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Mulberry is another essential product for humans. The beneficial properties of dried mulberry and its contraindications have been known since ancient times. Moreover, dried mulberry has more beneficial properties than its fresh counterpart. There are many varieties of mulberry, each with its own characteristics. Harvesting mulberries also requires special preparation.
The benefits and harms of dried mulberries
Before talking about the properties of mulberry, you should understand what it is. Mulberry refers to the fruits of the perennial mulberry tree. There are a wide variety of mulberry varieties. The description is approximately the same for all, the types differ in color and smell. Mulberry is a tree as tall as a 5-story building. The leaves are shaped like lobes. The fruits are seeds 0.03 m long. Moreover, their color varies from white and light red to dark purple. The mulberry tree lives for at least 200 years. There are also older plants, which are approximately 500 years old.
Now more than 15 species of mulberry have been bred.They are distributed throughout East and Southeast Asia, India, China, the tropics of Africa and North America.
Compound
The beneficial properties and contraindications of dried mulberry, as well as the fresh product, depend on the components contained in its structure.
Mulberries include:
- vitamins: A, B, C, H, PP;
- microelements: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron;
- natural fiber food additives;
- sugars and fats;
- organic acids: malic, phosphoric and citric;
- resveratol
The complex action of all these compounds determines the positive and negative aspects of the product.
Benefit
Most often found on the domestic market are white dried mulberries, which have maximum beneficial properties:
- Mulberry helps strengthen the immune system, thereby increasing the body's resistance to various infectious diseases.
- Also, mulberries, especially dried ones, help normalize the functioning of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract.
- Since metabolic processes are restored, the external and internal state of the body as a whole increases.
- Mulberry is used in the treatment of various diseases. It has antibacterial, analgesic, antiseptic and antioxidant effects.
Dried mulberries also have certain benefits and harms. They are used in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system, dysbacteriosis and obesity.
In addition, the juice from these parts of the mulberry is used for pneumonia and bronchial asthma.
Harm
Despite all its positive qualities, mulberry has disadvantages. It can cause adverse allergic reactions in the body and diarrhea when consuming large amounts of mulberries.In addition, the product does not combine well with other components.
Application
Mulberries, especially dried ones, have found wide use in medicine: not only capsules and tablets are prepared from it, but also tinctures, oils and syrups, and chewable tablets for children.
It is also used in cooking as a separate product; not only teas, but also alcoholic drinks are prepared from it.
Rules for preparing raw materials for drying
The harvest time for the berries of this unique plant is minimal – from July to August. Due to the ripening of mulberry fruits not at one time, the fruits are collected in several stages. The rules are the simplest:
- It is better to collect in the morning, after the first dew.
- The weather should be dry and preferably sunny.
- It is better to spread fabric under the tree for convenience.
- Tap the bark with a stick to knock off the ripened fruits. Only then pour them into a container.
In addition to the fruits, leaves are also collected. The best period for this is the beginning of summer. You need to choose healthy, even, not curled leaves, without any damage. It is better not to break off the branches.
The bark is also used in making decoctions. It, unlike other parts of the mulberry, can be collected at any time. To do this, use a sharp knife to cut off small sections of bark from different trees.
Preparatory work before drying
Different parts of the mulberry are prepared differently.
The fruits should be sorted, removing overripe specimens and excess debris. There is no need to wash them, but running them through cool water once is worth it. Then they must be thoroughly dried on a towel for 2 hours at room temperature.
The leaves need to be prepared in the same way.
There is no need to prepare the bark at all before drying.
How to dry mulberries
Mulberries can be dried in different ways.
On air
Fruits should be dried on wire racks in sunny weather. Moreover, they need to be brought indoors in the evening, and taken out again into the air in the morning. The drying time will be approximately 2-3 weeks.
Mulberry leaves need to be dried in the shade and dryness. At the same time, to prevent rotting, it should be turned over 3 times a day.
It doesn’t matter where you dry the bark. The period is 10 days at room temperature.
In the oven
Before using this method, mulberry fruits must be dried in air for 2 days. Place the berries on a baking sheet lined with baking paper and place in the oven at 40 degrees for 20 hours. The mulberry fruits must be stirred every 2 hours. In addition, the oven door must be kept open for ventilation.
You can dry the foliage in the same way, you just need to stir it every 30 minutes.
In an electric dryer
In this case, pour the berries into the device at a temperature of 40 degrees for 6-8 hours, and then raise the temperature to 50 degrees. In general, mulberry fruits need to be dried for 20–25 hours.
Mulberry leaves should be dried at a temperature of 40 degrees for 3-4 hours.
Recipes with dried mulberries
There are different ways to use mulberries in cooking.
Sponge cake
The number of components is taken for 12 servings. The preparation time for the dish is 1.5 days.
Ingredients:
- eggs – 6 pieces;
- flour, sugar - 0.2 kg each;
- salt - to taste;
- curd cheese – 0.45 kg;
- cream – 0.2 l;
- powdered sugar – 0.15 kg;
- dried mulberries – 0.05 kg;
- strawberries, kiwi – 0.08 kg each;
- black currant – 0.02 kg.
Methodology:
- Prepare the eggs: separate the yolks from the whites. Beat each part with half the mass of sand - the yolks to a white homogeneous mass, and the whites to a fluffy foam.
- Add a third of the whites to the yolks. Mix.Sift the flour. Mix.
- Add the remaining whites and salt. Mix.
- Place the dough in a mold with parchment and place in the oven for half an hour at 180 degrees.
- Remove the biscuit from the mold and wrap it in film. Leave for a day.
- Prepare the cream. Beat cream and cream cheese separately with powdered sugar. Then mix it all in a separate bowl.
- Divide the biscuit into 3 parts and generously coat with cream on all sides.
- Top with fruits and berries. First, peel the kiwi and chop it finely, rinse and dry the berries.
- Place the cake in the refrigerator for 10 hours.
Jam
The recipe is for 10 servings. Cooking time is 2 hours.
Ingredients:
- sugar – 1.5 kg;
- dried mulberries – 1 kg;
- citric acid – 0.002 kg;
- water – 0.2 l.
Methodology:
- Prepare the syrup: dissolve sand in water and bring to a boil.
- Wash the mulberries and dry them.
- Mix mulberries with syrup and put on gas. Boil, cool. Repeat.
- Boil again. Add citric acid.
- Boil.
- Check readiness: the drop should not spread.
- Sterilize jars and lids. Pour the prepared jam into jars and roll up.
Cool. Place in the refrigerator.
Wine
Serves 30 servings. Cooking takes approximately 45 days.
Ingredients:
- dried mulberries – 2 kg;
- sugar – 1 kg;
- water – 5 l;
- wine (preferably white) – 1 l;
- cinnamon – 0.03 kg.
Methodology:
- Mulberries should be left for a day. Then squeeze the juice from them.
- Add sugar and cinnamon to the juice. Allow fermentation to occur for 7 days.
- Filter the juice into a separate container. Add white wine and stir.
- Let this solution sit for 2 weeks.
Pour into bottles.
Calorie content of dried mulberries
The product is high in calories - 100 g of dried mulberries account for 375 kcal. In this case, proteins – 10 g, fats – 2.5 g, carbohydrates – 77.5 g.
Contraindications
The very first reason for refusing to use mulberry fruits is the human body’s allergic intolerance to some components of this product. In addition, people with diabetes or hypertension should not consume mulberries in large quantities.
You should not combine the use of mulberry with medications, as it can seriously affect the effect of the medications.
Terms and conditions of storage
Individual dried parts of the plant are stored for about a month, but in dishes the shelf life increases to a year.
Berries should be stored in glass containers, and leaves in cardboard packages. It is better to grind the bark and pour it into sealed jars. For mulberry dishes, it is better to use plastic containers and glass jars and bottles.
Conclusion
The beneficial properties of dried mulberry and its contraindications should be known to every person. Eating mulberries and preparing dishes from them requires compliance with all the rules of these processes.
