Pine cone jam - folk remedy for cough
In conifers, not only needles and shoots are useful, but also cones. They make an original and tasty jam that will help you quickly cure even a lingering cold.
It should be noted that, unlike pine needles dessert, it is better to collect and preserve cones in late spring. In the month of May, young cones form on the pine, and they will be needed. Large ripe fruits are not suitable for jam. Firstly, they will quickly boil up and lose their shape, and secondly, they will only spoil the overall taste and appearance of the treat.
How to make pine cone jam?
Young cones should be thoroughly washed, cut off the remnants of the stalks with scissors and pour into a stainless steel pan. For jam you will need:
- a kilogram of cones;
- 1.2 kg of sugar;
- 500 ml of water.
It is better not to use enamelled dishes, because the resin released from the cones during the cooking process remains on its walls, which is rather difficult to wash.
Combine all ingredients and bring cones to a boil. Boil for 5-10 minutes, turn off the heat and leave to infuse for at least 3 hours. Repeat the procedure up to 5 times. During the cooking process, the green cones will turn brown, and the syrup will acquire a beautiful golden-amber hue. Pour the finished jam into sterilized jars and seal. From one kilogram of cones, about 1.2 liters of jam are obtained.
As the dessert cools, it will thicken.
How to choose the right buds?
For jam, you need to collect only young cones. The degree of maturity can be checked with a needle: it crawls well through the green cone. It is better not to use fruits larger than 4 cm. Also, do not pick cones from trees that have a lot insect pests.
Useful properties of jam
This tasty treat has a wide range of medicinal effects:
- serves as a prophylactic agent against colds;
- increases efficiency;
- quickly heals a runny nose;
- relieves the general condition during the flu and lowers the temperature;
- has an expectorant effect, is used to treat bronchitis and bronchial asthma;
- improves the functioning of the stomach and pancreas, is used in the treatment of ulcers.
However, cone jam should be avoided for those who have a tendency to allergies, as well as kidney problems and hepatitis in the acute stage. It is not recommended to give a treat to children under 3 years old at all.