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Honeysuckle is a healthy berry that contains a storehouse of vitamins. From it you can make not only blanks in the form of jams, preserves, compotes, but also alcoholic beverages. Honeysuckle tincture can take center stage in the first aid kit and even on the festive table.
The benefits and harms of honeysuckle tincture
These small bluish berries contain a lot of useful vitamins and minerals: magnesium, calcium, iron, iodine, copper, phosphorus and much more. In folk medicine, honeysuckle tincture on vodka or any other alcohol-based occupies a special place, since its medicinal properties help to avoid many diseases:
- strengthens the immune system;
- improves digestion;
- has a positive effect on the nervous system;
- cleanses the body of toxins and toxins;
- helps to clean the blood;
- fights obesity;
- has tonic properties, which helps to restore strength and recover faster after illness.
The benefits of tincture of vodka, alcohol or moonshine are quite multifaceted, but for some people this drink can be harmful. Here it is very important to take into account the characteristics of the body, allergic reactions to components, past diseases. In some cases, drinking this drink can cause hemoglobin jumps, skin rashes, constipation, and frequent urination, which leads to the removal of beneficial substances from the body.
How to make a tincture from honeysuckle
At home, honeysuckle tincture is often made on moonshine or vodka. For the preparation of a medicinal drink, berries are suitable in any form: frozen, fresh or dried. In the latter case, the fruits will need 3 times less than indicated in the recipes. And frozen berries must first be thawed and drained of excess liquid before cooking. You can also use honeysuckle jam, but then you should not add sugar. The composition of the classic tincture includes vodka, but moonshine, food alcohol, cognac or any other alcoholic drink can be used instead.
Honeysuckle tincture recipes
No special equipment is required to make this drink, which allows you to prepare it at home. Below are simple recipes for honeysuckle tincture with different alcohol bases.
Moonshine Honeysuckle Recipe
For the tincture you will need the following ingredients:
- berries – 250 g;
- moonshine – 0,5 l.;
- sugar – 1 st. l .;
- water – 100 ml.
Preparation:
- Sort out the berries, spoiled and damaged, do not use.
- Rinse honeysuckle, put on a towel to drain excess liquid and dry slightly.
- Transfer the workpiece to a jar, pour moonshine and mix the contents.
- Close the lid, put in a dark place at room temperature. Moonshine on honeysuckle should be infused for at least 5 days. In order for the tincture to turn out to be a rich and bright color, the contents of the jar must be shaken daily.
- After this time, sugar syrup should be poured into the container. To do this, add a spoonful of sugar to a glass of water and mix.
- Close the lid again and let it brew for another 2 days.
- Using gauze folded 3-4 times, strain the tincture from the berry mass.
- Pour the drink into bottles or carafes.
- Refrigerate before use.
In the recipe for tincture of moonshine on honeysuckle, if necessary, it is allowed to make adjustments. You can change the proportions of sugar at your discretion or do without it at all, but in this case the bitterness will be stronger. In addition, additional ingredients can be added to the drink, for example, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, orange, cranberries, chokeberries or blueberries.
With a large number of berries, you can make moonshine from honeysuckle at home, which has a tart taste and bright aroma. So, for honeysuckle mash for moonshine, only 4 components are required:
- berries – 5 kg;
- sugar – 1 kg;
- wine yeast – 70 g pressed or 15 g dry;
- clean water – 2 liters.
Preparation:
- Mash the honeysuckle in an enamel saucepan.
- Mix sugar with water and pour the berry mixture with this solution.
- Pour into a glass bottle.
- Add yeast, mix.
- Instead of a water seal, you can put a rubber medical glove on the container. As it swells, it is necessary to make holes in it with a needle.
The ripening period is at least 7 days. Readiness can be recognized by a deflated glove. The shelf life of this drink is 5 years.
Alcoholic honeysuckle tincture
For tincture, you can use ethyl alcohol diluted to 40-45%. You will need the following ingredients:
- honeysuckle fruits – 300 g;
- alcohol – 1 liter;
- sugar – 150 g;
- water – 0,2 l.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Sort the berries, wash.
- Grind them, try to keep the juice.
- Transfer the berry mass to a jar for infusion, add alcohol, mix thoroughly.
- Close the container with a lid, put in a dark place for 5 days, shake the contents daily.
- In a saucepan, mix water with sugar, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes over low heat, removing the foam.
- Strain the berry infusion through cheesecloth, add the cooled sugar syrup.
- Close the lid and put away again for 5 days.
- If the drink turned out to be cloudy, then it can be filtered through cotton wool.
- Pour the finished tincture into bottles and seal tightly with corks.
Recipe for tincture of honeysuckle on vodka
For this drink you will need:
- honeysuckle – 400 g;
- water – 2 l .;
- sugar – 300 g;
- water – 400 ml.
Cooking process:
- Rinse the berries, dry with a towel and chop.
- Transfer the resulting mixture to a glass container, add the remaining ingredients to it.
- Close the container tightly, shake the contents well.
- Put in a dark place for 2-3 weeks.
- After this time, filter and bottle.
Honeysuckle vodka with honey
When replacing sugar with honey in the tincture, the beneficial properties increase. To prepare a medicinal drink you will need:
- honeysuckle – 400 g;
- vodka – 2 liters;
- liquid honey – 300 g.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Rinse the fruits, dry them slightly with paper towels, grind them with a blender or meat grinder.
- Transfer the resulting mass into a glass container, add honey and vodka.
- Shake the contents well.
- Move the container to a dark place.
- Infuse for 2-3 weeks, after which the drink should be filtered.
- Pour the finished tincture into bottles.
Honeysuckle tincture on cognac
For this drink, you should take good quality cognac, since the taste of the future tincture will depend on it. This will require:
- dried honeysuckle – 200 g;
- cognac – 500 ml;
- dried tea rose petals – 1 tbsp. l.;
- sugar – 1 st. l .;
- cloves – 1-2 buds;
- vanilla sugar – ½ tsp;
- nutmeg – ½ tsp
Cooking process:
- Pour the berries into a glass container.
- Fill them with cognac to the top, put in a dark warm place.
- After 5 days, add all the remaining ingredients.
- Mix the contents thoroughly and leave for 7 days.
- Filter the finished tincture, if desired, add more sugar and pour into bottles for storage.
How to use the tincture of honeysuckle berries
Undoubtedly, honeysuckle tincture is useful for the body, but only in moderation. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is recommended to take 50 ml orally after meals, once a day. Abuse can lead to constipation, cause an allergic reaction, and increase the urge to urinate.
Contraindications for use
Refrain from such drinks is necessary for children, lactating and pregnant women. It is also not recommended to take it orally for people with low blood pressure or exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. To avoid side effects, you should consult a specialist before treatment.
When poisoned by poisonous berries, symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and convulsions appear. In such situations, you should immediately seek medical help.
Terms and conditions of storage
Honeysuckle tincture should be stored in glass bottles with tightly closed stoppers. For long-term storage, it is advisable to keep in a cool room, such as a cellar or basement. Under these conditions, the shelf life can be about 5 years.
Conclusion
Honeysuckle tincture is not only a pleasant drink with a slight sourness, but also a useful medicine that fights various ailments. Preparing it is quite simple and at home. The main thing is to choose the recipe that you like and be sure to follow the recommendations for cooking.