The healing properties of oak leaves, bark and fruits have long been known; they are widely used to make medicinal infusions. Not everyone knows about acorn coffee, its beneficial properties, taste and methods of preparation. Nevertheless, this invigorating, tonic drink can be a good alternative to classic coffee.
Benefits of acorn coffee
A properly prepared drink from oak fruits will not only bring pleasure, but will also provide a number of health benefits. It is worth highlighting the main beneficial properties of acorn coffee and its positive effects on various organs and systems of the body.
- The cardiovascular system . Acorn coffee improves heart rate. Therefore, its regular use is indicated for people with arrhythmia. Hypertensive patients are allowed to drink acorn coffee because it does not increase blood pressure.
- Endocrine system . If you have a history of diabetes, the drink is especially useful as it lowers blood sugar.
- Gastrointestinal tract . Coffee made from acorns normalizes the functioning of the digestive system, helps with stomach upsets and mild food poisoning. It is recommended to use it for acute and chronic colitis.
- Respiratory system . A drink made from acorns will be beneficial and help in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and cough.
- Nervous system . It has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, has a tonic and invigorating effect.
- Genitourinary system . Useful for enuresis, heavy and painful menstruation in women. Increases potency in men.
- Dentistry . Acorn coffee is recommended for various gum diseases and can relieve toothache.
For childhood rickets and scrofula, weak coffee twice a day is useful: in the morning and at lunch. In addition to its pleasant and bright taste, a drink made from acorns has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Making acorn coffee
This drink has a rich aroma. If you prepare the nuts correctly, you can easily prepare it at home. The recipe for coffee made from acorns is as simple as possible, but even it includes a number of nuances.
Before passing oak nuts through a meat grinder, grind their core immediately after drying. This will make the job easier. If you use a blender, you won't be able to preserve their aromatic properties.
Traditional recipe
Acorn coffee is made in the same way as the classic invigorating drink made from Arabica beans. If you have prepared oak fruits correctly, then there will definitely not be any difficulties with cooking them.
First you need to rinse the raw materials under running water to remove dust and impurities. Then it is dried. Next, the nuts are sent to a dry frying pan for frying. Remember that the taste of coffee depends primarily on the degree of roasting. The longer you keep the nuts on the fire, the more bitter the drink will be.
The classic cooking recipe involves the use of Turk. To obtain a concentrated drink, add 1 spoon of ground nuts to 150 ml of water.
As soon as the liquid boils, it is poured into cups. To maximize the taste of the drink, you need to drink it in slow sips, without waiting for it to cool.
You can improve the taste of coffee by adding:
- cinnamon;
- ginger;
- nutmeg;
- cardamom;
- carnations.
Recipe for those with a sweet tooth
Acorns are without a doubt very beneficial. But from them you can prepare not only a health drink, but also a tasty treat. Recipe from popular baristas includes using:
- hot coffee brewed with acorns;
- heavy cream;
- granulated sugar;
- nut syrup;
- milk.
Step-by-step preparation:
- The raw materials for the drink are fried in a frying pan. It is important to stir it to avoid burning.
- Classic espresso is brewed from acorns in a Turk. A simplified option is to use a coffee maker. Leave for 5 minutes.
- Then it is filtered and poured into cups.
- The milk must first be boiled, mixed with nut syrup and granulated sugar, then combined with coffee.
- At the last stage, heavy cream is added to the cups with the drink.
The taste of this drink is sweet and very delicate. But due to the large number of calories, not everyone can afford it.
Acorn frappe
This is a very tasty drink with many fans. In terms of technical details of preparation and taste, it is similar to classic Arabica.
Ingredients needed to make acorn frappe:
- coffee brewed from oak fruits;
- heavy cream;
- crushed ice;
- cane sugar;
- coconut and orange zest (optional).
This drink is easy to prepare. First, make classic acorn coffee and let it cool. Then, place it in a blender, adding ice, sugar and cream. You should get a thick mass. A good indicator is lush foam with bubbles.
Frappe should be drunk from tall glass glasses. Pour the prepared mixture into them. To improve the taste of coffee, it is recommended to add orange zest or coconut flakes to it.
It is better to drink it in hot summer weather. It is perfectly refreshing and invigorating.
Harm of coffee made from acorns
When using good oak fruits, roasting them and following the brewing technology, no properties that could cause harm to humans were identified.
However, people with individual intolerance to the components should not drink the coffee drink. Allergic reactions to coffee made from acorns are extremely rare, but if you suspect an allergy, you should stop taking it.
Coffee is approved for consumption by children and nursing women; it is recommended to consult a doctor about the strength and frequency of consumption.
Reviews from those who have already tried the drink
Alina: “I learned about coffee made from acorns from friends. Since I am a terrible coffee lover, I decided to experiment. It seems like I collected them according to the rules. Of course, it took a long time to tinker with the acorns. The result, in my opinion, is not worth it. There is a scent, but not what I expected. In general, acorn coffee is just a parody of coffee.”
Lyudmila: “I am an experienced hypertensive patient, so coffee is prohibited for me. A friend advised me to try acorn coffee. At first it seemed kind of crazy, but I decided to cook it. For me it will be aromatic with a tolerable but bitterness. I added more honey. This coffee has become a good alternative to regular coffee for me.”
Christina: “Not taking into account the specific taste and difficulty of preparation, I liked coffee made from acorns. Yes, it is different from the usual black coffee. But I add spices and honey, and it hits the spot. In addition, it is just as invigorating and has many useful benefits. From experience I can say: it’s better to undercook a little than to overcook the acorns. Otherwise you end up with a tasteless handful of “ash”. And yes, coffee portions cannot be prepared for a long time - this is a disadvantage of the product.”
Coffee made from acorns is a worthy replacement for classic coffee. For the experiment with acorn drink to be successful, you need to take the collection and processing of raw materials seriously. This is the only way to reveal all the taste and medicinal properties of an unusual coffee drink.
Nutritional value
Acorns are quite high-calorie fruits. Depending on the type of oak, the nutritional value of 100 g of acorns ranges from 380 to 500 kcal. Overweight people should not be afraid to drink the drink, as it has an activating effect on metabolism and is not deposited in tissues in the form of fat cells. The benefits of a drink made from acorns are obvious, especially when you consider their chemical composition. Protein, which oak fruits are rich in, includes 18 essential and essential amino acids, and fats, in turn, are rich in fatty acids. It also contains a high content of vitamins B and A.
Acorns are rich in minerals such as:
- potassium;
- manganese;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- copper;
- iron;
- zinc.
Acorns contain a lot of starch and tannins; they contain the active substance quercetin, which makes the fruit even more beneficial.
You should not use raw acorns, since without heat treatment, quarcetin is toxic and can cause poisoning.
Feed and calorie content
The basis of oak “nuts” is to a greater extent made up of proteins and fats, and to a lesser extent - carbohydrates. The product contains vitamins of groups B, A and PP.
The composition of nuts is also represented by a large amount of starch. The structure of the fruit is composed of minerals such as copper, potassium, magnesium, zinc and calcium. There are 387 kcal per 100 g of acorns.
Proper serving of acorn coffee
Coffee is served in small cups on a plate with a coffee spoon. The drink can and should be topped with sugar. Some people prefer to add honey, milk, spices and even cream to their drink.
However, it is important not to overdo it with supplements. Acorns themselves are very high in calories, so those who are watching their figure need to take a dosed approach to taste sweeteners.
How to cook at home
In early autumn, under the crowns of oak trees, you can collect a large number of acorns suitable for making coffee.
How to collect acorns yourself
Considering the environmental situation, it is better to harvest away from cities and industrial centers. The fruit should be yellowish-brown in color and easily separate from the cap. You only need to collect ripe and unspoiled acorns.
You should not collect fruits that are pressed when pressed with your finger, they will be wormy.
Preparing acorns
The fruits must be washed before use.
If you have a large stock of acorns, water will help sort those suitable for cooking. You need to place the acorns in the water: those that float should be thrown away as they are damaged.
There are several options for preparing acorns for coffee:
- The fruits, dried after washing, must be peeled and cut into pieces. Preheat the oven to 180-200 degrees and place the acorns poured onto a baking sheet in one layer for 35-40 minutes. The finished product is ground in a coffee grinder or blender and left for storage in a hermetically sealed container.
Do not allow the fruit to burn, otherwise the coffee will taste bitter.
- Pour acorns into a container with cold water and let stand for 20 - 25 minutes, then drain the water and dry the fruits. In an oven preheated to 100 degrees, place the acorns, poured in one layer onto a baking sheet. Keep in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Once they turn a dark brown color, they will be easy to clean. The peeled kernels must be crushed, then placed in the oven until cooked. Before brewing the drink, the required amount of the product should be fried in a dry frying pan and ground in a coffee grinder.
The prepared coffee preparation should be stored in a hermetically sealed glass container to avoid moisture and foreign odors.
Preparing fruits for culinary use
Forest acorns must undergo careful processing before being used in a coffee drink. To do this you need:
- Separate all fruits that have passed the test from the cap, rinse, dry and spread in an even layer on a baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, place a baking sheet with acorns there for 5-7 minutes. During this time, the fruits should burst, darken and acquire a dark chocolate hue.
- Remove the shells from the heated nuts and rinse.
- Pass the soaked fruits (do not dry them!) through a meat grinder to obtain a consistency similar to minced meat.
- Place this mixture on a baking sheet and dry.
- Place the finished product in jars for storage.
Acorn beans are stored in this way for about six months; before preparing drinks, they must be put in a coffee grinder like real Arabica beans. It is convenient to store acorn preparations for a long time, and the benefits of the treat are many times greater than real coffee!
