How to Dry Blackthorn

Black chokeberry has a second name - chokeberry. To be more precise, it is the opposite: the correct name of the plant - chokeberry, but the second name - black chokeberry - it received because of the similarity of bunches, but has nothing to do with it. In terms of its qualities, it is closer to cherry, cherry, quince, hawthorn, rose hips, etc. They are united by the rose family to which they belong.

The berry of the plant can not be called tasty, it is more of a fan. But it is difficult to argue about the usefulness of the fruit. This is a treasure trove of vitamins, trace elements and minerals. Black chokeberry is gathered for different purposes: someone needs to prepare medicinal remedies from it, someone uses it as an additive in culinary dishes, and someone needs rowanberries for making nalewka. Depending on the climatic conditions of the area where the shrub grows, the weather and the purpose of the berries depend on the timing of harvesting.

When and how to harvest black chokeberry for drying

If we talk about the exact timing of the harvest, there is no. The beginning of the ripening of fruits begins in September. The culture grows almost all over the territory of the Russian Federation. The taste of the berries is tart, but pleasant. As additives in compotes, jellies, jam, etc., it has no equal. It gives ready dishes a special note of piquancy, can act as the main ingredient, but this is more likely to the amateur.

Due to its composition, berries are used in both traditional and folk medicine. They are used to prepare medicines, decoctions, tinctures that can cleanse the body and remove toxins from it. It has many other therapeutic properties, which we will tell you about later.

To preserve the fruit during the year, people dried or froze them for the winter. Therefore, it is important to know when to pick and which berries are suitable for long-term storage.

Timing of ripening

The beginning of ripening in the middle belt of Russia - the end of August. Duration of ripening - the middle of November. While in the southern part of the country you can start picking as early as mid-September, in central Russia - not until mid-October. But for the north, the best month for harvesting will be November.

Worth knowing! If the fruits are harvested after the first frosts, they will be much sweeter. The temperature drop will remove the tartness and "soften" the taste.

If not harvested in time, it can remain on the branches until spring, if it is not pecked by birds.

When and what berries to pick

Note that properly dried chokeberry can withstand long-term storage only until the next harvest, no more. In this case, all the value of the product will be preserved. One year is quite enough to prepare many different gourmet dishes or useful medicinal drinks from rowanberries.

Only ripe, undamaged berries without rot are suitable for drying. Residents of the middle zone can pick as early as mid-October and before the first frosts. Blackberries battered by frost will not be suitable for long-term storage.

How to determine maturity

It is possible to determine the maturity:

• by the color of the berries;
• the color of the juice;
• flavor;
• density.

A mature chokeberry has a deep purple or black color. The juice secreted from the fruit has a dark purple hue. The taste is slightly sweet and tart. If you try to touch a single specimen, it should be elastic, but not hard.

Tips for picking

Regardless of the purpose of the further use of blackberries, the rules of gathering remain the same for all:

1. It is advisable to harvest in the morning, after the dew has dried.
2. The harvest should not be collected when the air is too humid. If damp berries fall into a common basket, they will begin to rot and "infect" others.
3. A dry, windless day is suitable for picking.
4. Choose plastic or glass containers for collection. An enamel bucket will do. But collecting in aluminum or galvanized containers is not recommended. Such utensils can affect the taste and spoil it.
5. Fresh berries should not be kept at 18-20°C for long and should be processed straight away.
6. Pruning shears are good for cutting rowan berries. You can use a sharp knife or scissors.

Important! Blackthorn inflorescences will feel comfortable in a wooden container and will be able to overwinter if you put fresh fern leaves between the rows. Moss will also work, but it must be dry.

How to Gather

Black-fruited rowanberries are not harvested as individual berries, but cut off whole clusters. This is best done with pruning shears. Separate from the stalks before cooking or as needed. Cut the rowan together with the branch on which it is placed. This is not only fast and convenient, but also useful to the plant itself. The cut bunches help the tree recover faster. The fresh harvest should be put into action as soon as possible, either by cooking or drying. So it will be possible to preserve the valuable substances and useful properties of the plant.

How to prepare the fruit for drying

Already at the collection begins preparation. Carefully review the berries for damage and rot, remove debris and other unnecessary elements.

When you come home, you once again thoroughly sort through, remove excess debris and dirt, and remove spoiled fruit.

Washing before drying is not recommended. Further heat treatment will kill all germs. If you are accustomed to careful cooking and the washing process is important to you, you can do it. Only before drying you need to put them on paper towels or a towel and dry them well from moisture.

Depending on the chosen method of drying depends on the removal of the stalks. So, if you decided to use an oven or an electric dryer, you will have to separate.

How to dry black chokeberry at home

At home, you can dry chokeberry in different ways:

• in the oven;
• with the help of an electric dryer;
• in an aerogrill;
• on a string, etc.

And the first three methods imply a quick process. That is, the process will take a few hours, but not days.

It is important to set the correct temperature, so that the fruit will not burn. Violations of the temperature regime will be evidenced by a change in color. Black chokeberry should not change its color. If after drying it becomes reddish or brown, then the process has not been carried out properly. Such a berry, of course, can be used in cooking, but in terms of medicinal purposes, the product will be useless.

If they should not change color, then the appearance can. They will slightly shrink because of the lack of moisture. Check their readiness for storage by pressing. If they do not release juice, then everything is fine, if the juice still appears, then the process should be continued.

In the oven

1. Selected fruits spread out on a baking tray, preferably in one layer.
2. Preheat the oven is not necessary.
3. Put the tray in the oven and set it to 40°C.
4. Dry for 30 minutes, then increase the degree to 60.
5. The process lasts until completely ready.
6. Take out the tray and let the rowanberries cool.
7. Put them in storage.

In the process, lightly shake the berries so that they dry evenly. This is especially important if they are laid tightly against each other and piled in several rows.

Do not close the door of the oven tightly, you can open it a little for proper circulation and rapid evaporation of moisture.

In an electric dryer

Electric dryer is a unit designed for drying fruits, vegetables and berries. Therefore, there is not much need to take part in the process here. The main thing is to set the right temperature mode and time.

1. Spread the berries in a single layer on the trays.
2. We set the proper temperature.
3. You can set the time not for the entire cycle, but to divide it into three stages. Then at the end of one of the stages, you can swap the trays.
4. Set the temperature to 50°C and reduce it to 40°C an hour before it is ready.
5. The drying time is 3 hours.
6. At the end, take out the semi-finished products, check them for readiness and send them for storage.

In the microwave

The microwave will not give the proper result. It is not suitable for drying berries, because it is not adapted to such functions. And the microwaves emitted by the technique will be detrimental to the contents of chokeberries.

In an aerogrill.

The microwave oven can easily be replaced with an aerogrill. The apparatus has everything you need for this: tools, like a mesh tray, and excellent blowing, which when drying will be very useful.

1. We select large ripe fruits and lay them out on the tray in a single layer.
2. It is important to leave the lid slightly ajar in the process. Any support, such as a skewer, will do for this. This is done so that the hot and humid air can escape.
3. Set the maximum blowing speed.
4. The temperature should be 60°C. The time depends on the size of berries. The process may take half an hour or an hour.
5. Check if the berries are ready. If they are dry enough, let them cool down and send them to storage. If not yet ready, load them back into the air grill.

In the sun

This option will suit those who do not care about the value of the product. The ultraviolet light will destroy some of the useful elements contained in rowanberries, so if you plan to use chokeberry as an additive in other drinks and dishes, this is your method. But for the preparation of healing potions it will be useless. But if you count how many of the same useful substances "kills" the heat treatment, the chances are equal.

1. Spread a cloth or paper on the grass and pour the blackberries on it. It is better to use special flat boards or trays, so they can be easily taken into the house overnight.
2. On top cover a light cotton cloth from birds and dust.
3. Be sure to bring them inside at night.
4. Shake it regularly, so that the black chokeberry dries evenly.
5. We dry until completely ready.

The process may take several days. The minus of this method is that everything depends on the weather. If it goes bad and it rains, the fruit will be lost.

In the shade

This method is designed for a dark, secluded place in the form of an attic or canopy. Just like in the sun, we lay out the fruit, cover the top with a thin cloth or paper and dry until ready.

The second variant is a bit more complicated. To do this, select large specimens and string them on a thick thread. Then we hang them in a darkened room. When stringing, make sure that the berries are far away from each other. Then let them dry and, if everything is all right, put them into storage.

Drying in clusters

It is not necessary to separate the berries, as there is a way to dry in clusters. After cutting the clusters off the tree, we bundle them up with a strong string and hang them up. In this way you can dry both in the sun and in the shade. The main thing is to have fresh, dry air and a little breeze to blow around.

You can just pull a strong rope and place the clusters cut from the branches on it. Dry until completely dry. This option is certainly simple, but rather risky. If the balance is not maintained, the brushes may fall off, and the berries themselves after drying may separate from the stalks and end up on the ground.

In both cases, we keep the fruits until they are completely dry. After that, we separate them, place them in prepared containers and send them to "storage".

How to properly store dried black chokeberry

For storage, glassware or plastic containers are suitable. You can use bags of cotton cloth. Paper bags will also work.

Containers should be airtight and impermeable, so it is better to choose dry and dark places for long-term storage. Sunlight can negatively affect the useful qualities of berries.

If the preparations were made naturally, without the use of home appliances, you can store them no longer than 8 months. Dried in an oven, air grill or electric dryer, the product is stored for longer - 12 months.

What is the usefulness of dried chokeberry

Before we talk about the benefits of dried chokeberry fruits, we should consider their composition.

Composition

Fruits contain a sufficient number of useful and important nutrients for the human body, among which it is worth highlighting fructose, glucose, sucrose, tannins, pectin.

Among the vitamins we should mention the group A B. It is ahead of gooseberries, citrus fruits and even currants for the amount of ascorbic acid. It will be important for women to know that black chokeberry has a rejuvenating effect and prolongs the youth due to the presence of vitamins E and P.

Pay attention! For diabetics, the fruit will be useful, as it is a natural source of sorbitol.

Of the micro- and macronutrients, it is worth highlighting:

• iodine;
• potassium;
• boron;
• manganese;
• copper;
• fluorine, etc.

Caloric value

Fruits are low-calorie products because they contain only 55 kcal per 100 g. In addition, they contain protein, carbohydrates and fats.

Benefits

For dacha owners.
Aronia has many positive aspects. She not only benefits the human body, but also convenient from an aesthetic point of view. If you plant it in your plot, you can get useful fruits, prepare them for the winter and prepare medicinal potions the whole year. If you look on the other hand, then the shrub will also decorate your site, and on hot days will save from the scorching sun, if hide in the shade of its crown. Growing black chokeberry on the plot is not only simple, but also profitable:

1. The site will be renewed and become beautiful. Shrub with gorgeous greenery and large bright fruits will look great in the vegetable garden or garden.
2. The plant bears good fruits, even with one shrub you can get a good harvest.
3. During flowering, black chokeberry will attract bees, which are useful to other plants growing on the plot.
4. Aronia is an unpretentious crop, requires no special care for itself, quickly takes root in any plot.

For health

1. Dried fruits are recommended for use by patients suffering from low acidity. It is enough to chew a few dried berries to eliminate the problem.
2. Blackberries are useful for avitaminosis, they quickly make up for a deficiency of C-vitamin and iodine, will help to cope with diseases of the endocrine system and thyroid gland, it is shown in goiter.
3. For diabetics, there is a great recipe for an infusion that will lower blood pressure, improve digestion, and dilate blood vessels. To do this, just crush the fruit and pour boiling water over it. Just do not use steep boiling water, it is better to use very hot water. Cover with a lid and insist for half an hour. Take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. You can store the composition in the refrigerator, but no longer than 3 days.

Worth knowing! Aronia was officially recognized as a medicinal plant in our country in the early 60s, when it was proved that its fruits and leaves have a beneficial effect on health. And the evidence was supported by experimental material.

Black chokeberry is able to:

• regulate blood sugar levels;
• reduce acidity;
• eliminate excess fluid from the body;
• normalize digestion;
• prevent stomach upsets;
• lower cholesterol;
• help with anemia;
• Prevent thrombosis;
• reduce bloating and eliminate gas;
• improve vision;
• calm the nervous system and normalize sleep;
• relieve cramps;
• Relieve pain, etc.

Contraindications

Despite all its useful qualities, there are contraindications to its use. For example, it is not recommended to give the berry to children under 2 years of age. And with 2 to 3 years should be careful to introduce it to the diet of a child. It is worth checking whether it will cause an allergy. And do not forget that there are bones in the berries, which are easy to choke on.

In such diseases as stomach ulcer, gastritis, colitis or thrombophlebitis, doctors do not recommend consuming black chokeberry berries in any form. But if there is a desire, you can consult with your doctor and determine the dosage. So you will not harm your body, but only strengthen it.

People with poor blood clotting, as well as those suffering from vascular diseases such as varicose veins or blood clots, experts advise either to refuse to use it at all, or to reduce the doses to a minimum.

Care should be taken with people with renal failure and with problems of the urinary tract. The acids included in the product can aggravate the situation and cause unwanted consequences in the form of stone formation.

It is categorically forbidden for people with individual intolerance and allergic reactions.

Remember that excessive consumption of the product is harmful even to a healthy person. Do not harm yourself and your loved ones, prepare healthy drinks and dishes to please them, to give them pleasure and benefit their health.

Is it possible to freeze black chokeberry

Of course, one of the ways to store berries for a long time with preservation of useful properties is freezing. The main thing is to carry out the process quickly, so that the included sugar does not turn into starch.

For freezing are suitable for late berries, i.e. picked at the end of the ripening period. First, we cut them from the branches of the bush, clean and select suitable specimens. The berries should not be rotten, damaged or "diseased".

They are washed, let dry, put in bags or plastic containers and freeze.

What you can make from dried black chokeberry

Many different dishes and drinks can be prepared from dried chokeberry fruits, which will be not only tasty but also useful. Before cooking, regardless of the method of drying and storage, berries are thoroughly washed.

Tincture

For the preparation you will need:

• chokeberry - at least 100 berries;
• dried cherry leaves - a couple of bundles;
• citric acid - 2 tsp;
• sugar - 800 g;
• vodka - a couple of glasses;
• water - 1 l.

Preparation:

1. Wash and dry berries. You can use paper towels or a towel for this.
2. Grind the fruit along with the leaves and pour them with water.
3. We put them on a boil on low heat for 7 minutes.
4. Add the sugar, stir it and continue boiling.
5. Pour the citric acid and boil for another 20 minutes.
6. We cool and mix with vodka.
7. Let us leave it for a couple of days.

Such a tincture perfectly cures colds and reduces inflammation.

Liquor .

You will need:

• chokeberry - 200 g;
• Dry cherry leaves - 100 g;
• water - 1 l;
• sugar - 800 g;
• vodka - 0,5 l;
• Citric acid - 1 tsp.

Cooking process
Reminds the previous one, but there are some peculiarities:

1. Using a mortar or blender, grind pre-washed and dried berries.
2. Shred the cherry leaves finely and mix with the rowanberries.
3. We pour water and put on the fire for 10 minutes.
4. Bring to a boil and pour sugar. The boiling process does not stop.
5. Pour the lemon juice and cook for 15-20 minutes.
6. Cool and mix the decoction with vodka.
7. Let it steep for 5-7 days.
8. Pour into beautiful bottles.

Jam .

What you need:

• Dried blackberries - 1 kg;
• water - for soaking;
• sugar - 500 gr.

Preparation:

1. Rinse dried berries, pour boiling water and soak for 5 minutes. They must swell.
2. Drain the water, pour sugar into a pan with rowanberries and put on a slow fire.
3. Cook, stirring constantly so that the sugar dissolves completely.
4. As soon as the mixture begins to boil, turn off the gas.
5. Sterilize the jars together with the lids.
6. Transfer the mass into the prepared container and seal it.

The jam is especially useful for people after illness, with a weakened immune system and hypertensive people. For medicinal purposes, it is eaten by 1 tsp. three times a day after meals. And healthy people can drink it with tea, spread it on bread, etc.

Vitamin tea

You will need to prepare:

• boiling water - 2 cups;
• Washed dried black chokeberry - 3 Tbsp.

Preparation:

1. Pour the chokeberry with boiling water and put it on the fire. Set a small gas.
2. We boil for 7 or 10 minutes. Make sure the liquid boils for a few minutes.
3. Remove from the heat, cover the pot with a lid and infuse 2 hours.
4. To taste add honey or sugar.

You can warm it up a little before use and take it as a tea.

Syrup .

We will need:

• granulated sugar - 700 g;
• citric acid - 10 grams;
• Cherry leaves - 50 g;
• dried chokeberry - 1 kg;
• water - 700 ml.

Preparation:

1. Before cooking, dried fruit is thoroughly washed and blanched, ie, steeped in boiling water and kept 3-4 minutes.
2. Cherry leaves wash, pour boiling water and boil for a couple of minutes.
3. Take out the leaves, and in this water we send berries. Cook for 5 minutes.
4. We pour into the boiling water citric acid, stir it and take it off the fire.
5. We insist a day.
6. The next day, strain the decoction and mix it with sugar.
7. We put on low heat and with constant stirring bring to a boil, but do not boil.
8. Prepare jars for the syrup, i.e. sterilize them together with their lids.
9. Pour the syrup into the container and seal it.

This syrup can act as an additive in drinks, jellies, baked goods. It is great for pancakes or as an addition to ice cream.

We got acquainted with chokeberry, or as we used to call it - black chokeberry. We know when to collect it, how to dry it, store it, and what you can cook with it. We learned about its miraculous properties and valuable composition. Gather black chokeberry, harvest it for the winter, and chokeberry will return your gratitude. Not once it will save you and your loved ones from colds, give strength after an illness, help cope with illnesses. Be healthy!