Forest strawberry: description, properties and application

Strawberries are a favorite delicacy of not only children, but also adults. A tasty and aromatic plant of different varieties can be found on every household plot. Modern people have forgotten that garden strawberries have an equally tasty and healthy relative - forest strawberries. Homemade berries displaced from the diet of people forest fruits, which have a richer taste and contain a huge amount of vitamins and minerals.

The fruits of the forest plant are widely used in cooking, cosmetology and traditional medicine, they will not only become a desired dessert, but also help the body to recuperate and will be a reliable assistant in the fight against many diseases.

Forest strawberry is a perennial herb of the Rosaceae family. Forest strawberries can be field, meadow and strawberries can be called green. This plant has a weak root system and a thin stem with a height of not more than 15 cm. The lower part of the leaf cover has a velvety surface, and the white inflorescences are pink in color. Forest strawberry berries have a rounded shape and white and pink color.

The flowering period begins at the end of May, and fruit picking takes place in July. The most favorable conditions for the growth and development of berries are dry shaded places. Experienced foresters are advised to look for berries on forest edges and knolls, on roadsides and in a forest belt with pine and juniper trees in the southern regions of Russia.

Few forest strawberry lovers can distinguish it from strawberries. Botanists secrete several major characteristics of this plant:

• small size of fruits;
• the formation of large inflorescences;
• openwork leaves;
• short shoot length;
• low yields;
• tight fit of the sepals to the berries;
• poor separation of fruits from the bush.

A small amount of berries on the selected glade is due to the fact that strawberries have female and male inflorescences. Fruit formation occurs only on female-type flowers. Weather conditions and the climate in which this plant grows and matures, affect the taste characteristics of the crop:

• a large amount of moisture leads to the formation of watery and tasteless fruit with a short storage period;
• dry summer without rain will lead to the appearance of small and dry strawberries, which can dry directly on the bush.

Only in comfortable conditions with a moderate amount of water and sunlight fragrant, juicy and tasty berries will form.

The wild berry contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, among which it is necessary to highlight the following elements:

• vitamins C, E, K, P;
• iron;
• cobalt;
• calcium;
• manganese;
• alkaloids;
• pectin;
• tannins.

Choleretic, diaphoretic and hemostatic elements are of particular value and are part of many medicinal preparations. Laboratory studies have shown that wild strawberry contains more iron than apples and various grape varieties. The leaves and stems are ascorbic acid, tannins and a number of essential oils. To obtain the maximum amount of vitamins and mineral elements, traditional healers advise using berries along with stalks.

Folk healers and official medicine have noted the positive effect of wild berries on the human body, which is manifested in the following factors:

• improvement of the liver and intestines;
• stabilization of water and sugar balance;
• removal of excess fluid from the body;
• stabilization of blood pressure;
• normalization of the endocrine system;
• quenching hunger and the appearance of a feeling of fullness;
• treatment of skin rashes and all types of eczema;
• activation of immunity;
• prevention of blood clots;
• avoidance of scurvy;
• removal of gynecological bleeding;
• pulse rate stabilization;
• decreased nervous excitability;
• activation of brain activity and prevention of age sclerosis.

Like any plant, wild berry has contraindications. Doctors do not advise people to use it with inflammations of the digestive system and intestinal ulcers. Due to the high allergic properties of ripe berries, it is forbidden to introduce strawberries into the diet of young children and pregnant women. Scientific studies have shown that dairy products reduce the level of allergic effects of plants.

Fruits and leaves also have a beneficial effect on the body. Fresh leaf will help in the healing of wounds and ulcers, and a decoction of the leaves will be an assistant in the treatment of various types of tumors. Other healing properties are the normalization of the heart and kidneys, the elimination of stones, the treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia, the strengthening of immunity and the overall improvement of the body.

When consuming a forest treat, we must remember that only fresh product will bring maximum benefit to the body.

The beginning of the harvest is the middle of summer. The most comfortable period for a forest walk for an aromatic delicacy is the morning hours with sunny weather. Quickly harvesting will not work due to the need to search for berries among other plants and a small number of fruits.

Gradual fruit ripening will allow you to enjoy a nutritious product throughout July. The first fruits may taste bitter and have a sour taste, but after a short period of time, the berries will gain sweetness and bright taste.

Harvest should be folded in wicker baskets or glass containers. The use of plastic bags for transporting fruits can lead to mechanical damage and loss of commercial quality. Smashed strawberries during long-term storage can cause the formation of rot and mildew on all harvested crops.

The fruits of this berry can be consumed not only fresh, but also to make winter preparations from them. The universal properties of the berries make it possible to cook jam and compote, make jams and berry delicacies, twisted with sugar.

For drying in the open air, use wooden racks installed in shaded areas. Strawberries are laid in a thin layer on a clean and dry surface. A prerequisite for obtaining a clean and safe product is to cover it with a thin cloth. The appearance of electric dryers and ovens has greatly simplified the process of drying berries. Properly selected mode will allow the fruit to dry with a minimum of hassle.

The dried crop must be stored in glass containers or cloth bags. Storage duration should not exceed two years.

In order to freeze the berries, it is necessary to purchase special containers or bags in which the washed product should be placed. If the berries have a sour taste, you can add a little sugar. Baked strawberry pies will be a favorite delicacy of not only children, but also adults. Strawberry liqueurs and alcohol liqueurs will be an original substitute for expensive drinks and will surprise guests invited to family holidays.

Experienced cosmetologists recommend using strawberries as the main component of masks and scrubs. Healing recipes will help get rid of many skin problems and significantly save on the acquisition of expensive and not always effective cosmetic preparations.The recommendations of traditional healers will help to create natural remedies for solving many problems related to health.

A summer walk in the forest for fragrant berries will not only help you to collect a tasty harvest, but will also be an exciting adventure. Camping will help to have fun away from the bustle of the city to all family members, and the harvest will be an incentive to return to selected forest glades more than once.

About how useful properties of strawberries, see the following video.