Hawthorn Berry Jelly Recipe – Toxin Free
Ingredients:
1 Lb hawthorn berries – make sure they are truly wild and have not been sprayed by your friendly local council.
1 Lb Cane sugar – not regular granulated because it’s processed using bleach which you are them consuming.
Osmosis purified or distilled rain water (or just clean tap water if you’re not fussy about fluoride and all the other chemicals)
2 Chilled plates and 2 chilled spoons.
1 large pan. Stainless steel or glass. Never use non-stick. The black Teflon infuses the cooked items with fluoride when heated and is a neurotoxin. Worth checking at you local greasy spoon.
I also avoid silver-lined copper pans due to the possible silver toxins, copper can cause verdigris poisoning and ceramic pans contain lead so that’s to be avoided too. I use stainless steel every time but you can use what you wish. And good luck dodging Alzheimer’s.
Wooden or stainless steel spoon, not plastic. You can buy them on e-bay.
Stainless steel Jam funnel with handle – sterilised.
Glass jars – sterilised.
Method:
Wash the berries thoroughly.
Chop the berries roughly in a food blender. This is merely to break the skins and release the juices to avoid mashing later.
Boil in enough water to cover them plus about an inch. This is because these berries swell to twice their size when heated.
Do this for about an hour. Stir occasionally using common sense. Perhaps stir in a few thoughts of peace and love.
Strain the mixture into a glass or stainless jug, making sure none the hawthorn berry seeds get into the liquid. I always use glass jugs, not plastic.
You will have now a cloudy dark reddish liquid. Weigh the liquid. It should be about 1Lb or whatever the amount you’re aiming for.
Prepare the equal amount of cane sugar.
Pour the liquid back in the pan and bring to a gentle boil.
Add the cane sugar and stir.
After about 2 minutes of boiling pay attention to the consistency. It will begin to thicken noticeably.
After 5 minutes you should notice this more. Spoon out a few drops onto one of the chilled plates. I always use the back of a chilled spoon.
Between 5 and 15 minutes should result in a noticeably thick and gelling liquid.
Test again as time goes on. When you can draw the spoon through a puddle of the plate and the two sides remain divided it is ready.
I always give it another 2 – 4 minutes.
Then have the funnel ready. A Jam funnel has a wide opening rather than a tubular opening to avoid blow-back when the boiling liquid enters the jam jar. Trust me, you don’t want a face-ful of boiling jam.
Have the jam jars ready right where they are going to cool so you can avoid picking them up.
This amount of mixture should make just over a pound of jelly so have enough jars ready of one large one.
And voilà, there you have it. Allow to cool pop it in the fridge and eat within 3 months. I always label mine because I make lots of it during the season.
I also freeze hawthorn berries when they are available for the winter.
Remember to use it wisely if you’re on heart medication because it does have an active blood pressure lowering ingredient which is the whole point apart from the delicious taste. Enjoy!
Please read the informative article below to find out more about the Hawthorn’s properties.
A powerful antioxidant used since ancient times in the treatment of heart problems is being rediscovered.
In the first century, the Greek herbalist Dioscorides wrote about the health-giving properties of the berries of the white-thorn, or ‘hawthorn’ tree. Thereafter, Romans, Greeks and even Renaissance herbalists utilized the rose-like petals and red berries of the hawthorn tree as a powerful tonic for heart health.
In modern Europe, doctors regularly prescribe hawthorn extract to alleviate a variety of mild to moderate heart related symptoms. Hawthorn is listed as an official drug in the Pharmacopoeias (official drug compendium) throughout China, Europe and South America, as an effective treatment for heart ailments and cardiovascular disease. It is used in cases of angina pectoris (chest pains), arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat), aged related cardiac insufficiency, arteriosclerosis and to regulate both high and low blood pressure.
European studies indicate that hawthorn can reduce strains on the heart by dilating peripheral blood vessels (lowering blood pressure), while it simultaneously increases cardiac output as it strengthens the contractility of the heat muscle (allowing it to pump stronger). Angina cases are often relieved because it is believed to dilate coronary blood vessels, increasing the oxygen supply to the heart muscle. This may reduce the risk of having a heart attack and increase your chances of survival if one does occur. Studies have also shown hawthorn to speed the recovery of those who have suffered a heart attack.
Hawthorn berries contain cardiotonic amines, polyphenols and vitamin C with significant amounts of bioflavonoids. Universally considered to be safe even in long term use, hawthorn is non-toxic, not habit-forming and does not appear to interfere with any conventional medications. It is sometimes given concurrently with much more toxic allopathic medicines to reduce the dosage and necessity of the drugs. Over a dozen clinical trials have concluded that hawthorn berry extract can be a safe and effective option in cases of chronic congestive heart disease.
Hawthorn’s valuable clinical effects include:
- A powerful antioxidant free-radical scavenger to reduce the plaques of atherosclerosis
- An arterial dilator to infuse more oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, alleviating angina (chest pains) while lowering peripheral blood pressure
- An anti-arrythmic (steadies the heart beat by stabilizing the heart’s rhythmic contractions) to prevent deadly, vessel-plugging clots
- A cardiovascular tonic which increases cardiac output and endurance
- Is mildly sedative, reducing some of the nervousness associated with angina or palpitations
Hawthorn taken in conjunction with other heart healthy supplements like vitamin E, Co Q10 and omega-3 fats (from fish oils), is a ideal way to support longevity, endurance and preventive heart health at any age.
