Content
Jam made from spruce shoots is not only tasty, but also a healthy dessert, which allows the body to stock up on essential vitamins during the winter cold and vitamin deficiency. Essential oils contained in ephedra branches contain almost the entire spectrum of macro- and microelements, help increase the body's resistance to infections, and strengthen the immune system.
If you make a preparation from spruce shoots, adhering to the correct recipe, you can provide yourself and your family with a very useful product.
The technology for making spruce jam is quite simple.
The benefits and harms of spruce jam from twigs
Even in ancient times, housewives made jam from spruce shoots, which was considered a miracle cure for various ailments. It was used for colds, insomnia, and fatigue.
The main benefits of eating spruce shoots are:
- antiseptic effect, helping in the fight against viral and bacterial infections;
- cleansing the respiratory system from mucus during bronchitis and asthma;
- tonic effect, fighting apathy and fatigue;
- improved digestion;
- strengthening and cleansing the vascular wall;
- analgesic effect for headaches, muscle pain and toothache;
- improved blood circulation, increased hemoglobin;
- replenishment of vitamin deficiencies;
- improving the condition of nails, skin and hair;
- biliary and diuretic effect.
Like any useful thing, jam from spruce shoots can also have a negative impact on health. Sometimes delicacies cause allergic reactions, can increase blood sugar levels, lead to problems with the liver, and provoke stomach pain.
How to take spruce jam
You need to enjoy jam made from spruce shoots correctly. You cannot eat the product in unlimited quantities, and it is also undesirable to give it to children under three years of age and people over 60 years of age.
A healthy person can consume no more than three tablespoons of jam per day, preferably washed down with hot tea. Children should be given dessert in small portions, maximum 1 tsp. per day.
For an adult to improve their condition, it is enough to eat 30 g of dessert per day
Contraindications for use
Jam made from spruce shoots has restrictions on consumption. These include:
- individual intolerance;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- pregnancy;
- breastfeeding period;
- children up to 36 months;
- diabetes;
- kidney and liver diseases;
- thrombophilic diseases;
- recent stroke or heart attack.
When are spruce shoots collected?
It’s easy to make jam from spruce shoots, but for it to be as healthy as possible, it needs to be done correctly. Particular care must be taken when collecting raw materials.
It is recommended to collect raw materials from the second half of May to the 15th of June, at a time when the coniferous tree is in the flowering stage. It is at this moment that the substances accumulated over the winter help the young shoots to bloom. It is better to harvest material deep in the forest, from healthy trees undamaged by harmful bacteria. Pluck only young shoots of a soft green color, the size of which is no more than 30 mm. It is best to take shoots from branches located at the bottom of the plant.
The best raw materials are soft twigs 1-2 cm long
How to make jam from spruce needles
It’s easy to make jam from spruce paws. There are several recipes for the delicacy, and each housewife can choose the most suitable option for herself. Before you get started, it is important to carry out a number of simple steps:
- It is good to go through all the raw materials for damage, rotting and unhealthy stains.
- Clean the material from contamination.
- Rinse all shoots thoroughly with cool water.
Next you need to follow the selected recipe.
Jam from young spruce shoots
To prepare jam, the main component of which is young spruce shoots, take parts of the plant located at the end of the branches, which have a light green color.
Products you will need:
- spruce shoots – 0.5 kg;
- sugar – 0.3 kg;
- water – 0.5 l.
Technological process:
- Sort the shoots and rinse well under running water.
- Place the main ingredient in a saucepan, add sugar and pour in all the water.
- Bring to a boil, then cook for a quarter of an hour.
- Place hot into sterilized jars and roll up the lids.
- Turn it upside down, wrap it up, and after cooling completely, store it.
Jam made from young spruce shoots has a bright pine aroma
Fir bud jam
To make jam from spruce buds, it is best to use a product collected at the end of May. At this time, it has not yet turned into an escape, but has already softened enough.
For the recipe you will need:
- kidneys – 1 kg;
- sugar – 500 g;
- water – 400 ml.
Cooking steps:
- Rinse the kidneys, sort them, soak them in cold water for 12 hours.
- Place the ingredient in a saucepan, add the required amount of liquid, and bring to a boil.
- Cook for 30 minutes, leave to brew for 6-8 hours.
- Add sugar and cook after boiling for 40 minutes.
- Strain, boil.
- Pour into sterile jars and roll up.
Kidney delicacy retains a large amount of vitamins even after heat treatment
Fir needle jam
This unusual jam made from spruce needles has a high content of pine oil. To prepare the treat you will need:
- spruce branches – 1 kg;
- honey – 1 l;
- water – 3 l;
- propolis with alcohol – 30 ml.
Technological process:
- Wash the spruce branches, add water, and keep on fire until 2/3 of the liquid has evaporated.
- Strain the broth and add the remaining ingredients.
- Mix the mixture thoroughly and bring it to a boil.
- Pour the jam into clean jars and roll up.
A delicacy made from spruce needles is great for coping with colds.
Shelf life of spruce bud jam
Jam made from spruce shoots can be stored for a long time. Under suitable conditions, it can be preserved for up to 12 months. It is best if the treat is stored in a cool place: refrigerator, pantry, cellar or basement. Opened jam is kept in the refrigerator for no more than half a month.
When stored indoors, medicine made from spruce shoots should be consumed within six months.
Conclusion
Jam made from spruce shoots is an unusual aromatic delicacy with a subtle bitterness, which is considered incredibly useful, especially in winter. It has medicinal properties, heals the entire body, helps get rid of colds and perfectly strengthens the immune system. People have known about the benefits of spruce shoots for a long time and made jam from them several centuries ago.
