The birch tree, a famous species in Europe, has been an endless source of inspiration for poetry and paintings. Birch trees are very familiar to the lives of Western people and are even considered a symbol of Russia. However, did you know that almost all parts of this tree are edible? Particularly, the trunk contains something quite magical known as “birch sap.”
Thúy, the owner of the TikTok channel Thúy Jyri Family, a well-known Vietnamese mother living in Finland, recently confirmed the existence of “birch sap.” It is indeed real and is believed by the Finnish people to be good for health.
Thúy, along with her husband and children, experienced a trip into the birch forest. For the first time in her life, she tasted the unusual flavor flowing from the tree trunk.
First, drill a small hole in the birch tree trunk…
Then insert a tube and wait for the sap to flow slowly
Birch Sap – Nature’s “Magical” Gift
The Vietnamese mother shared in the video that birch sap is essentially tree sap. It is favored by the Finnish people, who head into the birch forests to collect sap as soon as the snow begins to melt in April. In about 30 minutes, they can fill nearly a half-liter bottle, enough for a family of three to enjoy comfortably.
Old birch trees filled with fragrant sap
Countless online users expressed curiosity about how Thúy collected this sap. They expected a complicated and secretive process, but the truth is that the harvesting method is surprisingly simple! Thúy recorded a detailed video of the entire birch sap collection process.
Her husband directly collected the sap using just a few familiar tools. They used a drill to make a small hole in the tree trunk, then inserted a tube to let the sap flow into a plastic bottle. There is no need for filtration; it can be consumed directly.
Having accumulated over many years in tall birch trees, the sap flows out as a fresh, sweet liquid when spring arrives after the cold snowy season.
Birch sap has a slightly opaque white color similar to coconut water. Thúy describes its taste as “sweeter than plain water.” Everyone wishes to experience it at least once, but Thúy revealed an important detail: not every birch tree can be tapped for sap!
According to regulations in Finland, one can only collect sap from trees they own or from trees for which they have permission from the owner. You cannot just take sap from any birch tree, even those growing in the forest!
The Surprising Benefits of Birch Sap
Birch sap has numerous benefits in life
According to information from Healthline, birch sap has been popular in Northern Europe for centuries. Historically, sailors used to drink this sap to prevent “rickets.” In ancient times, birch trees were known as the “Cosmic Tree.” Northern Europeans regarded it as a symbol of spiritual purification, a “gateway” to the home of the gods. Today, birch trees play an important role in life and serve various purposes.
Numerous scientific studies have shown that birch sap contains nutrients that are very beneficial for health. Birch sap is rich in minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, and calcium. It also contains phosphorus, potassium, folic acid, vitamin C, and copper. Birch sap provides a small amount of amino acids and a large quantity of antioxidants.
In summary, consuming this sap is beneficial for health, improving skin and hair. Therefore, it is also used as an ingredient in beauty cosmetics. For the Finnish people, this is a wonderful gift from nature.
