You might be skeptic in terms of vinegar-based drink but in fact it is very refreshing and tasty.
Juices based on vinegar were an old-fashioned method of preservation of fresh fruits. They have gained a particular popularity during the Temperance movement because of their refreshing and nonalcoholic taste.
Drinking vinegar is used in water, soda, sparkling water or even cocktails and it is a concentrated vinegared syrup.
The ingredients from this recipe provide many health benefits for your body:
It is a persistent and nasty weed that destroys lawns. The herbalists use dandelion roots as both food and medicine. It is especially beneficial due to their ability to dig deep into the earth thus pulling the minerals and vitamins into the plant. Although, with sweet and slightly bitter taste, dandelions are great nutrient-dense food.
Dandelion root is usually used to support liver health. Despite the fact that it improves the function of the liver, it can release other symptoms connected with liver issues such as boils, acne and premenstrual syndrome.
How to Harvest Dandelions
They are small perennial plants that grow in disturbed soils to abandoned lots. When choosing which dandelions to harvest, always look for those from areas that have not been sprayed with chemicals. Find some dandelions that are probably not contaminated and avoid those from roadsides.
Chose the ones with good clumps of leaves because they will probably have large roots.
If you use them for medicine, then it is not good to harvest them in the fall. Although they can be used at any time of the year, the health benefits of fresh dandelions are even greater.
When harvesting, first dig around the edges of the leaves to loosen the soil without cutting into the root. When the soil is loosened, break it up and free the root. Be careful if the root is firmly attached, not to pull it too firmly because you can break the root.
If the leaves of dandelions are young you can include them in salads or in a pesto.
Wash the roots well before you include them in the recipe.
Put them in a bowl with water and stir the water.
Strawberries abound in a large amount of vitamin C and potent antioxidants. However, they are one of the most heavily sprayed fruits on the market.
According to Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen List, strawberries belong to the top fruits that are produced with the highest usage of pesticides. Some of the pesticides can disrupt the hormones as well as can cause cancer.
Even, some of the pesticides used in the U.S are completely prohibited in Europe.
The same working group that we have mentioned before reported that the USDA tests on strawberries indicate that almost all samples, 98 percent had at least one pesticide residues, 40 percent had more than 10 pesticide residues and one of the dirtiest samples had more than 17 different pesticides.
For this reason, buy some organic strawberries or harvest some wild ones.
Along its great list of health benefits, vinegar provides three specific qualities in this recipe.
A vinegar combined with sugar and fruits is called a shrub. It’s the acid in vinegar that helps in the preservation of the fruits. So, this is an excellent method of preservation of seasonal fruits.
Vinegar will also help in the extraction of minerals. In this recipe, both the dandelions and strawberries abound in important minerals such as iron, manganese, potassium and calcium.
You are probably familiar that honey is one of the healthiest food that exist. It can help you soothe the throat pain without remedies which can be a little tough for the stomach.
Strawberry and Dandelion Shrub Recipe
This refreshing syrup has the aroma of strawberries and the mineral-rich qualities of dandelion roots.
If you mix it with water you will get a super delicious drink with many health benefits.
You need the following ingredients:
- 2 cups of organic strawberries (be careful when choosing).
- 1/2 cup of fresh chopped dandelion roots or 1/4 of dried ones.
- 2 tsps. of minced fresh ginger.
- 1 cup of balsamic vinegar.
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar of a white wine vinegar.
- 1/2 cup of honey or more if you like.
When drinking, these drinks based on vinegar, we do not only benefit from the sour taste but from the nutrients we get. The sour taste stimulates the digestive tract and the salivary glands while the bitter taste improves the health digestion. The sour taste gives a refreshing and cooling effect in the same time while quenching thirst.