an analgesic effect.

Despite these advantages, this berry has a number of contraindications:

1. It should not be eaten by people with individual intolerance to the components. This can lead to dire consequences.
2. Chronic constipation is also a contraindication to the use of bird cherry as a medicine.
3. If you have diabetes, you should not eat bird cherry due to the high concentration of carbohydrates in the product.
4. Breastfeeding mothers should not eat bird cherry, as it can change the composition of the milk, worsening its consistency.

What does dried bird cherry help with?

Dried bird cherry, like fresh berries, is used in the treatment of various diseases of the body systems:

• nervous;
• musculoskeletal;
• immune;
• circulatory;
• digestive;
• reproductive;
• uric;
• sexual.

There are many different folk recipes for using this unique berry.

How to brew dried bird cherry for diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common occurrence in both children and adults. For its treatment, decoctions and infusions are usually used.

For children

Wash the dried parts of the bird cherry thoroughly, chop them and dissolve them in water in a ratio of 1:12. Leave to heat in a water bath for 20 minutes, and then leave for another half hour. Then strain several times through cheesecloth into a separate container. Keep refrigerated.

Drink 0.1 liter 3 times a day.

For adults

There are several variations. They are made in the same way as a decoction for children using the same scheme.

1. From fruits. Ratio 1:10, cook for 20 minutes, leave for half an hour, strain. Use 0.12 l 3 times a day. The maximum treatment period should be 2 days.
2. From the bark. Ratio 1:10, cook for 30 minutes, leave for 40 minutes, strain.Use 0.1 l 3 times a day. The maximum course of treatment is 3 days.

In addition, eating a large amount of dried berries will help against diarrhea. Children can have a maximum of 30 pieces, and adults more.

What can be prepared from dried bird cherry

Bird cherry has also found application in cooking. A variety of compositions are made from it.

Tincture

Ingredients:

• vodka – 1 bottle;
• dried berries – 0.12 kg;
• sugar – 80 g.

Cooking technique:

1. Leave half the volume of vodka in the bottle. Add remaining ingredients.
2. Close the lid and mix thoroughly.
3. Place in a dark place for 10 days.

The result is a soft, non-astringent tincture. It can be used not only as an original alcoholic drink, but also as a liquid to strengthen the immune system.

Syrup

Ingredients:

• berries – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1 kg;
• water – 1 kg.

Cooking technique:

1. To boil water. Pour over the berries and let the bird cherry soften.
2. Change the water several times.
3. Separate the seeds from the berries.
4. Thoroughly rub the remaining amount together with sugar.
5. Place the mixture in a saucepan and cook until the mixture thickens completely.
6. Sterilize the jars and put the mixture there. Roll up the lids.

This syrup can be used as an independent food product, or as an additive or filling for other dishes.

Shangi

Ingredients:

• flour – 0.5 kg;
• salt – 4 g;
• dry yeast – 4 g;
• sugar – 208 g;
• warm milk – 300 ml;
• butter – 4 g;
• egg – 1 pc.;
• berries – 1 kg.

Cooking technique:

1. Prepare the dough: sift the flour and mix it with salt, yeast, milk and 8 g of sugar. Knead the dough.
2. Melt the butter and add to the dough. Shape it, wrap it in plastic and put it in the refrigerator. The dough is ready if it has increased its volume by 3 times.
3. Boil the berries in water for a few minutes to soften them. Grind together with sugar. Place on low heat and cook for 10 minutes. Let cool and drain off excess liquid.
4. Take out the dough. Roll out the circles and put the filling on them. Close like whites. Leave for 7 minutes.
5. Beat the egg and brush all the shanks with it.
6. Lay parchment on a baking sheet and place shangi at a distance from each other. Place in an oven preheated to 220 degrees and leave for 40 minutes.

Siberian cake

Ingredients:

• berries – 100 g;
• milk – 0.2 l;
• egg – 4 pcs.;
• butter – 20 g;
• flour – 125 g;
• sour cream – 400 g;
• sugar – 0.1 kg;
• lemon juice – 8 ml;
• chocolate - 1 bar.

Cooking technique:

1. Boil the milk. Pour softened and chopped berries into it and boil for three hours. Strain the liquid.
2. Separate the whites from the yolks.
3. Beat the yolks with 1/3 of the sugar. Add to the bird cherry.
4. Beat the whites with the remaining sugar.
5. Add to the bird cherry. To stir thoroughly.
6. Add the remaining ingredients to the dough (except sour cream and chocolate). Mix.
7. Place the dough in a greased mold and bake the biscuit in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for half an hour.

Divide the dough in half. Carefully coat with sour cream and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

How to dry bird cherry for the winter

Before we talk about methods for drying bird cherry, you need to know how to collect it correctly. Different parts of this unique plant are harvested at different times.

It is better to take berries in July-August. Moreover, the collection is carried out in dry, warm and clear weather. The best period of the day is morning. Bird cherry is picked in clusters. There is no need to wash the berries before the drying process.Drying should be done 5 hours after harvesting the bird cherry.

The flowers of this plant should be harvested in May. Branches are collected only at the time of flowering.

Shoots and bark must be harvested in April before flowering. Moreover, the leaves must be cut with scissors or pruning shears, but the bark must be cut with a knife.

Drying bird cherry in the sun

This is the cheapest method of drying the plant.

The berries are laid out on clean trays and placed in a bright place under the scorching sun. You should not put newspapers underneath them, as the ink on such paper is toxic. You can also use grates, sieve and other equipment for convenience.

At night, the berries should be brought indoors to prevent morning moisture from getting on them.

Other parts are dried in the same way. The time period for this process is approximately 2 weeks.

Bird cherry dried in the attic

The attic is used for drying if weather conditions are unfavorable (lots of moisture). The drying period is slightly longer than the previous one.

Flowers should be dried in the dark, and the trays should be covered with gauze to protect them from pests.

Leaves need to be dried in the dark without access to moisture. You need to turn the workpieces several times a day.

The bark can be dried in the attic without much prep work. The drying period is approximately 2.5 weeks.

How to dry bird cherry in the oven

The total drying time ranges from 4 to 16 hours.

The berries should be spread evenly on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. The first 3 hours should be dried at a low temperature (40 degrees), the remaining several hours at a higher temperature (60 degrees). The door must be ajar! The contents must be stirred regularly.

Leaves and bark can be dried in the same way, only at the same temperature of 40 degrees.

How to dry bird cherry in an electric dryer

This method differs from the previous one only in the drying time. It will be reduced by almost half. The drying scheme is the same as in the previous method.

After drying, the fruits must be separated from the branches and brushes.

How to properly store dry bird cherry

Different parts of this plant have their own shelf life:

1. The berries retain their beneficial properties for 1.5 years.
2. Fruits and flowers can be used for 2 years.
3. The bark in suitable form can be consumed for no more than 1 year.

Dried berries should be stored in canvas bags in a cool, dark room.

Conclusion

The use of dried bird cherry is relevant at all times. The plant in this form has found its place in medicine, cosmetology and cooking. However, to preserve maximum beneficial properties, you need to collect and prepare the berries correctly and on time, and also create all the necessary conditions for its storage.

Recommended Posts

How to dry basil at home

Chokeberry raisins

Candied pears: quick recipes

What is a dried peach called?

How to make candied rhubarb at home

Is it possible to dry saffron milk caps and how to do it correctly

Dried champignons: how to dry in an electric dryer, in the oven

How to dry an umbrella mushroom: rules and shelf life

When and how to properly collect rose hips for drying for the winter