Lately the domestic market was just overflowed by a huge number unprecedented still quite recently fruit, vegetables and other valuable products. When many of them become quite popular, some novelties of the domestic market remain underestimated. The ramson, or as it is called still, a bear leek belongs to some of such food. Despite the uniqueness and rich nutrition value, this look does not enjoy special popularity at domestic hostesses. For this reason we decided to open this plant for general public today and also to reveal, than it can be useful for our health.
Description
The ramson is known to mankind throughout not one century. This representative of onions plants treats direct relatives of such known economic plant as garlic, however has own highlight.
Popular this look became at ancient Romans as it was actively used for cleaning of a blood system of metabolites therefore Romans called a plant precisely a curative grass.
The modern name at a ramson appeared a little later. Most of linguists assume that the word ramson is related to bird cherry: the plant was called by our ancestors in honor of a bird cherry as has characteristic, similar to it, namely strong, pungent and persistent smell.
Whether you know? In the Middle Ages the bear leek was actively used by healers of that time for prevention of cholera, plague and also other infectious diseases.
The look received the standard name thanks to ancient Germans. The population of Germany noticed several centuries ago that bears, waking up after hibernation, except the main food actively begin to eat a low grassy plant with persistent characteristic garlic smell. For this reason this forest grass received the name bear leek. It was much later it is found out that animals with an ulterior motive include in a diet this grassy look as it incorporates a set of useful vitamins and minerals, so necessary for an organism in the period of spring avitaminosis.
It will be useful for you to esteem how also hypovitaminosis is shown gipervitaminoz.
To identify a ramson among other vegetation is not a difficult task. This bright greenish plant about 20-30 cm high at which basis several characteristic oblong leaflets about 3-4 cm wide are formed. Under natural conditions the look begins to grow actively right after a convergence of snow, and its blossoming begins in May.
In June there are first fruits from which a huge number of small black seeds gets enough sleep. By the beginning of July the plant completely disappears, and it will be possible to see it again only next spring.
Where grows and as grow up
In natural conditions the ramson grows in the territory of the Mediterranean, the Southwest and Middle part of Europe. It is possible to meet this plant as in natural, and artificial conditions. In the wild nature the bear leek meets in deciduous forests, in a zone of water meadows and also near reservoirs and within the marshland. Often in the domestic market dikorosly form of a ramson meets, however the plant can be cultivated successfully and in house conditions, but for this purpose it is necessary to create for it a special microclimate.
The main thing that should be remembered before you finally decided to get a house ramson, is that the plant loves the darkened sites. In such conditions it will feel optimum, otherwise under direct beams seedling will simply die. Concerning the soil the plant more than unpretentious, however will be best of all to feel it on sour soil with the high content of organic and mineral compounds.
Whether you know? To receive the most valuable plants from the culinary point of view, the ramson should be grown up at a constant temperature in +12-17 °C.
The place for landing of this look should be chosen carefully as this perennial plant. For future prospect it is necessary to hold surely near a bed free space as over the years the plant will only expand.
Jumping happens on the basis of standard in agronomics to scheme 20х20. Depth of crops has to be not big (no more than 1 cm), otherwise the viability of a ramson decreases twice.
The ramson by means of seeds or lukovichek breeds. For crops use exclusively fresh sowing material collected same year. The main sign of qualitative seeds is the smooth structure of their thin skin. To increase viability of a plant, before landing the seeds should be sustained previously at a temperature about +2 °C of not less than 60 days. Optimum terms for crops is the period from the middle of October until the end of November. However most effectively the plant breeds with the help lukovichek which after collecting land on a bed with distance of 10 cm from each other. Care for crops standard: the ramson should be watered and weeded as required. Ideal predecessors for a bear leek are bean, tomatoes, cabbage.
Important! The ramson cannot be landed after onions or garlic at all, otherwise the rich harvest at you will not turn out.
Botanical description
The ramson belongs to long-term grassy types which belong to family Onions Sparzhetsvetnye's order. The typical bear leek is characterized by the extended bulb which consists of the covers which are split on parallel fibers.
Distinctive feature of a plant is the arrangement of bulbs concerning a stalk: they are almost not attached to a rhizome. The stalk has the trihedral form, depending on climatic and soil conditions its length can fluctuates within 15-50 cm. Leaves are often a little shorter than a stalk, oblong or lantsetny shape, peaked. A scape at a sheet plate narrow, its length is equal or exceeds leaf length. The umbrella is mainly semi-spherical, but sometimes maybe puchkovaty. A large number of flowers, however density at the same time high is not characteristic of it.
Learn about useful properties of leek and onions.
The perianth color of leaflets of mainly white shades, on type linearly-lantsetnye, can have them peaked or stupid. After blossoming on a plant the fruit box of spherical shape with three sides and return and heart-shaped shutters is formed. Seeds a huge number, often they quite small ripens, have the correct spherical shape.
Structure and nutrition value
The bear leek deservedly enters a top of the plants, most useful to a human body, as its structure contains a set of important connections, minerals and other substances. The main value is played by a successful combination of vitamins and various valuable elements. As a part of a plant vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B9, C and also such micro and macrocells as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, cobalt, manganese, copper, fluorine, zinc are revealed.
Besides, you should not forget also about such substances as a glycoside alliin, ascorbic acid, vinylsulfide, fructose, mineral salts, lysozyme, phytoncides and carotene.
It will be useful for you to learn about value and a role of minerals in a human body.
In 100 g of a product contains:
- about 35 kcal;
- 2.4 g of protein;
- 0.1 g of fats;
- 6.5 g of carbohydrates;
- 1.1 g of ashes;
- 89 g of water.
Medicinal properties
As well as the set of other forest plants, a bear leek has the huge therapeutic potential for treatment of many pathological states and diseases. For this reason this plant is actively applied in the medicinal purposes since times of the Roman Empire.
Let's consider the main medicinal properties of this gift of the nature:
- this grass at avitaminosis, feverish conditions and infections of a GIT is especially useful;
- as the all-strengthening means a ramson has ability to fight actively against manifestations of cough, bronchitis;
- extracts of a grass are capable to eliminate manifestations of sciatica and rheumatism, apply them both internally, and outwardly, as lotions;
- thanks to contents as a part of this grassy plant of an alliin and an allitsin at its systematic use it is possible to reduce pathological manifestations of the cardiovascular illnesses which are closely connected with cholesteric exchange;
- high content in wild garlic of phytoncides and also essential oils plays a crucial role in elimination of gelmintozny invasions of bodies of a GIT;
- as well as the majority of other herbs possessing aromatic connections and sharp smack, a bear leek it is capable to accelerate the course of many metabolic processes in an organism thanks to what the metabolism and the general blood circulation improves;
- mustard oils play a crucial role in an intensification of digestive processes therefore it is possible to eliminate manifestations of dysbacterioses of various etiology.
Important! It is necessary to apply a ramson in the medicinal purposes exclusively on doctor's orders, otherwise there is an opportunity to aggravate the general state of health.
Rules of the use with advantage
For today both the national, and traditional medicine offers a set of recipes for preparation of highly effective medicines, however not many of them have the true checked effect. Let's consider in more detail the most popular and checked recipes for medications from a ramson.
For treatment of a hypertension the means prepared on the basis of fresh leaves and flowers of a plant enjoy wide popularity. For this purpose prepare spirit extracts which systematic use contributes to normalization of arterial blood pressure, general health and activity of the vascular system.
That to prepare it, it is necessary to draw the fresh and small cut leaves, flowers or their mixes on vodka in a proportion 1:5 (1 part of raw materials and 5 parts of liquid) for 20 days. After that means is filtered and use 20 drops on a glass of water 3 times a day for 3-4 months. For increase in appetite and improvement of activity of intestinal microflora many nutritionists and therapists recommend to use periodically juice from a plant. For this purpose 1 tablespoon of fresh juice is parted in half of glass of water and accepted on an empty stomach, before meal.
Treat the plants stimulating appetite: wormwood, parsnip, horse-radish, chicory, yarrow, acorus and plantain.
Duration of such therapy is about 4 weeks. Compresses from a bear leek will help to cure rheumatism and sciatica. Fresh greens are stacked on a sore point, densely wound with bandage and wrap up for natural warming up not less than for 1 hour. The procedure is carried out by 2 times a day.
Ramson bulbs infusion is famous for the all-strengthening properties. That to prepare it, 1 teaspoon of small cut bulbs is filled in by 250 ml of boiled water and insist within an hour. 2 times a day on 100 ml accept infusion. By means of the same infusion it is possible to treat also a tonsillitis. For this purpose they should rinse a throat not less than 3 times a day. Such procedure will help to reduce inflammation of mucous membranes and tonsils. Treat a ramson and baldness. For this purpose juice of a plant is mixed with onions juice in equal parts and rub such mix in head skin. The procedure helps to return former density of hair or to restore their healthy appearance.
Whether you know? In Germany, in the town of Eberbakh the annual festival of a ramson is held - it is the action devoted directly to a plant and ways of its use in modern cookery.
Harm and contraindications
As well as any other medication, a ramson has a number of contraindications to application. You should not apply extracts of a plant in the medicinal or food purposes at:
- epilepsies;
- pregnancies;
- pancreatitis;
- cholecystitis;
- hepatitis;
- inflammatory processes in a GIT.
Important! The overdose by active agents of a ramson can cause exacerbation of an ulcer, diarrhea or insomnia. At emergence of these symptoms it is necessary to wash out immediately a stomach and to see a doctor.
Application in cookery
All parts of a plant are suitable for application in cookery, however traditionally for this purpose use only leaves of a bear leek. The ramson in cookery is applied quite widely: it is a part of various soups, salads and snack, also it is eaten in the raw or applied as spice.
We advise to read about such spices and spices as: saffron, asafoetida, coriander, black caraway seeds, anisetree, carnation, cinnamon, marjoram and fenugreek.
Let's consider the most popular recipes:
- Fast snack: the bunch of a fresh grass is small cut and mixed with a polished fresh cucumber and 250 ml of sour cream (salt, pepper to taste), keep further mix in the fridge for 30 minutes. Use a dish for sandwiches or as addition to various garnishes.
- Salad from a tinned ramson: 200 g of the chicken breast (boiled fried or smoked) small cut and mix with the same volume of the cut fried champignons. Further add to mix 100 g of tinned corn, small cut bunch of cilantro, parsley, fennel and also 50 g of a tinned ramson. All ingredients carefully mix, and then send salad to the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
- Garnish from a ramson: that to prepare it, 3 bunches of a grass need to be cut and to fry slightly on vegetable oil. After that on a frying pan it is necessary to add several tablespoons of tomato paste and to stew everything on slow fire. At the end of cooking soy sauce to taste is added. Such garnish is ideally combined with meat, rice or potatoes, but maybe a separate dish.
Learn more about useful properties and application in cookery: spinach, nettle, celery, melissa, mint and fennel.
- Fried eggs with a ramson and cheese: 180-200 g of the marinated small cut ramson should be roasted on butter then to fill in with 1 shaken-up egg. At the end of preparation the dish falls down the cut salty cottage cheese, is salted to taste. Such fried eggs will become an ideal morning dish which will give to necessary energy for all day.
Rules of collecting and preparation
In the economic purposes use leaves, a stalk, flower arrows and bulbs of a bear leek. A green part of a plant is prepared, as a rule, for May-April, and ripe bulbs can be dug out at the end of vegetation, after full maturing of seeds.
Fresh parts of a plant as they contain the greatest number of various useful connections are considered as the most valuable. For long storage the plant is previously prepared, it is dried up, but most often pickled or frozen.
Important! Inexperienced herbalists often confuse a ramson with an autumn crocus autumn which is extremely toxic for an organism. Not to mix this plant with other look, it is necessary to crack a leaf slightly: the ramson has distinct a garlic smell.
Before freezing the leaves and escapes carefully wash away, dry on a terry towel and put on separate portions in plastic bags or plastic containers, and further in the freezer. Pickle a ramson in acetum-sugar or salt solution then together with liquid place in glass jars with a polyethylene cover and put in the fridge.
Correctly we choose and we store
In spite of the fact that for many assembly of curative herbs does not cause the need for additional knowledge, actually the quality of collected raw materials and duration of its storage quite seriously depends on them therefore on this moment we will stop in more detail.
Leaves and shooters of gentle structure suit for preparation of a ramson. They should not be excessively rude, but also sluggish you should not collect better. It is necessary to stop the attention on averages by the size plants: they will be rather gentle and young, but also to incorporate necessary concentration of useful substances.
Whether you know? At the Vainakhs living in the territory of the North Caucasus, the ramson is one of traditional culinary ingredients on the basis of which cook the national soup consisting of milk, a ramson, melted butter and spice honk.
The fresh plant can be stored in the fridge for 4 days, but for this purpose the ramson should be turned previously in a plastic bag and to humidify slightly. The frozen parts of a plant are stored longer: in the conditions of the deep freeze they can be till 1 year.
The marinated bear leek in the fridge can remain more than one year, however after 12 months the amount of useful substances in a plant is considerably reduced as a result of natural processes of a denaturation. The ramson is a unique plant which throughout many centuries pleases us with the interesting culinary qualities and also surprising abilities to affect well the general state of health of the person. The daily use of this plant gives the chance to strengthen an organism and to be protected from many serious diseases.