Schisandra chinensis

Chemical composition

Schisandra has a powerful rhizome and a woody stem that reaches 15 m in length. Old dark brown stems have numerous longitudinal lentils. The plant has wrinkled bark. The alternate leaves are characterized by a wedge-shaped base and a pointed apex. They are distinguished by the presence of reddish cuttings.

The small flowers are white and have a fragrant aroma. They appear from May to June. The dark red, sour fruits have a salty taste. They can be seen by October. Spicy seeds smell like lemon.

The fruits of Chinese schizandra practically do not fall off until winter

The plant is found in the following areas:

• Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories;
• South Sakhalin;
• Amur region;
• Korean Peninsula;
• Northern China.

Schisandra prefers:

• valley, broad-leaved, mixed forests;
• edges and bushes;
• valleys of rivers and streams.

Important!
The plant needs drained soils that are rich in organic matter. The nutritional value of lemongrass berries is 416 kcal per 100 g. The carbohydrate content reaches 13 g, and dietary fiber and water - 5 and 4 g, respectively.

Schisandra berries are rich in tocopherol and ascorbic acid. The fruits are also a source of selenium and iodine. Among the components included are:

• tannins;
• glycerides;
• essential oils;
• iron;
• manganese;
• calcium;
• phosphorus.

What are the benefits of lemongrass berries?

The fruits of Chinese schizandra have a beneficial effect on the body in the following cases:

• rapid fatigue and decreased performance;
• depression, irritability;
• drowsiness and lethargy;
• decrease or increase in blood pressure;
• anemia;
• bronchitis;
• tuberculosis;
• bronchial asthma;
• diabetes;
• erectile disfunction;
• ARVI.

Eating products containing the fruits of the plant improves vision. Schisandra berries have the following properties:

• wound healing;
• antifungal;
• antibacterial;
• antioxidant;
• antiseptic;
• anti-inflammatory and analgesic;
• tonic and antidepressant.

How to prepare and use lemongrass berries

Schizandra sinensis is a medicinal plant. Schisandra berries can be used to make various healthy drinks and desserts. Their beneficial effect on the body is due to the unique composition of red fruits.

How to brew lemongrass berries (tea, infusion)

Aqueous solutions made from the fruits of a medicinal plant are highly effective. To prepare the infusion, pour 1 tablespoon of berries (dry, fresh) with a glass of boiling water. The product is infused for two hours in a sealed container. Before taking, the liquid is filtered. The daily dosage is eight tablespoons of the drug, taken four times a day.

Infusion of lemongrass fruits has a pronounced tonic effect.

Tea made from Chinese schizandra berries is used for the treatment and prevention of the following pathologies:

• respiratory diseases;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• obesity;
• hormonal imbalances;
• depression;
• insomnia;
• decreased visual acuity;
• pressure fluctuations.

You can make tea with lemongrass fruits. Berries (15 g) are poured with water and simmered for 15 minutes after boiling. After ten minutes, the drink is filtered and drunk. To improve the taste, honey can be added to tea made from Schisandra sinensis berries.

How to prepare a tincture of lemongrass berries with vodka

The drug increases blood pressure and reduces heart rate. The therapeutic effect occurs 40 minutes after using the tincture. The beneficial effect lasts approximately six hours.

Schisandra tincture is considered an antidiabetic agent.

Schisandra berries with honey

In the Far East, schizandra fruits are considered a natural stimulant. As a result of research, it has been proven that plant-based products are effective against mental and physical fatigue. The increase in performance is due to the significant content of ascorbic acid, phosphorus, manganese, iron and calcium in the pulp.

Schisandra tincture goes well with liquid honey. Take a teaspoon of nectar per glass of alcohol solution.

Tincture of schizandra fruits with honey helps strengthen the immune system and eliminate fatigue

Jams, preserves, marmalade

There are different ways to prepare lemongrass berries. For example, jam is used as a medicine and a delicacy. To prepare it, take 1 kg of berries, which should be washed and sorted. The fruits are covered with 1.5 kg of sugar and left for a day. Then the mixture is simmered over low heat until the crystals are completely dissolved. After five minutes, the mass is removed from the stove and poured into sterile jars, rolled up with lids.

Schizandra fruit jam is not recommended for consumption in significant quantities.

The healing properties of lemongrass berries are used in making jams. The fruits (1 kg) are washed, sorted and heated for five minutes in boiling water. Then the berries are placed in a colander and ground using a sieve. Add 1.5 kg of sugar to the puree and cook until tender over low heat, stirring continuously. Hot jam is poured into sterile jars and sealed tightly.

Schisandra marmalade is called an extremely healthy delicacy. Pectin (three tablespoons) is diluted in preheated lemongrass juice (1 l). The mixture is infused for half an hour. To prepare the syrup, use three tablespoons of sugar and schizandra juice (150 ml). Then the compositions are combined and simmered, stirring constantly, until a thick consistency is obtained. Marmalade should be poured into jars.

Compote, syrup, fruit drink

Schisandra berries can be consumed in the form of healthy drinks and desserts. To prepare the syrup, add 1.5 liters of sugar to 1 liter of fruit. The mixture is heated until the crystals dissolve. The finished syrup is stored in a dark place. To prevent the product from spoiling, it is placed in a sterile container. The mass is consumed three times a day, one tablespoon at a time. It can be added to various drinks.

The shelf life of syrup from the fruits of schizandra chinensis is one month.

Compotes are also prepared from lemongrass berries. Thoroughly washed fruits are placed in a juicer. After obtaining the juice, the pulp is poured with water (1:1) and the juice is squeezed out again. The resulting liquids are mixed, filtered and poured into an enamel pan. The composition must be heated until the temperature reaches 95 ° C, and then poured into sterile jars and sealed.

Important! You can make a fruit drink from jam or jam by stirring a teaspoon of the sweet mixture in a glass of warm water.

Wine

Usually the drink is made from the juices that remain after making the juice. The cake is poured with clean cold water and left for three days. Then the wort is drained, water and sugar are added. The drink must be allowed to ferment, having previously closed it with a water seal.

Before drinking wine from Schisandra sinensis, you need to remove the sediment.

Berry juice

The drink can be prepared for future use. Clean fruits are placed in a juicer. The nectar is poured into jars (after sterilization) and sealed. The juice is stored in a cool place. It is consumed with water, tea or coffee, a dessert spoon twice a day.

Juice from the fruits of schizandra chinensis helps improve performance

Recipes

The fruits of this plant are used for medicinal and prophylactic purposes in any form - fresh, dried, frozen. There are a large number of ways to prepare various products, among which the most popular are the following:

• Juice from fresh berries. It is used to restore physical strength by adding one spoon to tea. The collected berries must be washed and squeezed through cheesecloth. The juice is poured into sterilized jars, pasteurized for 15 minutes and rolled up.

• Infusion of dried berries. Schisandra fruits are placed in an enamel pan, filled with water (in the ratio of 1 glass per spoon of raw materials) and boiled for 10 minutes, covered with a lid. Then the resulting broth is infused, filtered and sugar is added to taste.
• For alcohol tincture you need crushed lemongrass berries. How to prepare and how to use this product is worth telling in more detail. The prepared berries are poured into a bottle and filled with 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:5. Cover tightly with a lid and leave in a dark place for 7–10 days. In this case, the bottle must be shaken periodically. Then strain the tincture, squeeze out the berries and add the remainder back to the resulting filtrate. Leave for another 2 days and filter again. The liquid in the bottle should be completely transparent. Ready-made tincture of lemongrass berries is used to improve performance, relieve fatigue, and also strengthen the immune system. It is taken 30 drops 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
• Frozen berries with honey. This remedy has not only a healing effect, but also an amazing taste. It is prepared from frozen berries that are mixed with honey. The ratio is to taste. The combination of these two healthful products is very effective against many diseases. All thanks to the fact that each of them enhances the positive effect of the other. This mixture has an anti-inflammatory, sedative effect, promotes the excretion of bile, lowers cholesterol, and improves overall well-being. You can take it one teaspoon a day for both adults and children. Fatigue, increased drowsiness, vitamin deficiency, anemia - this is not the entire list of problems that can be solved with the help of such a remedy.

How to take lemongrass berries correctly

What differentiates medicine from poison is the correct dosage. Schisandra berries with sugar are a delicious and healthy dessert. The fruits can be consumed as an additive to tea. They are covered with sugar (1:2), placed in glass jars and stored closed in a cool place.

How many lemongrass berries can you eat per day?

The plant is called a strong stimulant. Abuse of the product can cause harm to health, for example, cause overexcitation of the nervous system. Schisandra fruits have pronounced medicinal properties. To improve the health of the body, it is enough to eat a handful of berries or a teaspoon of the product.

Terms and conditions of storage

For better preservation of the medicinal properties of Schisandra fruits, it is necessary to correctly observe the terms and conditions of storage.

Store dried fruits and seeds in a cool, dry place in fabric bags. Shelf life – 2 years.

Healing homemade tinctures can be stored for a long time without losing their qualities. For storage, choose dark, tightly closed containers. Keep bottles with tincture in a cool place.

Comment! Water decoctions are not stored for a long time, maximum 1 day.

It is recommended to store berries drenched in honey on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator in a dark glass container. Shelf life is long. But it is better to use it before the next harvest.

Schisandra berries with sugar are rolled into jars with lids. The jars are put in a cool place. Shelf life – 1 year.

Juice from lemongrass berries can be stored for quite a long time. It is rolled into jars with a lid and put away in a cool, dark place. The shelf life of the juice in this form is 3 years.

Jam and marmalade remain healthy for 1-2 years. Store in a dark place, temperature does not matter (both in the refrigerator and at room temperature).

Marmalade is stored in the refrigerator. It is advisable to use it within 1-2 months.

When and how to collect lemongrass berries

Medicines are made from the seeds, bark and fruits of the plant. The main workpiece areas are the following edges:

• Khabarovsk;
• Seaside.

The berries are harvested during August and September. To prepare them, you need to cut off the brushes. Then the red, undamaged fruits are picked off.

How to dry lemongrass berries

Raw materials are prepared for the purpose of preparing medicines. The fruits of lemongrass, the photo of which is located above, are dried in a ventilated area. Sometimes the berries are dried and then an electric dryer is used.

How to freeze

The use of lemongrass berries in cooking is diverse. To store fruits in the freezer, they should be washed and placed in plastic bags.

Important! Preparing lemongrass berries for the winter allows you to preserve their unique composition and valuable properties.

How to prepare Chinese lemongrass for the winter

Chinese lemongrass (Schisandra chinensis), or schisandra, is actively used in folk medicine. Its use is recommended for vitamin deficiency, cardiac and respiratory system disorders. There are many ways to prepare Chinese lemongrass for the winter. Most often it is canned, dried or frozen.

Drying Schisandra chinensis

Schisandra is harvested in early September. The bunches are picked whole, since the skin of the berries is very thin and can be easily damaged if squeezed.

Comment! When collecting fruits, it is necessary to avoid their contact with metal objects. When lemongrass juice oxides with metal, harmful compounds arise.

The berries are dried using a combined method. At the first stage, in natural conditions, then in an oven or electric dryer.

First, the bunches are laid out in a single layer on wooden boards and left in the sun for six days. Then the dried fruits are torn off the stalk and dried in an oven or electric dryer at +50 °C for 5-6 hours.

Chinese dried lemongrass is brewed either separately or together with tea leaves. In addition to berries, you can dry young shoots and leaves of the plant for the winter.

Dry berries of Chinese schizandra have a strong tonic effect

How to freeze

Before freezing, the fruits are carefully rinsed, then allowed to dry naturally, after which they are sent to the refrigerator for several hours. At the next stage, the schizandra fruits are laid out on trays, baking sheets or flat plates and placed in the freezer for a day.

When frozen, the product can be stored for several months.

After 24 hours, the frozen raw materials are removed from the freezer, carefully separated from the stalks and placed in small portions in bags or containers.

Comment! Chinese schizandra can cause allergies, so it should be used with caution.

Recipe for preparing Schisandra chinensis in sugar for the winter

Fresh fruits ground with sugar are a simple and healthy alternative to classic jam.

Required:

• berries – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1.5 kg.

Sequencing:

1. Wash the schizandra berries and separate them from the stalks.
2. Grind in a blender until smooth.
3. Transfer the mixture into a plastic bowl and gently mix with the sugar.
4. Place in sterilized jars and store on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

You need to consume lemongrass with sugar in small portions.

Chinese lemongrass jam for the winter

Even a novice cook can make jam for the winter. This is one of the most popular and accessible recipes.

You will need:

• berries – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1.5-1.7 kg;
• water – 100 ml.

Sequencing:

1. The fruits are washed under running water and carefully transferred to a basin (the stalks do not need to be torn off).
2. Cover everything with sugar and leave for 24 hours.
3. If after a day little juice has been released, add 100 ml of cool water.
4. Transfer everything into a saucepan and place on low heat.
5. After the sugar has completely dissolved, the jam is simmered for an additional five to seven minutes.
6. Allow the mixture to cool.
7. Bring the berry mixture to a boil again and simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Pour into pre-sterilized jars and seal for the winter.

Store the product in the basement or refrigerator.

Apple juice is often used as an additional ingredient.

Compote for the winter from Chinese lemongrass berries

In addition to the liquid, the berries from the compote can not only be eaten, but also used for baking and decorating cakes.

Required:

• lemongrass fruits – 400 g;
• sugar – 500 g;
• apples – 600 g.

Sequencing:

1. Rinse the berries thoroughly, cut the apples into large slices.
2. Place fruit and schizandra in a sterilized jar, add sugar.
3. Pour hot boiling water over everything to the very top of the rim.
4. Screw on the lid and carefully turn over the hot jar of compote.
5. Cover with a blanket or rug until completely cool.

You can use pears or plums as additional ingredients.
For the winter, the compote is stored in a basement or cold storage room.

Healthy juice for the winter from Chinese lemongrass

Juices are prepared only from soft, fully ripened fruits. They are pre-collected and allowed to “settle” for one or two days.

Required:

• lemongrass – 2 kg;
• sugar – 3.5 kg.

Steps:

1. The fruits of Chinese lemongrass are washed in running water.
2. Carefully separate the stalks.
3. The raw materials are processed in a juicer.
4. The resulting juice is mixed with granulated sugar until the grains are completely dissolved.
5. Pour the juice into sterilized glass jars or bottles.

Store in a cool, dark place.

Schisandra juice is most often diluted with water.

Chinese lemongrass jam for the winter

Sweet and sour jam is one of the options for preparing seedless Chinese lemongrass for the winter. It will be a great addition to morning toast or porridge.

Required:

• fruits – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1 kg.

Sequencing:

1. Grind clean berries in a blender and rub through a sieve.
2. Add sugar and, stirring regularly, cook until desired thickness.
3. Transfer the berry mixture into sterilized jars and cover the jam with lids.

You can store jam in the refrigerator or pantry.

Marmalade for the winter from Chinese lemongrass

Marmalade is a tasty and healthy treat, both in winter and summer.

Required:

• schizandra juice – 1 l;
• granulated sugar – 540 g;
• pectin – 55 g.

Steps:

1. Heat 850 ml of juice to 45-50 °C, dissolve pectin in it and leave for 30-40 minutes.
2. Boil syrup from 150 ml of remaining juice and sugar.
3. Mix the swollen pectin and syrup and cook until thick.
4. Pour the resulting marmalade into trays, containers and jars.
5. Before serving, cut and roll in sugar.

To improve the taste of marmalade, you can add a couple of tablespoons of honey to the juice.