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Mulberry is another essential product for humans. Useful properties of dried mulberry and contraindications have been known since ancient times. Moreover, dried mulberry tree has more useful properties than its fresh counterpart. There are many varieties of mulberry, each with its own characteristics. Harvesting a mulberry tree also requires special preparation.
The benefits and harms of dried mulberry
Before talking about the properties of the mulberry tree, you should understand what it is. Mulberry is understood as the fruit of a perennial mulberry tree. There are a variety of varieties of mulberry trees. The description is about the same for everyone, the species differ in color and smell. Mulberry is a tree with a height of 5-storey building. The leaves are in the shape of lobes. The fruits are seeds 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, which 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
The useful properties and contraindications of dried mulberry, like a fresh product, depend on those components that are contained in its structure.
Mulberries include:
- vitamins: A, B, C, H, PP;
- trace elements: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron;
- natural fiber food additives;
- 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 action of the product.
Benefit
Most often, in the vastness of the domestic market, there is a white dried mulberry, which has the maximum useful properties:
- Mulberry helps to strengthen the immune system, thereby increasing the body's resistance to various infectious diseases.
- Also mulberry, especially dried mulberry, helps to normalize the functioning of the genitourinary system and the gastrointestinal tract.
- Since metabolic processes are restored, the external and internal state of the body as a whole increases.
- 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, dysbiosis and obesity.
In addition, the juice from these parts of the mulberry tree is used for pneumonia and bronchial asthma.
Harm
Despite all its positive qualities, mulberry has disadvantages. It can cause side allergic reactions in the body and diarrhea when consuming large amounts of mulberry. In addition, the product does not mix well with other ingredients.
Application
Mulberry, especially dried mulberry, is widely used in medicine: not only capsules, tablets, but also tinctures, oils and syrups, and chewable pills 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 berry picking time for this unique plant is minimal - from July to August. Due to the ripening of mulberry fruits, not just one moment, the fruits are harvested in several stages. Moreover, the rules are the simplest:
- It is better to harvest in the morning, after the first dew.
- The weather should be dry and preferably sunny.
- It is better to spread the fabric under the tree for convenience.
- Tap the bark with a stick to knock off ripe fruits. Only then pour them into a container.
In addition to the fruits, the leaves are also harvested. The best period for this is early summer. You need to choose healthy, even, not twisted leaves, without any damage. It is better not to break off the twigs.
The bark is also used in decoctions. It, unlike other parts of the mulberry, can be harvested at any time. To do this, cut off small areas of bark from different trees with a sharp knife.
Preparatory work before drying
Different parts of the mulberry tree 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 to pass them through cool water once is worth it. Then they must be thoroughly dried on a towel for 2 hours at room temperature.
Leaves should be cooked in the same way.
There is no need to prepare the bark at all before drying.
How to dry mulberries
Mulberry trees can be dried in different ways.
On air
Fruits should be dried on wire racks in sunny weather. Moreover, 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.
Dry the mulberry leaves in the shade and dry. Moreover, to prevent rotting, it should be turned over 3 times a day.
The bark does not care where to dry. The period is 10 days at room temperature.
In the oven
Before this method, the mulberries must be dried in the air for 2 days. Put the berries on a baking sheet with baking paper and send them to the oven at a temperature of 40 degrees for 20 hours. Stir the mulberry fruit every 2 hours. In addition, the oven door must be kept open for ventilation.
Foliage can be dried in the same way, only stirring is necessary 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 mulberry can be used in cooking.
Sponge cake
The number of components is taken per 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;
- icing sugar - 0.15 kg;
- dried mulberry - 0.05 kg;
- strawberries, kiwi - 0.08 kg each;
- black currant - 0.02 kg.
Methodology:
- 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 whites until fluffy.
- Add a third of the mass of proteins to the yolks. Mix. Sift flour. Mix.
- Add remaining protein and salt. Mix.
- Put the dough in a mold with parchment and put in the oven for half an hour at a temperature of 180 degrees.
- Take the sponge cake out of the mold and wrap it in foil. Leave for a day.
- Prepare the cream. Whisk separately the cream and cottage cheese with the powdered sugar. Then mix it all in a separate bowl.
- Divide the biscuit into 3 parts and grease generously with cream on all sides.
- Decorate the top with fruits and berries. Pre-peel the kiwi and chop finely, rinse and dry the berries.
- Send the cake to the refrigerator for 10 hours.
Jam
The recipe is for 10 servings. Cooking time is 2 hours.
Ingredients:
- sugar - 1.5 kg;
- dried mulberry - 1 kg;
- citric acid - 0.002 kg;
- water - 0.2 l.
Methodology:
- Prepare syrup: dissolve sand in water and bring to a boil.
- Rinse the mulberry tree, dry it.
- Mix mulberries with syrup and put on gas. Boil, cool. Repeat.
- Boil again. Add citric acid.
- Boil.
- Check readiness: the drop should not spread.
- Sterilize jars and lids. Pour the ready-made jam into jars and roll up.
Cool down. Put in the refrigerator.
Wine
Makes 30 servings. Cooking takes about 45 days.
Ingredients:
- dried mulberry - 2 kg;
- sugar - 1 kg;
- water - 5 l;
- wine (preferably white) - 1 l;
- cinnamon - 0.03 kg.
Methodology:
- Mulberries should be left for a day. Then squeeze the juice from them.
- Add sugar and cinnamon to the juice. Let it ferment for 7 days.
- Filter the juice into a separate container. Add white wine and stir.
- Let this solution brew for 2 weeks.
Pour into bottles.
Calorie content of dried mulberry
The product is high in calories - there are 375 kcal per 100 g of dried mulberry. In this case, proteins - 10 g, fats - 2.5 g, carbohydrates - 77.5 g.
Contraindications
The very first reason for refusing to use mulberry fruits is allergic intolerance by the human body to some components of this product. In addition, mulberries should not be consumed in large quantities for people with diabetes or hypertension.
Do not combine the use of mulberry with medications, as it can seriously affect the effect of medications.
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.
The berries should be stored in glass containers and the leaves in cartons. 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 mulberries and the preparation of dishes from them requires compliance with all the rules of these processes.
