Dried bird cherry: how to use, what helps

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. This plant, due to its nutritional composition, was used not only in medicine and cosmetology, but also in cooking. Moreover, not only fresh fruits are used, but also dry berries of bird cherry. 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 in the western part of the Federation. Now gardeners have more than 20 edible varieties of this plant, but it is very difficult to pick berries because of 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 fresh berries. Moreover, the most valuable and expensive is dried red 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, there are no fats in it, 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.

Most of all, the 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 of it are enormous:

1. Thanks to this berry, metabolic processes in the entire human body are normalized. Bird cherry helps cleanse the liver and stomach of toxins, stabilizes the level of cholesterol in human blood.
2. Many experts 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, the muscle tone of the whole organism is restored.
4. The composition of the blood and the work 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. Improves the functioning of the genitourinary system. In men, potency increases.
7. You also need to use bird cherry during colds. It well reduces the temperature, 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 sad consequences.
2. Chronic constipation is also a contraindication to the use of bird cherry as a medicine.
3. With diabetes, you can not eat bird cherry due to the high concentration of carbohydrates in the product.
4. Nursing mothers should not eat bird cherry, as it can change the composition of milk, worsening its consistency.

What helps dried bird cherry

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 the use of this unique berry.

How to brew dried bird cherry for diarrhea

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

For children

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

Use 0,1 l 3 times a day.

For adults

There are several variations. They are made similarly to a decoction for children in the same way.

1. From fruits. The ratio is 1:10, cook for 20 minutes, leave for half an hour, strain. Apply 0,12 l 3 times a day. The maximum treatment period should be 2 days.
2. From bark. The ratio is 1:10, cook for 30 minutes, leave for 40 minutes, strain. Apply 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 with diarrhea. Children can have a maximum of 30 pieces, and an adult more.

What can be cooked from dried bird cherry

In cooking, bird cherry has also found application. A variety of compositions are made from it.

Tincture

Ingredients:

• vodka – 1 bottle;
• dried berries – 0,12 kg;
• sugar – 80

Cooking technique:

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

It turns out a soft tincture without astringent properties. 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. The remaining amount is thoroughly rubbed together with sugar.
5. Put the mixture in a saucepan and cook until the mixture thickens completely.
6. Sterilize the jars and put the mixture there. Roll up lids.

This syrup can be used as an independent food product, or as an additive or topping 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 pcs .;
• 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. Give it a shape, wrap it in plastic and put it in the refrigerator. The dough is ready when it has tripled in size.
3. Boil the berries in water for a few minutes to soften them. Grind together with sugar. Put on a slow fire and cook for 10 minutes. Allow to cool and drain off excess liquid.
4. Take out the dough. Roll out the circles and put the filling on them. Close like belyashi. Leave for 7 minutes.
5. Beat the egg, grease all the shangs with it.
6. Lay parchment on a baking sheet and lay out the shangi at a distance from each other. Put to bake in a preheated oven 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 braid.

Cooking technique:

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

Divide the dough in half. Thoroughly grease with sour cream and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

How to dry bird cherry for the winter

Before talking about how to dry bird cherry, you need to learn how to collect it correctly. Different parts of this unique plant are harvested at different times.

Berries are best taken in July-August. Moreover, the collection is carried out in dry, warm and clear weather. The best time of the day is morning. Bird cherry is cut off in clusters. Before the drying process, you should not wash the berry. Drying should be carried out 5 hours after harvesting the bird cherry.

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

Shoots and bark must be harvested in April before flowering. Moreover, the leaves must be cut with scissors, secateurs, but the bark – 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 pallets and put in a bright place under the scorching sun. Do not cover them with newspapers, as the paint on such paper is toxic. Also, for convenience, you can use gratings, a sieve and other equipment.

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

Other parts are dried similarly. The time period for this process is approximately 2 weeks.

Bird cherry dried in the attic

The attic is used for drying in the event that the weather conditions are unfavorable (a lot of moisture). The drying period is slightly longer than the previous one.

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

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

The bark can be dried in the attic without much preparatory work. The drying period is approximately 2,5 weeks.

How to dry bird cherry in the oven

The total drying time is from 4 to 16 hours.

Berries should be evenly spread out on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. The first 3 hours should be dried at a low temperature (40 degrees), the remaining few hours at a higher temperature (60 degrees). The door must be open! 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 almost double. 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 store dry bird cherry

Different parts of this plant have their own shelf life:

1. Berries retain their beneficial properties for 1,5 years.
2. Fruits and flowers can be used within 2 years.
3. Bark in a suitable form can be consumed no more than 1 year.

You need to store dried berries in canvas bags in a dark, cool 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, in order to preserve the maximum useful properties, it is necessary to correctly and on time collect, harvest the berries, and also create all the necessary conditions for its storage.