Dried mulberry: useful properties

Mulberry is another essential product for humans. Useful properties of dried mulberry and contraindications have been known since ancient times. Moreover, dried mulberry has more useful properties than its fresh counterpart. There are many varieties of mulberry, each with its own characteristics. Mulberry harvesting 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 is the fruit of a perennial mulberry tree. There are a variety of varieties of mulberry. The description is approximately the same for everyone, the species differ in color and smell. Mulberry is a tree 5-storey high. The leaves are blade-shaped. The fruits are bones 0,03 m long. Moreover, their color varies from white and light red to dark purple. The mulberry tree lives up to at least 200 years. There are also older plants that are about 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.

Composition

Useful properties and contraindications of dried mulberry, as well as a fresh product, depend on the components contained in its structure.

The mulberry includes:

• vitamins: A, B, C, H, PP;
• trace elements: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron;
• natural fiber food supplements;
• 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, in the vastness of the domestic market, there is white dried mulberry, which has the maximum useful properties:

1. Mulberry helps to strengthen the immune system, thereby increasing the body’s resistance to various infectious diseases.
2. Also, mulberry, especially dried, contributes to the normalization of the genitourinary system and the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Since metabolic processes are restored, the external and internal state of the body as a whole increases.
4. 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 of the body and diarrhea when consuming large amounts of mulberries. In addition, the product does not mix well with other components.

Application

Mulberry, especially dried, has found wide application in medicine: not only capsules, tablets, but also tinctures, oils and syrups, chewable dragees for children are prepared from it.

It is also used in cooking as a separate product; not only teas, but also alcoholic beverages are prepared from it.

Rules for the procurement of raw materials for drying

The terms for collecting the berries of this unique plant are minimal – from July to August. Due to the ripening of the mulberry fruits, not but one moment, the fruits are harvested in several stages. In this case, the rules are the simplest:

1. It is better to collect in the morning, after the first dew.
2. The weather should be dry and preferably sunny.
3. It is better to spread a fabric under a tree for convenience.
4. Tapping with a stick on the bark, knock down the ripened fruits. Only then pour them into a container.

In addition to the fruits, the leaves are also harvested. The best period for this is the beginning of summer. You need to choose healthy, even, not twisted leaves, without any damage. Branches are best not to break off.

The bark is also used in making decoctions. It, unlike other parts of the mulberry, can be harvested at any time. To do this, cut off small sections of bark from different trees with a sharp knife.

Preparatory work before drying

Different parts of the mulberry are prepared in different ways.

The fruits should be sorted out, removing overripe specimens and excess debris. It is not necessary to wash them, but it is worth passing through cool water 1 time. Then they must be thoroughly dried on a towel for 2 hours at room temperature.

Leaves should be prepared in the same way.

There is no need to prepare the bark before drying.

How to dry mulberries

Mulberry can be dried in different ways.

On air

Fruits should be dried on grates in sunny weather. And in the evening they need to be brought into the room, and in the morning they must be taken out again into the air. Drying time will be approximately 2-3 weeks.

Mulberry leaves should be dried in the shade and in dryness. At the same time, to prevent rotting, it should be turned over 3 times a day.

It doesn’t matter where to dry the bark. The period is 10 days at room temperature.

In the oven

Before this method, the mulberry fruits must be air-dried for 2 days. On a baking sheet with baking paper, lay out the berries and put in the oven at a temperature of 40 degrees for 20 hours. Every 2 hours, the mulberry fruits must be stirred. In addition, for ventilation, the oven door must be kept open.

Similarly, you can dry the foliage, only you need to mix 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.

Dried Mulberry Recipes

There are different ways to use mulberry in cooking.

Sponge cake

The number of components is taken based on 12 servings. The cooking time 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 mulberry – 0,05 kg;
• strawberries, kiwi – 0,08 kg each;
• blackcurrant – 0,02 kg.

Method:

1. Prepare the eggs: separate the yolks from the whites. Beat each part with half the mass of sand – the yolks until a white homogeneous mass, and the proteins – until a fluffy foam.
2. Add a third of the mass of proteins to the yolks. Mix. Sift flour. Mix.
3. Add remaining proteins and salt. Mix.
4. Put the dough in a form with parchment and put in the oven for half an hour at a temperature of 180 degrees.
5. Remove the biscuit from the mold and wrap in cling film. Leave for a day.
6. Prepare cream. Whip cream and cream cheese with powdered sugar separately. Then mix it all in a separate bowl.
7. Divide the biscuit into 3 parts and generously grease with cream on all sides.
8. Top with fruits and berries. Pre-peel the kiwi and finely chop, rinse and dry the berries.
9. Send the cake to the refrigerator for 10 hours.

Jam

The recipe is for 10 servings. The cooking time is 2 hours.

Ingredients:

• sugar – 1,5 kg;
• dried mulberry – 1 kg;
• citric acid – 0,002 kg;
• water – 0,2 l.

Method:

1. Prepare syrup: dissolve sand in water and bring to a boil.
2. Rinse the mulberry tree, dry it.
3. Mix mulberry with syrup and put on gas. Boil, cool. Repeat.
4. Boil again. Add citric acid.
5. Boil.
6. Check readiness: the drop should not spread.
7. Sterilize jars and lids. Pour the finished jam into jars and roll up.

Cool down. Remove to refrigerator.

Wine

Designed for 30 servings. Cooking is approximately 45 days.

Ingredients:

• dried mulberry – 2 kg;
• sugar – 1 kg;
• water – 5 l;
• wine (preferably white) – 1 l;
• cover – 0,03 kg.

Method:

1. Mulberry berries should be left for a day. Then squeeze the juice from them.
2. Add sugar and cinnamon to the juice. Let it ferment for 7 days.
3. Filter the juice into a separate container. Add white wine and stir.
4. Let this solution sit for 2 weeks.

Pour into bottles.

Dried mulberry calories

The product is high-calorie – 100 kcal per 375 g of dried mulberry. At the same time, proteins – 10 g, fats – 2,5 g, carbohydrates – 77,5 g.

Противопоказания

The very first reason for refusing to use mulberry fruits is allergic intolerance by the human body of some components of this product. In addition, large quantities of mulberry should not be consumed by people with diabetes or hypertension.

It is impossible to combine the use of mulberry with drugs, as it can seriously affect the effect of medicines.

Terms and conditions of storage

Separate 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 boxes. 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, bottles.

Conclusion

Useful properties of dried mulberry and contraindications should be known to every person. The use of mulberry and the preparation of dishes from it requires compliance with all the rules of these processes.