How to dry sea buckthorn at home

The sea buckthorn tree is a plant that takes root well in any latitude except the Far North. Despite its thorniness, it is worth planting wild or cultivated sea buckthorn on your site in order to obtain magnificent medicinal berries.

Oil is extracted from the fruit, and the cake can then be dried. This dried sea buckthorn has a lot of vitamins, retains microelements, beneficial acids, polyunsaturated fats, and most importantly, the medicine has practically no contraindications.

For drying, the berries are collected at the very beginning of autumn, always before the first frost, so that the skin does not have time to burst. Of course, the fruits can be used in burst form for preserves and jams, but such berries are not suitable for drying. An important point: the leaves and twigs of the tree are rich in vitamin complexes, so you can take both the berries themselves and whole sea buckthorn twigs from the bush. Is it possible to dry sea buckthorn along with twigs? Can! After drying, the fruits are easily removed, and you shouldn’t throw away the branches - brew them into tea and drink this healthy drink every day.

Storing sea buckthorn at home for the winter: methods

What do you know about sea buckthorn? We can talk a lot about the beneficial properties of this berry in all respects. Starting with exactly what vitamins and microelements are contained in the miracle berry, their quantity, and ending with its use in pharmaceuticals, folk medicine, cosmetology and cooking. But few people probably know how to properly store sea buckthorn for the winter so that its valuable qualities do not lose their relevance. This is what the article will discuss, namely, ways to store sea buckthorn leaves and berries at home.

Freezing sea buckthorn
Freezing is perhaps the most acceptable and reliable way to store sea buckthorn for the winter. In this case, the entire valuable set of vitamins and microelements remains completely intact. And the berry itself in this state is very tasty. But even in this case, we must remember that the fruits will remain intact after defrosting only if the freezing process was quick. When quickly frozen, small crystals are formed, which means that during the reverse process they will not damage the cells of the fruit, and the berry will not produce juice. Therefore, the optimal freezing temperature will be 30 degrees. To freeze the berries faster, you should use small containers: plastic containers or paper bags, glass jars or plastic bags, with a capacity of up to one kilogram. During the day, the pre-peeled fruits should be kept in the freezer, and only after that they can be poured into a larger container and put back into the freezer or freezer.

Heat treatment

You can make puree, jelly, jam, or make jam from fresh sea buckthorn fruits. Workpieces prepared in this way can be stored for a long time, subject to the rules of sterilization of utensils and temperature conditions - no higher than 15 degrees. Otherwise, unpleasant processes may occur: the color will become cloudy, the fruits themselves will soften and take on a completely different appearance. But lowering the temperature will not affect the quality of the product. The best option for storage is a dry and cool room without access to light. The only exception may be jam, which should be stored in a warmer room.

How to store sea buckthorn leaves for the winter

Sea buckthorn leaves are collected during the flowering period. At this time, they accumulate the main supply of useful microelements. Drying of leaves occurs in several stages. At the first stage, the collected material is sorted, removing leaves that have even minor defects. Then you should chop them as finely as possible, but not to the point of crumbs.

It is necessary to dry sea buckthorn leaves in a completely dry but well-ventilated room without access to sunlight, under which the beneficial components of the plant are destroyed. Also, do not allow flying insects to enter. Sea buckthorn leaves are used in teas, decoctions and medicinal infusions for bronchitis and colds. The uniqueness of sea buckthorn leaves is that, unlike berries, their use has no contraindications.

Drying sea buckthorn berries

Drying sea buckthorn fruits is a rather labor-intensive and time-consuming process. There are two drying methods. In the first case, the berries are dried in the sun, with pre-treatment in a soda solution: the fruits are dipped in a soda solution (0.5%), brought to 90-95 degrees for a few seconds, then washed with running water and laid out on the surface in an even layer. Drying occurs in direct sunlight for three weeks.

But in some areas there is not much sun, so an artificial method of drying in an oven or dryer is quite suitable. With this method, it is important to follow certain rules so that the beneficial properties of the plant are preserved in full:

• Choose the right temperature: from moderate to 70-80; • Reduce the temperature at the final stage to avoid overdrying the fruit; • Provide air access by ventilation during the entire drying process; • Sort the dried fruits and, if necessary, put those that have not been fully processed back into the oven; • Keep the dried fruits in a container at room temperature for two days so that the moisture content in all berries is equalized;

At the final stage, place the dried berries in prepared containers, which can be boxes made of wood or cardboard, having previously covered the bottom and sides with thick sheets of paper. Their contents should be checked from time to time to ensure that the fruits are not spoiled. The ideal option would be to store dried berries in a glass container with a lid.

Now you know all the ways to store sea buckthorn at home for the winter. Happy preparations!

Golden recipes for sea buckthorn preparations for the winter

Now let’s look at the most popular and simplest options for harvesting sea buckthorn fruits.

Freezing

Sea buckthorn, as a rule, immediately after harvesting is processed into jam, compotes, fruit drinks, and butter. But sometimes it is frozen in order to enjoy fresh vitamins in winter. This is the simplest recipe for preparing sea buckthorn for the winter.

The procedure is carried out immediately after harvesting:

To freeze the berries faster, set the freezer temperature to the lowest possible temperature.

It is best to freeze berries at -22 degrees. At higher temperatures, the skin of the fruit may crack, leaving you with a shapeless mass.

Drying in three ways

How to prepare sea buckthorn for the winter by drying? We offer three methods, but not with whole berries, but with cake.

Option 1

The collected fruits are dried until the moisture has completely evaporated. Next, distribute the berries onto the baking sheets in an even thin layer. And they are sent into the shade to dry out.

Drying is carried out only in the shade, since the sun's rays destroy the beneficial carotene in them.

When the berries are sufficiently dried, they are sent to the oven or drying cabinet, where the final drying of the berries occurs. The drying temperature should not rise above 50 degrees. While working, you now need to control the dryness so that the berries do not burn or dry out.

Second option 2

The harvested crop is sorted, bad berries, twigs, leaves are removed, and then thoroughly washed in cold water. The first stage of drying is the removal of surface moisture remaining after washing. The second stage is drying on baking sheets in one layer for 5-6 at a temperature of 50-60ºС.

These two options are only suitable if you have few berries. In case of a large harvest, it will be better to dry the cake first.

Option 3

Another option for drying sea buckthorn with maximum benefit is drying the cake. In this way you kill two birds with one stone: you prepare juice or jam from the squeezed liquid, and then use the dried cake to make fruit drinks, butter, aromatic tea, jelly, wine, infusions, and put into pies.

Dried cake or berries are first soaked in boiling water and then used for their intended purpose.

To work you will need a colander, a juicer, a metal sieve, a spoon, gauze and a dryer:

The finished dried cake is transferred to a dry container with a tight-fitting lid.

Sea buckthorn jam in minutes

Don't have time to mess around with sea buckthorn? Now we will tell you how to prepare sea buckthorn for the winter quickly and easily. To do this you will need 1 kg of sunberries, 0.8 liters of water and 1.5 kg of granulated sugar. This option is considered the healthiest and tastiest. The fact is that during the cooking process, the berries retain as much nutrients as possible, important for the body, especially in autumn and winter:

The still hot jam is poured into pre-sterilized jars, turned upside down and wrapped in a blanket.

Sea buckthorn compote

What else can you cook from sea buckthorn for the winter? Compote! It is also rich in nutrients and vitamins. In addition, it will help improve immunity in winter.

To prepare compote, it is advisable to collect the fruits slightly unripe so that they do not burst during cooking.

To implement the sea buckthorn recipe for the winter, 1 kg of berries is required. For this amount, take the same amount of sugar and 1.3 liters of water.

The berries are thoroughly washed, the stalks are separated, dried on a towel and placed in sterilized jars.
Syrup is made from water and sugar and poured over the berries.
Each jar is sterilized. To do this, use a large saucepan or deep metal basin with boiling water. Take one jar of jam, put it in boiling water, and leave it for a while. For a half-liter jar, the sterilization time is 12 minutes, and for a liter jar – 17.
The jars are closed and sent to the pantry.

Selection of berries and preparation for drying

You need to dry the berries at a certain time when they are dry. It is better to collect it no earlier than the end of August or September-October. The weather plays a big role. The berries cannot be allowed to freeze, so harvesting must be completed before the first frost. Otherwise, the delicate skin will burst, and the berries will become completely unsuitable for drying.

Selection of raw materials

Botanical.
Gift of Katun.
Trofimovskaya.
Golden cob.

In small quantities, it is customary to pick sea buckthorn from the branches one at a time. However, there is another method to make harvesting easier. Under the tree, spread a cloth, for example, a regular blanket. Gently shake the berries onto it, being careful not to prick yourself.

You cannot collect sea buckthorn along highways, near industrial facilities or landfills. It absorbs dangerous compounds, in particular lead from exhaust, accumulating it over the years. If you consume such berries for a long enough time, you can get severe poisoning.

Preparing berries for drying

The collected sea buckthorn is carefully sorted. Damaged, bursting berries are discarded. They can be used to prepare compotes, mousses, and jams. You need to throw away leaves, pieces of branches and other debris.

Wash sea buckthorn very gently so as not to crush the berries. Therefore, keep the water pressure low. It will be inconvenient and time consuming to wash one berry at a time. You need to sort of “shovel” them, trying to remove as much wax as possible from the surface. After washing, place the raw materials on paper towels or gauze to remove excess moisture.

How to dry sea buckthorn at home

There are several simple methods to dry your berries and get the most out of them. However, pre-drying is required in any case. To do this, place the berries in a single layer on sieves, racks or trays. Place them in a cool place with good air circulation for 24 hours.

On open air

Drying time : 5-8 days.

This is the simplest and most accessible method of drying sea buckthorn with your own hands at home. It will require sieves or grates covered with paper, as well as gauze to hide the drying from insects.

Place the berries in one layer on the surface where they will dry.
Set to dry in the shade, preferably in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Otherwise, carotene will be destroyed, and sea buckthorn will lose the lion's share of its benefits.
Stir the berries several times a day to ensure they dry evenly.

Readiness can be determined by taste and appearance. They should become much sweeter, and there should be no liquid left inside when biting.

In an electric or gas oven

Drying time : 3-6 hours.

There is no difference in drying depending on the type of oven.

Line racks or baking sheets with baking paper or parchment.
Spread the sea buckthorn on the surface in one layer.
Set the temperature to 48-50°C.
Stir the product once an hour and swap baking sheets.

You will have to make sure that the berries do not burn, otherwise all your work will go down the drain.

A gas oven should be left slightly open during drying, just like an electric oven. Only in the first case is it necessary to leave a gap of 15-20 centimeters, and in the second 3-5. If you have a “Convection” mode, turn it on and safely slam the door.

Drying methods

All the described drying methods preserve the beneficial substances and properties in sea buckthorn berries. Before starting any type of processing, the collected raw materials must be pre-dried: spread out in a thin layer on a flat surface and left in a cool place with good air circulation for one day.

In the oven

Air-dried berries must be laid out in one layer on a baking sheet and placed in an oven (gas or electric) preheated to 50 degrees. If there is a convection function, you must turn it on; if not, open the oven door slightly. It is necessary to regularly stir the layer and monitor readiness. It will take 4-6 hours to dry one baking sheet. The finished sea buckthorn should decrease in volume by 2-3 times, become hard and dry to the touch, but not brittle.

On air

This method will take the longest amount of time – up to 7-8 days. Prepared berries must be laid out on a flat surface in one layer and placed in a warm, well-ventilated place, avoiding direct sunlight. Cover the top of the sea buckthorn with gauze or a thin cloth to protect it from insects.

Important! Direct sunlight destroys carotene, which means that berries dried in this way lose most of their beneficial properties.

To ensure uniform drying, the contents of the tray must be stirred several times a day. Ready sea buckthorn is easy to distinguish by taste, it is much sweeter, and the absence of juice when broken.

In an electric dryer

A simple and quick way to prepare sea buckthorn for future use. The electric dryer can handle a large harvest in just 4-7 hours of operation. Air-dried berries must be laid out on the grill of the device and leveled. Set the temperature to 45-55 degrees and turn on the device. During operation, you will need to swap the grates several times to ensure even drying.

How to dry sea buckthorn cake in different ways

Drying time : from 2-3 hours to 7 days.

Home craftsmen have long realized that after sea buckthorn juice or oil is made, a lot of waste remains. The raw material is still quite moist, it retains many useful substances that it would be a pity to simply throw away.

Sea buckthorn cake lends itself well to drying. The result is a good base for compotes, vitamin supplements for baked goods or drinks. First, it is properly dried in the wind. To do this, the raw materials are placed in gauze and hung in the open air, but not in the sun for 24 hours.

Outdoors on sieves or trays in the shade (3-5 days).
In any type of oven at temperatures up to 52°C (3-4 hours).
In a vegetable and fruit dryer at the same temperature (4-6 hours).

You can dry the sea buckthorn cake in a dehydrator by first lining the grates with parchment and making holes in it with a knife. It is not recommended to set a high temperature; 47-50°C is enough. The drying time directly depends on the initial humidity. During the process, you can gently stir it once every hour.

Sea buckthorn contains “usefulness” in any part of the plant. Therefore, not only fruits are often dried, but also branches and even leaves. It is recommended to collect them when the tree begins to bloom, then the concentration of nutrients is highest. You cannot wash the foliage before drying, so choose something that is cleaner.

How to store dried sea buckthorn berries

Many people miss the point of storage, thinking that it is not important. Its shelf life directly depends on how and where the dried product is stored. Make sure that fruit moths do not settle in it and that mold does not form. Otherwise, the entire stock will have to be thrown away.

Glass jars with tightly closing lids.
Canvas or paper bags.
Plastic bags in the freezer.
Wooden boxes with tightly sealed lids.

The storage place should be dry and dark, out of direct sunlight. It is better to select jars from dark glass. In them, the product will retain its qualities for 12 months or more.

If you plan to store sea buckthorn in deep freeze, you don’t have to dry it at all. It will keep fresh for 1 year. If it is possible to make vacuum packaging, then the shelf life will last up to 1.5-2 years. Product stored in bags is best used within 4-8 months.

What to do with dried sea buckthorn

The most popular is dried sea buckthorn tea. But drying is used in various areas of cooking and traditional medicine.

Morse.
Compote.
Assorted vitamin tea.
First meal.
Second courses, side dishes.
Meat and fish.
Vegetable and fruit salads.
Kissel.
Bouillon.

Despite the beneficial properties of sunberries, there are strict restrictions on their consumption. These are standards that it is better not to exceed so as not to get hypervitaminosis. You can eat no more than 30-50 grams of them. One cup of tea a day will also be enough.

Remember how to properly brew dried berries so that they do not lose their healing properties. Rinse the teapot with boiling water, add the required amount of drying agent, and fill with hot water. Wrap the teapot with a soft, warm cloth and leave for ten to fifteen minutes. It is not recommended to keep the tea leaves for more than half an hour, as the vitamins in it will disintegrate.

Healing properties of sea buckthorn tea

Sea buckthorn is unique in the composition of vitamins in it:

ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
tocopherol (E);
carotene (A);
thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2) and folic acid (B9);
flavonoids (P);
unsaturated fatty acids (P).

Sea buckthorn berries contain more than 10 microelements necessary for humans: iron, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, etc.

Thanks to this, sea buckthorn tea becomes a healing remedy, the benefits of which are obvious. It is recommended for use to stimulate heart function and tissue regeneration. This tea strengthens bones and heals joints. And finally, it boosts immunity and helps overcome colds and viral diseases.

How to dry sea buckthorn leaves for tea?

Often in cooking, sea buckthorn leaves are used together with berries for tea. They can be used fresh or prepared for future use and used as a useful product for preparing a valuable drink all year round.

Sea buckthorn leaves are most aromatic and healthy if you collect them for drying from mid-June to the end of July.
It is not recommended to collect leaves at the time of ripening and harvesting of berries: it is believed that at this time the level of their beneficial properties is significantly reduced.
They pick off the foliage in dry sunny weather, avoiding complete exposure of the branches, and select only juicy, whole and undamaged specimens.
Dry the leaves in the shade, in a ventilated place, avoiding direct sunlight.
As soon as the sheets become brittle, drying is complete. You can put the raw materials in bags or dry jars for long-term storage.
It is allowed to dry sea buckthorn leaves in an oven or electric dryer at a temperature not exceeding 60 degrees.

How to dry sea buckthorn at home

In order for dried sea buckthorn to bring only benefits, the pre-washed berries are dried a little naturally: spread the fruits in a single layer on a cloth or tray, place them in a cool, out-of-sun place, and let them dry for about a day.

Now all that remains is to choose how to dry sea buckthorn at home:

1. Dry in the shade for about 4-6 days, constantly stirring the berries so that they dry evenly.

2. Dry in the oven at a temperature of 40-50 C (not higher) until fully cooked.

3. Bring to dryness in an electric dryer, also at a temperature not exceeding 50 C.

Be sure to watch the drying process from time to time; sea buckthorn may begin to burn. Therefore, choose the time to properly dry the fruits and get an amazingly healthy product for the winter.

It is convenient to dry the cake separately, after squeezing the oil out of the berries - this results in double benefits. All vitamins and microelements are also preserved in the cake; the product is used for brewing teas, preparing tinctures and anything else that is done with berries. The cake is also dried in the breeze and sent to dry in the oven or electric dryer.

The healing properties of the small yellow berry have been known for a long time - it is literally filled with vitamins, which is especially valuable in winter. It’s easy to preserve for the winter, and today we’ll look at several recipes.

How to freeze sea buckthorn for tea for the winter?

In the off-season, when there are no fresh berries available, tea is prepared from frozen sea buckthorn. After thawing, it fully retains its original properties and taste and is an ideal raw material for preparing the drink.

For freezing, select dense, juicy berries without damage, wash them and spread them on a towel to dry.
After all drops of moisture have evaporated, place the berry mass in a thin layer on a sheet and place it in the freezer for a day.
After complete freezing, pour the berry mass into a bag or container for long-term storage.
Raw materials frozen in this manner do not stick together: all that remains is to scoop up a handful of berries as needed and use them for their intended purpose, having previously defrosted them if necessary.

The most popular sea buckthorn tea recipes

Favorite sea buckthorn tea compositions include those with ginger, pear, orange, fireweed and honey.

With ginger

For ginger tea, regular tea leaves are not used. Thanks to the pungency of ginger, sea buckthorn berry tea with it becomes warming.

Ingredients: 200 grams of sea buckthorn, a liter of hot boiled water, 4 tablespoons of grated or finely chopped ginger.

Preparation: place ginger and sea buckthorn in a teapot, pour boiling water over it.

The recipe is for 4 people. For a thicker taste, brew tea with sea buckthorn longer, and then simply heat it to the desired temperature.

The recipe for making frozen sea buckthorn tea with ginger, sugar, cinnamon and cardamom is presented in this video.

With pear

For tea, choose juicy ripe pears of sweet dessert varieties.

Ingredients: sea buckthorn berries - 1 cup, 1 medium-sized pear, tbsp. spoon of black tea, sugar - 2 tbsp. spoons, boiling water – 600-700 ml.

Preparation:

Cut the pear into small pieces and mix with sea buckthorn in a blender.
Place the resulting homogeneous mass into a saucepan.
Pour sugar and black tea on top.
Pour boiling water over it.
Bring the tea to a boil over low heat, turn off the stove.
Stir the drink and leave for 10-15 minutes.
Strain into cups and serve.

You can add orange zest to sea buckthorn tea with pear. The zest of one medium orange will be enough.

With orange

Another fruit that goes well with sea buckthorn is orange.

Ingredients: sea buckthorn – 100 g, boiling water – 0.5 l, one medium orange (you can take half the fruit).

Preparation:

Remove the zest from the orange and cut the fruit itself into small pieces.
Place the berries and zest in the kettle.
Pour hot boiled water and leave for 10 minutes.
Add orange slices and stir.
Let the drink brew.

If desired, you can add your favorite spices to your tea, for example, a sprig of mint or a cinnamon stick. The recipe is designed to make two cups of the drink. We recommend reading the article for more information about preparing tea with orange.

With fireweed tea

Ivan tea (fireweed) can be bought at a pharmacy or store. In the summer, you can collect and dry fireweed leaves yourself to brew tea from it in the cold winter.

Ingredients: dried fireweed leaf - 4 teaspoons, boiling water - 1 liter, sea buckthorn berries - 4 teaspoons.

Preparation: Place the ingredients for making tea in a kettle or thermos and add boiling water.

Ivan tea with sea buckthorn can be brewed 2-3 times. The shelf life of the finished infusion is one day. All its beneficial properties are fully preserved. Recipe makes 4 cups.

With honey

Honey organically combines with sea buckthorn tea in terms of taste and beneficial properties.

Ingredients: for 4 cups of tea, take 200 grams of sea buckthorn berries, 1 liter of boiling water, honey - optional.

Preparation: pour boiling water over the berries and leave to brew. Add honey to tea or serve separately.

You can add regular tea leaves using your favorite variety of tea leaves. Green tea with sea buckthorn is just as tasty as black tea.

For additional information, we recommend reading an interesting article about brewing sea buckthorn tea with honey.

Sea buckthorn tea - beneficial properties

A hot drink made from berries, like tea from sea buckthorn leaves, the benefits and harms of which can be determined by the elements they contain, can be drunk by everyone without exception, except for those who are allergic to the fruits of this plant or intolerant to certain elements in their composition.

Tea made from sea buckthorn leaves will help cope with vitamin deficiency, scurvy or other gum diseases.
The drink is indicated for relief from rheumatism, arthritis, gout and other joint diseases.
The lion's share of all kinds of vitamins contained in berries will come in handy to strengthen the immune system, improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails, stimulate metabolic processes and rejuvenate the body.
Frequently drinking tea with sea buckthorn and leaves can improve vision, strengthen the nervous system, and enhance intestinal motility.
Such tea drinking will help remove bad cholesterol and toxins from the body.
By combining sea buckthorn leaves and berries with other herbs, fruits and spicy additives, you can not only improve the taste of the drink, but also make it even more useful for consumption.

How to prepare sea buckthorn tea?

In order for sea buckthorn tea to bring not only taste pleasure, but also benefits to the body, it must be prepared correctly, preserving the maximum valuable properties of the base raw materials.

The leaves are traditionally brewed in a porcelain or ceramic teapot, after rinsing it with boiling water. The drink is allowed to brew for several minutes under the lid, after which it is served, sweetening to taste if desired.
If the base component is berries, they must first be crushed using a non-metallic bowl and a wooden pestle.
The berry mass is poured with hot water (not boiling water) or pre-brewed black or green leaf tea, sweetened with honey or sugar.
Sea buckthorn tea is a recipe that can be significantly varied by adding all kinds of savory spices, fruits, herbs, and herbs.

Fresh sea buckthorn tea

Simple sea buckthorn tea is a recipe that can be made exclusively with water, or using freshly brewed black or green tea as a base. Instead of fresh berries, you can use “raw” jam. By adding just a couple of spoons of the preparation to a cup of drink, its taste and nutritional characteristics will acquire the desired effect.

fresh sea buckthorn – 2 tbsp. spoons;
water or brewed tea – 250 ml;
granulated sugar or flower honey - to taste.

Mash the berries in a non-metallic bowl with a pestle or wooden masher.
Pour hot water or brewed tea over the berry mass.
Sweeten sea buckthorn tea to taste with sugar or honey.

Basics of making sea buckthorn tea

General recommendations for creating this hot drink are not complicated. Use them to prepare sea buckthorn tea according to any of the recipes.

Fresh, dried or frozen sea buckthorn fruits are suitable for tea. First, rinse the berries thoroughly with cool water. Dried or frozen berries are poured with hot boiling water for about 5 minutes. It is better to mash the berries to a pulp, this will help make sea buckthorn tea richer in taste.
Fruits used in recipes are first washed and scalded with boiling water. This is necessary to destroy pathogenic microorganisms on the skin of the fruit.
Tea can be brewed in a French press, ceramic or glass teapot. To ensure that the tea does not lose the desired temperature and is brewed well, the dishes are first rinsed with boiling water. After adding all the tea ingredients to it, cover it with a towel on top.
The taste of the tea is richly sour due to the high content of vitamin C in sea buckthorn. Therefore, it is sweetened to taste with honey or sugar.
Tea brewing time is 15 minutes. If you steep the tea longer, the taste will be more intense. Then the drink can be heated to the desired temperature.
Before serving, the tea is filtered through a strainer (or in a French press).

Add spices to sea buckthorn tea. This could be orange zest, mint, cinnamon, star anise or cloves.

Storing sea buckthorn at home for the winter: methods

Heat treatment

Preparing sea buckthorn for tea at home

If you use fresh sea buckthorn, then just wash and sort the berries thoroughly, removing small debris. For tea, frozen and dried berries are used, and even dried leaves of the sea buckthorn bush.

How to freeze sea buckthorn

Only ripe berries recently picked from the tree should be frozen. Overripe fruits are not suitable for freezing, as they are too soft and lose their shape.

Remove debris and rinse the sea buckthorn thoroughly in a colander. The water should drain.
Place the berries on a board or flat tray that is large enough to fit in your freezer. Place the tray in the freezer for several hours until the berries are completely frozen.
Take out the frozen berries and pack them in plastic containers or plastic bags. It is better to immediately measure out the required portions for the different dishes you are planning, since the berries cannot be frozen again after defrosting.

The most optimal temperature for freezing is approximately minus 20 degrees Celsius. The shelf life of frozen sea buckthorn is up to 1 year.

Drying sea buckthorn berries yourself

You can dry sea buckthorn berries yourself.

Sea buckthorn is harvested in August – September. The berry should be ripe, but not overripe (otherwise it will burst easily and turn into mush).
The berries need to be washed and cleared of debris.
After drying, the fruits are laid out on a clean cloth in one layer. Drying must take place in the shade, preferably in the fresh air.

When the berry dries, it can be dried in the oven at low temperatures.

Drying sea buckthorn leaves

The leaves of the sea buckthorn bush need to be collected during its flowering period, that is, in April - May.

Leaves are collected before noon, in dry, clear weather. Contaminants can be removed with a dry cloth (to preserve the medicinal value, the leaves are not washed).
The optimal place for drying is the shade. Place the sheet on a clean cloth and turn it over periodically until it is completely dry.

You can store the dry leaf in a paper bag or cardboard box.

When to collect and how to dry sea buckthorn leaves?

Sea buckthorn leaves, rich in vitamins, are used as often as the berries of the plant themselves. Healing decoctions and tinctures are prepared from them, consumed orally or by making compresses, baths and inhalations. To preserve the beneficial properties of the leaves, they are dried at home. Here are some recommendations on how to properly prepare sea buckthorn leaves for storage.

Sea buckthorn tea according to restaurant recipes

Sea buckthorn tea, like in “Shokoladnitsa” or “Chaikhona”, can be prepared at home.

Recipe like in “Shokoladnitsa”

At the Shokoladnitsa coffee shop, sea buckthorn tea is served with ginger and lemon slices. Before use, the washed ginger root is peeled, removing as thin a layer as possible. This can be done with a vegetable slicer or the edge of a tablespoon.

Ingredients: sea buckthorn berries – 200 g, boiling water 1 liter, grated ginger – 3-4 tablespoons, lemon – 2 mugs, a couple of cinnamon sticks, 5-6 star anise.

Recipe makes 4 cups.

Preparation: Place ingredients in a kettle or French press and leave for 15 minutes.

This tea is convenient to prepare and serve in a French press.

Sea buckthorn tea as in Chaikhona

Chaikhona serves black tea with sea buckthorn. The restaurant's recipe also contains cinnamon and honey.

Ingredients: sea buckthorn fruits – 100 g, tea leaves to taste, boiling water 700 ml, a couple of cinnamon sticks.

Preparation:

Brew berries with spices and brew black tea (use separate dishes).
After the allotted time, pour the tea leaves into cups and add the berry infusion.

The recipe makes 2 cups. Honey can be added to the drink or served separately.

Beneficial properties of sea buckthorn leaf

Sea buckthorn leaves are similar to willow or olive leaves: thin, sharp “needles” of grayish-turquoise or green color, rich in essential oils and tannins. Already in young shoots a large amount of useful substances is collected. The plant is designed in such a way as to protect itself from pests and negative environmental influences, and we can use these properties to our advantage.

Sea buckthorn leaves are rich in vitamins C, E, A, B and PP, microelements, as well as phytoncides, the hormone serotonin, flavonoids and other substances that have a healing effect on the body:

strengthening the immune system;
wound healing effect;
elimination of inflammatory processes of infectious and non-infectious nature;
improving digestion, eliminating problems with stool, removing toxins from the intestines;
astringent effect, elimination of diarrhea and elimination of toxins;
rejuvenating and healing effect, acceleration of metabolism.

Skin renewal, healing of abrasions, burns and scars, treatment of acne, as well as peeling, irritation, skin diseases, frostbite, bedsores is possible with the help of sea buckthorn.

Most often, the medicinal properties of sea buckthorn are used for the prevention and treatment of colds, as well as for rapid tissue healing and relieving inflammatory processes - on the skin, joints and soft tissues. Rinsing and inhalation are used to treat runny nose, sore throat, laryngitis, gynecological diseases, and cystitis. Lotions and baths relieve rashes, hemorrhoids, and joint pain.

Interesting fact!

The components of sea buckthorn relieve itching and burning from abrasions and allergies as effectively as other similar plants rich in vitamin E, such as aloe, tea tree or calendula.

When is the best time to collect sea buckthorn leaves?

More beneficial oils in the leaves are collected by August-September, so harvesting can be done simultaneously with harvesting.

When pinching off branches for drying, do not forget about the development of the tree. It is worth removing only the edges, twigs without fruits and those that themselves look “superfluous” and which are usually removed during sanitary cleaning. Cut a little from each tree so that next year they all have the opportunity to produce a harvest again and do not freeze in winter.

Interesting fact!

Sea buckthorn leaves can be used topically, like plantain leaves, to disinfect and heal a cut, insect bite, or abrasion.

How to dry sea buckthorn leaves

To dry sea buckthorn leaves at home, you can use a natural method or an electric dryer.

In the first case, the leaves are carefully removed from the branches, washed and laid out on a paper mat or cloth in a well-ventilated place. The drying process takes several days, during which the leaves need to be stirred periodically so that they evenly release moisture.
To dry leaves using the electric method, you need to evenly distribute the raw materials over a special mesh or sheet, and set the temperature to 40-45 degrees. Even under such conditions, the leaves must be stirred and turned over every 30-60 minutes. For the best effect, it is worth drying sea buckthorn in small portions.

After proper processing, the leaves may bend or break, but not crumble. The condition should resemble a dried bay leaf.

Sea buckthorn raw materials are stored in woven bags, wicker or cardboard boxes to avoid dampness.

How to make a healthy decoction from sea buckthorn leaves

To quickly brew a tincture for drinking, rinsing the skin or compresses, pour boiling water over the dry raw materials at the rate of 1 tbsp. per glass of water (250 ml), then leave the mixture for 30-40 minutes in a thermos or warm place. If an infusion is prepared from fresh leaves, they are crushed and a little more is taken. After brewing, the mixture is filtered.

To take a course to relieve inflammation and strengthen the immune system, this drug must be taken 3 times a day, 50 ml before meals for about 2 weeks, after which a break is taken. If it is not possible to brew a fresh infusion every day, you can store the tea leaves in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. But remember that the healing properties gradually lose their power.

For more intensive treatment of colds or other disorders, a stronger remedy is made - a decoction. Take 4-6 tablespoons of raw material per liter of water and cook over low heat until boiling. After this, the drug is allowed to brew for another 50 minutes. You can drink 100 ml of the decoction, but the course should be shorter - 4-6 days.

Baths or local lotions with this composition will help cure hemorrhoids, allergies and other skin diseases.

Interesting fact!

Sea buckthorn does not burn the skin, so when applied topically, a compress or mask cannot be “overexposed” - they will not harm the skin. But you should be careful in two cases: if you are allergic to carotene or other vitamins, as well as intolerant to other possible components, if the product includes not only sea buckthorn.

To prepare a strong alcohol tincture, pour 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials with 100 ml of vodka or pure alcohol, then leave for 2 weeks in a cool, dark place. The finished mixture must be filtered. The resulting product can be used to wash wounds, rub joints, or drink a tablespoon for colds (can be diluted in water with lemon and honey or in milk).

Useful properties and uses of sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn berries have been used in folk medicine since ancient times. It was used as a remedy in Ancient Greece, China, Mongolia and Tibet. Indeed, sea buckthorn can cure many serious diseases. Products based on dried sea buckthorn are used internally for vitamin deficiencies (scurvy, night blindness), gastric and duodenal ulcers, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and blood diseases. The leaves in Central Asia are used externally for rheumatism. Sea buckthorn fruits are used for medicinal purposes in the form of infusions and decoctions, syrups, and oils. The most useful are the ripe berries of the plant, which provide the body with vital substances. Such a useful dietary supplement has a positive effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels, reduces blood pressure, prevents heart attack and stroke, blood clots, strengthens the immune system, eliminates anemia, rejuvenates the body and helps in the restoration of the body. The berries are also recommended for the treatment of cancer of the esophagus or stomach (in complex therapy). When treating cancer, take 1 tbsp. berries three times a day. When treating female and male infertility, sea buckthorn berries should be present in the daily diet; you can consume them 50 grams per day. If you can’t find fresh berries or it’s not in season, you can use frozen or dry ones, after soaking them in warm water. Contraindications. Sea buckthorn is not recommended for people with gallbladder diseases, as well as gastritis with high acidity and peptic ulcers. Preparations based on sea buckthorn are strictly prohibited for people suffering from urolithiasis. In cooking, the same dishes and drinks are made from sea buckthorn as from fresh sea buckthorn: tinctures, wines, fruit drinks and jelly. To do this, dried berries are first soaked in boiling water and then used in accordance with the recipe.