Dry hawthorn fruits collected with love in the Ural mountains. 100 grams of dried hawthorn berries. Hawthorn is a shrub or small prickly tree in the Rosaceae family. Hawthorn berries ripen in late August and early September. There are wild hawthorn and garden. Wild hawthorn berries are much smaller and taste different from cultural berries, so it is recommended to dry wild hawthorn. Wild hawthorn berries should be collected only in ecologically clean places. Calorie content of hawthorn Hawthorn is a low – calorie berry in fresh form, and in dried form it contains 142 kcal per 100 grams. Composition of hawthorn Dried hawthorn berries contain vitamins (A, C, E, K, group B), minerals, organic acids, namely ursolic acid, which is very rare and irreplaceable for humans, and natural sugars. Use of hawthorn in cooking Before drying the hawthorn is necessary to remove the stems. Dry the berries in the oven at a temperature not higher than 70 degrees, with the door slightly ajar or in a special dryer. Dried hawthorn berries are brewed and infused, taken as tea, compote or as a natural medicine. Useful properties of hawthorn Infusions and teas from dried hawthorn have a tonic effect, but at the same time, they have a calming effect on the heart and nerves. To lower blood pressure. Dried hawthorn berries are recommended for insomnia, atherosclerosis, fatigue, heart and liver diseases, menopause, and skin diseases. Crushed hawthorn berries can also be added to the dough when baking bread, while the bread tastes slightly fruity. Do not take decoctions, tinctures of hawthorn on an empty stomach, as well as with caution for pregnant and lactating women. When used in excessive amounts, infusions of dried hawthorn berries can cause stomach upset, heart palpitations, headache, and kidney failure.