Among fruiting shrubs there are unique medicinal specimens, one of which is viburnum. Its late berries are considered the most healing, since during the summer and autumn season they accumulate a large amount of vitamins and other valuable substances. From the article you will learn about home methods for making fruit drinks and the beneficial properties of the drink.

Morse from viburnum

Viburnum berries can be eaten raw, but they have a peculiar slightly astringent sweet-sour taste with bitterness. The smell of fruits is also not everyone likes. For this reason, viburnum is often processed and consumed with the addition of other products (water, sugar, honey, citrus zest). It is better to collect the fruits after the first frosts - in this case they will lose unpleasant bitterness. If this is not possible, you should put the collected fruits of viburnum in the freezer for 1-2 days.

The effect of getting rid of bitterness will be the same as if the viburnum was collected after the first frosts. In addition, after this treatment, the skin of the fruit becomes soft and easier to crush. The bitter taste and smell disappear also under the influence of high temperature during cooking.

Did you know? Ancient Slavic sweet and sour treat - kulaga prepared from viburnum, rye flour, malt and served cold. It was considered a festive ritual dish on Ivan Kupala.

Based on the berries of viburnum, you can prepare a tart refreshing drink - fruit drink, the mention of which contains the first Russian household manual of the 16th century. Domostroy. Although it is often made from cranberries, fruit drinks can be easily prepared in any way from wild or cultivated acidic berries (viburnum, lingonberries, raspberries, cherries). For sweetening, use sugar or honey - the word "fruit drink" comes from the Latin "mulsa", which means "honey drink".

Instead of store products in cardboard packaging, you can make such a drink from fresh or frozen viburnum. Thanks to the natural pectin contained in the berries, it has a velvety texture. Morse can be prepared as a hot drink with spices - cinnamon, cloves, citrus zest, which helps to reduce the unpleasant smell of viburnum.

Benefit

The healing and nutritional components of viburnum berries and products based on them are numerous and varied, and sometimes even irreplaceable. The fruits of this plant have long been valued for useful and medicinal properties. The most valuable berry is after the first frost. During this period, it becomes less bitter, more useful, and therefore it is necessary to begin collecting viburnum in this period.

Having a low calorie content (26 kcal) and a glycemic index (20), viburnum is a valuable source of vitamins (A, C, E, K and P) necessary for the body and elements, sugar and natural esters. However, the bitterness characteristic of the taste of the fruit means the presence of glucoside.

The composition of the fruits (100 g) contains:

• carbohydrates - 7 g;
• potassium - 179.5 mg;
• calcium - 40.5 mg;
• magnesium - 17.5 mg;
• iron - 6.1 mg.

Did you know? A decoction of viburnum flowers has long been used in alternative medicine as a means to restore a lost voice even with severe hoarseness.

By the content of vitamins, viburnum is not inferior to chokeberry and blackcurrant, by vitamin C (85 mg) it is superior to raspberries and some types of citrus fruits, and the amount of iron is a record for berries.

• The positive effect of drinks from viburnum on the body can be estimated by the following healing properties of berries:
• thanks to a large number of antioxidants, berry drinks are the best helpers in the fight against respiratory infections with colds, tonsillitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis and even pneumonia;
• pectins and antibacterial tannins in the complex normalize the digestive tract, drinks will help in the treatment of digestive diseases (gastritis, colitis, peptic ulcer);
• have a diastolic effect on the uterus and can be used for dysmenorrhea;
• reduce blood cholesterol and blood pressure, so moderate use is useful for high blood pressure and diabetes;
• vitamin-mineral composition improves mood, relieves stress and treats depression, and is also able to trigger the mechanism of blood renewal;
• stop minor bleeding and reduce the symptoms associated with hemorrhoids due to antihemorrhagic properties;
• beneficial effect on the choleretic function, so they can also be used to adjust this process.

Harm

• Like any product, viburnum and drinks based on it have a number of contraindications and can in some cases harm the body:
• it is not recommended for women during pregnancy and lactation because of the risk of allergies in the child;
• should not be abused for hypertension, since a sharp decrease in pressure can cause fainting. For the same reason, hypotonics should be drunk with caution;
• drinks are not combined with blood pressure medications or antibiotics and can cause unwanted and harmful effects;
• acids in berries do not affect joint health in the best way, therefore it should not be used for gout, arthritis;
• due to the high content of vitamin C in berries with excessive consumption, a rash on the body may appear;
• it is undesirable to use the product for people with high acidity or problems with the secretion of gastric juice.

Cautions relate to excessive or prolonged use of viburnum, so there will be no harm in small amounts and the right dosage of viburnum fruit drinks.

Important! Only cultivars with red fruit are useful. Berries of black viburnum are equipped with a strong poison and are dangerous to humans.

Viburnum fruit recipes

Before preparing fruit juice from viburnum, you should familiarize yourself with several useful tips. In the book “The Great Encyclopedia of Culinary Arts”, V. V. Pokhlebkin claims that the chemical composition of viburnum berries dictates certain cooking methods - they cannot be heated above +55 ... + 60 ° C and even more so cook and boil. Only the skin and seeds of the fruit (pulp) remaining after separation of the juice are boiled.

For easier separation of seeds and peels that add bitterness to the drink, 3 methods can be used:

• berries to freeze and then thaw - they will become soft and will be easily crushed;
• warm up for 5 minutes in hot water and pass through a juicer;
• crush the raw fruit with a crush in a deep dish with the addition of a small amount of water.

Video: Morse from viburnum

If the fruits of viburnum are slightly wrinkled, then for rehydration (moisture recovery) they can be soaked in water before any of the above procedures, making sure that all the stems are removed.

Information about the ratio of volume and weight of berries:

• 1 cup (200 ml) contains 150–160 g of berries;
• 1 tbsp. l - 5 g of fruit.

The ratio of fruits and liquid of about 1:10 will give savings in the preparation of fruit drinks, and a fairly rich taste and color of the drink. And the ratio of sugar to weight of berries depends on individual preferences and sweetness of the fruit and is approximately 4: 5. Fruit drinks are served, as a rule, in large transparent jugs.

Important! You can crush berries only with a wooden or porcelain pestle or pusher and do not use metal dishes in the cooking process. Metal gives Morse an unpleasant aftertaste.

Traditional

You can consider traditional fruit juice from viburnum, prepared in accordance with old recipes and the above ratios of water, berries and sugar.

Ingredients:

• purified water: 2 l;
• viburnum: 200 g;
• sugar: 160 g.

Cooking method:

1. Rinse the berries, crush and squeeze the juice, which for a while to remove in a cool place.
2. Pour the pulp with hot water, add sugar and simmer for 5-8 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let it brew for 30 minutes.
4. Strain the broth through a cloth and squeeze.
5. Pour juice, mix and cool.

With lingonberries and mint

Lingonberry goes well with viburnum, complementing the drink with useful elements, rich color and sweet and sour taste. For a refreshing effect, peppermint can be added to fruit drinks.

Ingredients:

• purified water: 3 l;
• viburnum: 1 glass;
• lingonberry: 1.5 cups;
• mint: 25 g (2 tbsp. l.);
• sugar or honey: to taste or 2-3 tbsp. spoons.

Cooking method:

1. Wash the berries and rub through a stainless steel sieve to separate the seeds. Remove the juice for a while in the refrigerator.
2. Place the pulp in a cooking bowl, fill with water and add sugar and mint.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and immediately remove from heat.
4. When the broth cools down a little, strain through a dense cloth and squeeze.
5. Add berry juice to it and mix.
6. Honey, if used instead of sugar, must be added to the slightly cooled fruit drink.

The resulting drink turns pink and sour-tart taste, perfectly refreshes and quenches thirst. It is recommended to drink chilled.

With ginger

A drink from berries and ginger root allows you to enhance the beneficial properties of these products, and the addition of honey reduces the irritating effect of ginger on the digestive tract and improves the taste of fruit drinks. In the cold state, the drink refreshes and invigorates in hot weather, and when warm in bad weather it will warm, accelerate sweating and blood circulation.

Ingredients:

• purified water: 3 l;
• viburnum: 1.5 cups;
• crushed ginger root: 20 g;
• sugar or honey: to taste.

Cooking method:

1. Rinse the viburnum brushes, separate the berries and rub through a stainless steel sieve. Put the juice in a cold place.
2. Grate the ginger root on a fine grater or chop with a knife.
3. Pour the pulp and sugar with water in a cooking container and boil, add grated ginger and cool the composition to + 60 ° С. Strain the broth through a dense cloth and squeeze.
4. Pour the prepared juice into the pan and add honey if sugar was not used.

Did you know? Kalina in the Slavic epic is a symbol of girlish beauty and tenderness. In the old days, its fruits were traditionally woven into the bride’s wedding wreath.

In the cooking process, you can add spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, pink pepper, mint, lemon) which will not only improve the taste, but also replenish with useful properties. Such a drink will be an excellent prophylactic in the season of colds. You can drink the drink in chilled or warm form.

With honey

In the season of colds and with a strong cough, viburnum juice with honey will increase the body's defenses and alleviate the condition. In addition, it is a good sedative that will relieve the effects of stress and make a good night's sleep.

First option

Ingredients:

• purified water: 2 l;
• berries of viburnum: 200 g;
• honey: to taste.

Cooking method:

1. Wash the brushes and separate the fruits.
2. Crush the berries and rub through a stainless steel sieve. Remove the juice in a cold place.
3. Fold the pulp into the cooking container and fill it with water. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
4. Cool to + 60 ° C, strain through a thick cloth and wring out, add honey and juice. Shuffle. The drink is ready.

How much you can change the cooking process:

1. Grind berries cleaned with brushes along with honey.
2. Pour boiled water + 60 ° С and insist for 2-3 hours, and then strain.

You can drink fruit drinks during the day instead of chilled water - to quench your thirst or warm - with symptoms of a cold.

Second option

Ingredients:

• purified water: 1 l;
• juice of viburnum: 1/2 cup;
• honey: 100 g.

Cooking method:

1. Boil water.
2. Dissolve honey in water cooled to + 60 ° С.
3. Mix with viburnum juice and refrigerate.

Important! In case of individual intolerance to honey or an allergic reaction, it is worth using a recipe based on granulated sugar.

The given recipes for fruit drinks from viburnum are simple and economical to prepare. This is not only tasty and refreshing drinks in the heat, but also a means to strengthen the body's health and defenses, especially in the season of colds. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that in the presence of acute or chronic diseases, the rules for taking viburnum fruit should be consulted with a doctor.