Cranberry tincture: step by step recipes + benefits, medicinal properties, contraindications and rules for drinking

The benefits and medicinal properties of cranberry tincture

Small-sized berries are widely used in cosmetology, cooking and alternative medicine. The popularity of the product is due to the rich chemical composition. Cranberries contain vitamins C, B1, B2, B5, B6, PP and K1. The product contains numerous micro and macro elements, flavonoids, monosaccharides, tannins, citric, benzoic and quinic acids.

Cranberries are used to prepare fragrant sauces and gravy, nutritious desserts and winter preparations, healthy compotes and fruit drinks. However, home-cooked cranberry tincture, popularly called cranberry and cranberry, is especially popular.

The main useful and medicinal properties of cranberries are:

• strengthening immunity;
• anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects;
• reducing the likelihood of developing infections of the genitourinary system;
• improvement of appetite and stimulation of the digestive tract;
• normalization of hormonal levels and the nervous system;
• lower cholesterol;
• increase the elasticity of blood vessels and reduce the likelihood of thrombosis;
• cleansing the body of toxins and other harmful substances;
• removal of pain syndrome in articular and rheumatic pains.

Cranberry tincture resists viral and infectious diseases. The remedy is recommended for various strains of influenza.

Contraindications and possible harm

Despite the rich vitamin and mineral composition and healing functions, cranberry has a number of contraindications. So, the drink should not be taken with gastritis, stomach ulcers, diseases of the heart, liver and gallbladder. Increased acidity aggravates the situation.

Also, the product is not recommended for use in the presence of individual intolerance and a tendency to allergies. At the first signs of an allergic reaction (itching, rash, redness or inflammation of the skin), the drug should be stopped.

Video “Homemade Cranberry Recipe”

This video presents a master class on making berry tincture at home.

Step-by-step recipes for making tincture

Making a healing drink based on cranberries is not difficult if you know some secrets. For example, for the preparation of cranberries, it is better to use ripe, but not overripe berries. Before starting work, the cranberries are thoroughly washed, sorted and slightly dried.

Classic vodka recipe

The classic or traditional recipe is the easiest. You need to take 250 g of berries, 500 ml of vodka, 1 tbsp. l. sugar and 50 ml filtered water.

1. Grind the berries with a crush to a slushy state.
2. Carefully add vodka and stir.
3. We close the jar and rearrange it in a dark place for 14 days. At the same time, shake the contents of the container every 2–3 days.
4. After 2 weeks, squeeze the mass through several layers of gauze.
5. We prepare sweet syrup from water and sugar.
6. Cool the syrup and add to the tincture. We mix.
7. Pour the drink into a glass container, close the lid, cool and send to infuse.
8. It is better to use cranberries after 30-45 days.

Ancient recipe

Grind 1 kg of berries into gruel. We move the mass into a glass jar with a capacity of 3 liters. Add 1 liter of homemade moonshine, shake well and put in a warm place for 14 days. After 2 weeks, add 0,5 kg of sugar to the filtered solution. Mix and send again to infuse. After 7-10 days, we pass the drink through the filter – gauze folded in several layers.

The old recipe has undergone many changes. Instead of moonshine, add vodka, rum, brandy or cognac.

Express recipe

As it turned out, homemade cranberries can be cooked in 3-4 hours. So, 300 g of ripe berries are treated with boiling water. Add 150 g of sugar, mix thoroughly and grind the mass. Pour 700 ml of vodka into the mixture and leave for 2 hours under an open lid. Then we pass the drink through the filter and add 150 ml of boiled chilled water. We cool the tincture and send it for storage in a cool basement or refrigerator.

On alcohol

To prepare an alcoholic drink, you will need 400 g of ripe cranberries, 0,5 tsp. ground galangal root, 110 ml of 96% alcohol, 100 ml of purified drinking water and 120 g of granulated sugar.

Pour the berries ground to a mushy type into a glass jar. Add galangal and alcohol, mix, close the lid and send to a semi-dark warm place. After 14-16 days, we return to the preparation of the drink. We cool the syrup boiled from granulated sugar and water, pour it into cranberry infusion and close the lid. After 7–9 days, the drink is filtered, cooled and treated to guests.

On moonshine

The recipe for making cranberry tincture on moonshine is similar to the method described above. Grind 260 g of berries, pour 1 liter of moonshine with a strength of 40% and insist 14-16 days. Add 125 g of sugar or ready-made sugar syrup. Re-infuse, filter, cool and enjoy a delicious and aromatic drink.

On cognac

Mixed 500 g of sugar and 600 g of crushed berries are kept for 24 hours in a warm, shaded place. Add 250 ml of filtered water and slightly heat the mass over low heat. We insist 4 more days. Pass the drink through gauze and add 500 ml of cognac. In a separate container, mix 1 glass of alcohol and cranberry cake. We insist both containers under tightly closed lids for 14 days.

After 2 weeks, mix both drinks (no sediment!), Add honey, cloves and cinnamon stick. Keep the drink in a cool dark place for 3-4 weeks. Best taken chilled.

In the multivariate

You can even prepare cranberry tincture in a slow cooker. Pour 300 g of berries and 200 g of granulated sugar into the bowl of a miracle saucepan. Pour a lot of 500 ml of vodka. We turn on the “Steam cooking” mode by setting the timer for 2 minutes. At the end of the program, the multicooker will switch to the “Heating” mode. Leave the drink for 15 hours. After the specified time, turn off the multicooker, pour the tincture into another container and refrigerate.

With honey

Many people try not to eat sugar. There is nothing easier – replace sugar with honey.

So, 250 g of crushed berries pour 750 ml of vodka. We introduce into the solution 45 g of chopped ginger, 3-4 stars of cloves, 5-10 g of black pepper and a little cinnamon. We insist the product for 7-10 days. We filter, add 60 g of liquid honey and insist another 2-3 days. The drink is ready.

With lemon

Pour the berries (600 g) ground into a puree-like mass with vodka (500 ml). Remove the peel from the lemon and squeeze out the juice. Add lemon juice to the solution and add 2 tbsp. l. granulated sugar. We mix the contents of the jar and send to infuse. After 7 days, we pass the drink through the filter.

From dried cranberries

If there are no ripe berries in the house, dried fruits can be used. Wash dried cranberries (1 cup or 250 g), scald with boiling water and knead with a crush. Pour the berries into a glass container, add vodka (500 ml) and send to a dark place to infuse. Shake the contents of the jar every 2 days. After 14 days, we pass the drink through the filter – the cranberry is ready for use.

Lady’s tincture

The cranberry drink, which has an amazing taste and aroma, was liked not only by men, but also by ladies.

To prepare ladies’ tincture, you will need 1 kg of ripe berries, 500 g of granulated sugar, 500 ml of vodka and 500 ml of filtered water. All components are mixed, the berries are pre-ground to a liquid state. The mixture is poured into a jar, tightly closed with a lid and allowed to brew for 1–1,5 months. After this time, the drink must be passed through the filter.

It is worth noting that ladies’ cranberry tincture has a short shelf life – no more than six months.

Christmas liqueur

In Western Europe, cranberries are considered a symbol of Christmas. Christmas liqueur, as it is customary to call cranberry tincture, must be present on the festive table. A drink is prepared according to a traditional (classic) recipe based on vodka.

cranberry liqueur

Mix 1 liter of vodka and 500 g of crushed cranberries in a glass container. Close the jar with a lid and leave for 14 days in a dark place to infuse. Do not forget to shake the drink every day.

After 2 weeks, strain the solution and add 500 g of sugar. Put the liquid on a slow fire and heat slightly. Wrap cardamom and cloves in gauze, dip the “pouch” in liquor for 5 minutes. Cool the drink, strain and put in a cool place.

“Nesmeyanovka”

Nesmeyanovka is called cranberry tincture, which was created in the laboratory by organic chemist Alexander Nesmeyanov. The academician suggested mixing medical alcohol, granulated sugar and cranberries in equal proportions. The cranberry mass grated with sugar is poured with medical alcohol and infused for at least 7-10 days.

From Marshal of the USSR

Another cranberry recipe was published by the hero of the Great Patriotic War, Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev.

Following the commander’s recipe, mix 600 g of grated berries with 500 ml of vodka, 2–3 tbsp. l. lemon juice and 2 tbsp. l. Sahara. We mix all the components and send the mass to infuse. After 2-7 days, we pass the drink through the filter and cool it. The cranberry is ready.

How to use cranberry juice

Cranberry tincture should be taken in doses. So, in order to strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to drink 30–50 ml of the drink daily. To relieve inflammation and relieve coughing attacks, 50 ml of cranberries are prescribed 1 time per day. 30-50 ml of tincture per day helps to recover from a heart attack. To prevent an increase in blood pressure, take 15 ml of tincture before each meal.

Cranberry tincture is considered an alcoholic drink. Do not abuse alcohol, as intoxication of the body is possible. Alcohol abuse has a detrimental effect on a person, his health and condition.