The Sunny Power Plant: the Sea Buckthorn

Wild herbs are very sparse at the moment. Often they are still hiding under the snow. That’s why our oecotrophologist and plant expert Sabine Häberlein has chosen sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) for this month, a plant that brings sunshine into the day through its color alone. But not only that, it is downright indispensable, especially at this time of year, as it strengthens our immune system.stem stärkt.

Strong immune system thanks to the fruits

Responsible for this are the high contents of vitamins C and E. Sea buckthorn berries contain between 200 mg and 1000 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of fruit, depending on the altitude. The daily requirement for adult women is 95 mg of vitamin C. Men need 110 mg of it per day. 100 g of fruit also cover the daily requirement of vitamin E.

Concentrated healing power

In addition, the orange berries are rich in B vitamins and thus promote concentration. The contents of provitamin A and flavanoids are also quite respectable. They reduce the risk of certain cardiovascular diseases, have an anti-inflammatory effect and protect cells. The oil produced from the seeds has wound-healing properties. It protects the skin from the sun and helps with sunburn. Kernel oil also has an anti-aging effect on the skin.

Culinary delights

The raw berries are extremely sour. When boiled down, they can tolerate a little sweetness. You can process them into juice, fruit spread, jelly, liqueur or desserts. They also taste good in muesli and in cakes or pies. The taste of sea buckthorn goes well with vegetable, tofu and meat dishes. A tasty tea can be brewed from fresh or dried sea buckthorn berries.

However, the sea buckthorn has one drawback: the harvest is not so easy. Long pointed thorns defend the fruit and sometimes injure anyone who wants to get their hands on the orange berries. I prefer to make things easy for myself and buy either dried berries or, even better, an unsweetened juice from the health food store. This whole fruit juice is characterized by the fact that the whole fruits are ground and you thus benefit from the entire spectrum of ingredients.

Recipe: Hot sea buckthorn drink

Put 1 tablespoon of unsweetened sea buckthorn whole fruit juice in a glass and mix it with hot water (60 °C). If you find the taste too sour, sweeten the drink with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of honey. Good to know: With this drink, you’ve covered almost a third of your daily vitamin C needs.

Something historical: sea buckthorn in the Middle Ages

Already in the Middle Ages, the healing properties of sea buckthorn were popular. At that time however, the fear of witches also went around. To protect themselves from them, fearful people cut the thorny branches on Good Friday night and attached them to the stable and house. Fortunately, these times are over and we can limit ourselves to the use of sea buckthorn in the kitchen and as a home remedy!

Photo: Juice by silviarita on Pixabay