When to prepare birch brooms for a bath. When to harvest birch brooms and how to do it correctly

Choosing a place and tree for harvesting brooms

Long, strong, flexible branches of weeping birch have long been considered the best raw material for bath brooms. But it is recommended to pay attention to young trees that have never bloomed. They are valued for their very delicate leaf structure. Gardeners know very well that removing young root shoots is beneficial for the tree, and they use it to prepare brooms.

When cutting branches, it is advisable to choose a tree that is smooth and beautiful, without growths. The sick birch tree has weakened branches. The product made from them will turn out unsuccessful and will not be useful.

You should not collect wood from trees growing near roads or in contaminated areas. They will do more harm than good. It is best to go to a grove or forest to collect branches. The best option is birch trees growing near ponds.

Preparation of brooms from specialists begins with testing the bottom of the leaf “on the tongue.” The surface of a good, suitable sheet is velvety to the touch. Branches with rough leaves are not suitable for use. They make rough products.

Harvesting birch brooms, timing

The quality of the broom, its softness, aroma, and service life are influenced by the correctly chosen moment of collection. If you do this at the wrong time, too early or late, then later it will become slippery, will not last long, and will quickly fall apart. Correctly and timely collected branches will provide a high-quality product with useful reusable properties.

Since ancient times, it has been customary in Rus' to collect preparations a couple of weeks after Trinity. At this moment, the leaves have already grown sufficiently, have collected the required amount of essential oils, and young shoots with high elasticity have appeared. However, when choosing the moment of harvesting, you should take into account the characteristics of the climate and place of residence.

Harvesting birch brooms is a process perfected by our ancestors and requires special preparation. First of all, you need to know about the ripening time of birch, since the quality of the product depends on certain properties of its foliage.

It is important to understand that leaf development has clear deadlines, and other factors can also affect its structure: heat, rain and wind. Based on these criteria, experienced bath attendants determined that the most suitable time for collecting branches for a broom is when the leaves have become stronger, but flowering has not begun - that is, the catkins have not appeared. Depending on the region and weather conditions, this could be any spring month. In the Moscow region, you can start harvesting in mid-May.

Birch brooms - preparation and storage video

To make a good birch broom, harvesting should be done early in the morning, when the dew has already disappeared. Only in dry weather. Branches with wet leaves are not suitable. When dried, their structure will collapse, the foliage will darken and curl. If it rains, you need to wait a few days. Ignoring these nuances will not lead to the desired result. The resulting products will lose most of their beneficial properties.

As practice has shown, the branches of a two-year-old tree growing closer to the ground have better properties. These make the strongest brooms. You can cut them with a knife, but it is more convenient to use pruning shears. For convenience, pickers with extensive experience climb onto a birch tree, tilt it, and tie it to a tree growing nearby. Such an approach, with appropriate skill, will not harm birch, since this tree is flexible and durable.

If the brooms are not knitted immediately, the blanks are provided with storage conditions - attics and hay are used for this. In city conditions, the best option is a mezzanine or balcony. But first they need to be wrapped in paper.

Most effective method- drying on the roof, for example outbuildings:

• We spread the hay on the surface;
• We lay the blanks on top with small gaps between them;
• Cover with hay;
• We turn the workpieces over the course of a month, every two or three days.

Knitting a birch broom

• Before knitting, the dried pieces are laid out on burlap and left to sit for a couple of days - to “breathe”.
• The size is selected according to individual preferences. Recommended length: 0.4-0.8 m. Larger or smaller products are inconvenient to use.
• The area for the handle is thoroughly cleaned of knots and leaves and treated with fine sandpaper.
• The prepared branches are collected together and given a flattened shape.
• Thicker branches are placed inside the product, and thin ones are laid out along the edge, bending inward.
• Distribute the branches in a fan, with leaves in one direction.

The handle is made as follows. Collect the cleaned blanks and fasten them tightly with a rope closer to the foliage to improve the quality of the product. Fabric is wrapped around the handle to prevent calluses. Recommended handle length is 15 cm.

When assembling the product to improve its qualities, you can add branches of chamomile, thyme, and red currant. If you want to add coniferous plants and nettles, it is better to place them in the middle so as not to damage the skin during use.

Drying and further storage of brooms

Experts recommend not tying branches too tightly. Otherwise, the foliage will darken and burn. Properly dried, the finished product has fragrant, bright green, matte foliage. We offer several the right ways to achieve the desired result.

Hanging in bunches

The products are hung under a canopy, in a well-ventilated place, so that direct rays of the sun do not fall. They will dry well within a week. Afterwards, the brooms can be placed tightly on shelves in a well-ventilated, dry place, such as on racks in a garage or storage room. They can also be left hanging.

Fan-shaped on the surface

It is believed that a good broom is shaped like a fan. Therefore, it is recommended to place fresh products on the floor. Turn over daily until dry. Otherwise, the products may dry out or dry incorrectly.

You can dry birch brooms only in the shade!

From the sun, the foliage curls and burns, the aroma is lost, and it deteriorates. appearance. An improperly dried broom will fall off as soon as it is steamed. The presence of strong drafts is also unacceptable. The quality of the product may also suffer from them.

It is recommended to store brooms carefully, in a cool, ventilated area. Drying using fresh, dried hay preserves the color, shape and aroma of the product as much as possible. Brooms are placed in stacks, with leaves in the middle. This will give the tree additional beneficial features, it will become even more fragrant. In an apartment, finished products are stored in bags, paper or plastic.

Steaming the broom before use

Before use, as a rule, the broom is steamed. This procedure is not performed with a freshly manufactured product. It may become limp. There are at least two traditional way steaming.

Option one. The dried product is placed in cold water for fifteen minutes, and then in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Brooms that are too dry are kept in boiling water longer, covering the container where they are located with another container.

The second option is suitable for fresh or recently harvested brooms. The product must be soaked in boiling water and placed on stones. In this case, it is necessary to periodically rotate the broom, shaking it, so as not to get burned. A couple of such approaches for two minutes will be enough, and you can begin bathing procedures.

Bottom line

The quality characteristics of a birch broom are influenced by such factors as: choice of birch, condition of the branches, drying and storage, knitting. If you do everything following the rules, you will get strong and beautiful products that will bring maximum benefits to your health. If possible, seek help from specialists and make your first broom with their help.

An integral attribute of the Russian steam room is the fragrant bath broom. It has many important functions: it helps to relax and warm up the body, produces an intense skin massage, refreshes and aromatizes the air in the steam room.

You can prepare a high-quality birch broom for a bath yourself from correctly collected and tied branches.

Birch broom has long been used as a universal tool for bathing procedures. The beneficial effects of a broom on the human body are manifested in the following:

• effective cleansing of the skin from accumulated toxins, acne and dead cells;
• improvement of blood circulation and lymph flow;
• elimination of aches in muscles and joints due to rheumatism and high physical activity;
• air aromatization and prevention of diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

To get the maximum therapeutic effect from using ligaments, you should know when to harvest birch brooms for a bath.

Properly prepared products will help get rid of frequent pain in the back and muscles, and improve the condition blood vessels, relax nervous system and strengthen the immune system. The main thing is them healing property consists of a gentle and gentle effect on the bronchi, as well as in the prevention of allergic diseases.

Features of harvesting birch brooms

Many novice bathhouse attendants are interested in the question: when do they prepare birch brooms for a bathhouse? When starting such an important task, you should know what time is most suitable for preparing brooms.

The best time to start collecting material is the first 14 days after Trinity, when the birch tree gains strength, the foliage acquires a rich green color and contains the maximum amount of useful aromatic substances.

Proper harvesting of birch branches requires compliance with important points:

1. High-quality material can only be obtained from young and strong branches with elastic and succulent leaves. In this case, the sheet must have a smooth plate, not damaged or infested with pests. The main rule is no earrings.
2. For a broom, you should prepare elastic and thin branches that can withstand mechanical loads well.
3. Collection is best done in ecologically clean areas, remote from highways and industrial zones. The best option is the lower reaches of rivers, forest edges, birch groves.
4. To obtain a beautiful and functional workpiece, only the lower climbing branches are used.
5. Collecting material for a broom is best done on a dry and sunny day in the afternoon. Branches cut on a rainy day require careful and lengthy drying. Poor drying can cause rot or mold to appear on branches or foliage.

Solve the problem with oily skin, frequent rashes And malfunction sebaceous glands You can use an oak broom. Regular use of such a bundle will make the skin clean, fresh and silky. Oak Leaf for the broom, it is recommended to collect from the second half of August to the first half of September.

Correct knitting

The next important stage is knitting the prepared raw materials for the bath broom. To get a quality product, it is recommended to follow some knitting rules:

1. The assembly is made from elastic and flexible branches with dense, fully blossomed foliage. All undeveloped or damaged leaves are first removed.
2. The branches must have 2 or more branches to give the bundle the necessary thickness.
3. For assembly, it is better to use branches whose length is from 40 to 55 cm, thickness - no more than 5 mm.
4. One knitting must contain the required amount of material so that the diameter of the handle does not exceed 6 cm.
5. Prepared branches must be knitted immediately to prevent them from premature deformation and drying out. Next, the resulting matings are subjected to long-term drying.
6. The dressing can be double or single, with a distance from the butt of 5 and 12 cm.
7. The branches of the formed butt should be trimmed evenly.

Important! To knit a broom, a rope or twine is used, which tightly forms the handle and prevents damage to your hands during further use of the finished product.

If desired, the rope can be replaced with plastic or metal clamps. They allow you to securely fix the handle and adjust its diameter after the product has dried. Additionally, the handle can be tied with cotton tape to prevent excessive heating of the clamps.

Technology for drying brooms from birch branches

In order for products to last a long time, they need to be able to not only cook, but also dry them.

There are several simple ways to dry brooms, but they all have a common rule: the collected bunch is dried only in the open air in a dark place. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, birch foliage can lose its elasticity, color and shape, and when heat treatment- fall.

To dry products, it is better to choose a quiet and secluded place, protected from direct sunlight, precipitation and drafts, for example an attic with good ventilation. Experienced bath attendants It is recommended to hang the bundles with a handle from any base or lay them out on a flat and clean surface.

Turning the pieces daily will ensure they dry evenly. At first, the branches are laid out loosely; as they dry, they can be folded more tightly.

If the bundles are dried in the attic, they are hung from the floor beams and left there until completely dry. In this case, the roof will ensure uniform shrinkage of the birch sheet and preserve the shape of the product.

When drying several brooms, it is necessary to ensure a minimum distance between them for free air circulation.

If the drying technology is followed, then bundles of birch branches are dense, with dark green foliage and a pleasant aroma.

Interesting fact! In villages and villages, birch brooms are dried in a rather unusual way for a city dweller - in sheaves of dry hay. To do this, the prepared bundles are laid out in a circle in several rows. This method helps preserve the shape of the product and its consumer characteristics.

Storing brooms

The final stage of preparing a broom for bath procedures is proper storage. To store dried bundles, clean, cool and well-ventilated rooms are used - attic, barn, garage, pantry, balcony.

Careless or improper storage can lead to loss of product shape and falling leaves.

If many bundles are prepared, they can be placed in batches on a separate shelf. To prevent the leaves from stagnating, it is recommended to ventilate the bunches by swapping them: lift the lower ones up and lower the upper ones down.

If brooms are stored on the balcony, it is necessary to provide additional protection from sunlight, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and quickly fall off.

Common mistakes when preparing brooms

A bathhouse is a place for mental relaxation and healing of the body, therefore the quality of bathhouse brooms should be checked at each stage of preparation.

Often, beginners encounter the following common mistakes when making birch brooms:

• Incorrect timing for collecting raw materials, which can reduce the quality of the finished product.
• Failure to comply with the rules for collecting material: branches were cut on a rainy day or before noon, when there was dew on the foliage.
• Incorrect knitting of prepared raw materials to form products.
• Violation of drying technology when the material was subjected to negative impact direct sunlight.

Compliance with the established rules will allow you to prepare high-quality birch brooms that can be used throughout the year. When preparing products, it is important to take into account the weather conditions in the region, seasonality and even the day of the week.

A systematic approach to preparing and storing brooms will ensure a good time in the steam room at any time of the year.

There is nothing complicated in preparing brooms for a bath, but, as in every business, there are some nuances: you need to know when it is better to knit brooms for a bath, which branches to choose, how long they should be, how to preserve brooms for the whole year without losing quality .

When to knit brooms for a bath

Our ancestors prepared raw materials for bath brooms in the first half of June - on Trinity Day after Green Christmastide. If you are far from church calendars and rituals, collect branches in early June, when the foliage has already grown and become stronger, but has not yet become faded and withered.

For church holidays or calendar dates, you can only focus on regions: our country is large. In some places it’s almost summer on Trinity Sunday, and in others the leaves are barely hatching. So it’s better to focus on the condition of the foliage.

When are birch brooms harvested?

Not much time is allotted for harvesting birch brooms: a week at most. You need to have time to prepare birch branches when the leaf has already turned green, and not light green, but before the earrings bloom. If time is missed, the foliage becomes very hard and falls off greatly in the bathhouse. So the harvesting period for birch brooms is very short.

But time is not the only criterion. When choosing branches for a birch broom, you need to be guided by the appearance of the leaf. It should have a deep green color, the plate should be smooth. There should be no aphids or other pests or diseases. But, most importantly, there should be no earrings on the branches. And for greater effect, you need to cut birch branches on a broom within the specified period, but after a rain. Only the birch must already be dry, otherwise when steaming the leaf will darken and curl.

More advice from the older generation: cut a broom when the leaf on the birch tree is no larger than an old five-kopeck coin, and it should feel slightly sticky to the touch.

But with sticky leaves you get a “soapy broom”. It has an excellent effect on the skin: it becomes silky and soft. But at the same time, leave the steam room with your skin covered in mucus. Not everyone likes this feeling. So here you have to choose: either more comfortable sensations with more “mature” foliage or elastic skin.

Birch brooms harvested in May smell differently than summer ones: they add a smell very similar to the smell of propolis. At this time, there are light stripes on the skin of the twigs, which release this aroma. Such stripes are not found on all branches; they need to be selected separately. When you run your hand along such a branch, you feel the tubercles - these are the same resinous, odorous secretions. If anyone hasn't tried it, try it. Very pleasant sensations, although the sheet is sticky at this time.

Some bathhouse lovers especially appreciate birch brooms that grew near water - a river or lake (but not in a swamp). Such plants have long, elastic and flexible branches. Twigs, growing roots or stumps of birch trees are good. They are flexible, elastic and tender.

On trees, the lower climbing shoots are considered the best. They are cut for a broom. It is better not to cut single young ones without side branches, even despite the large, beautiful and dense leaf: it turns out to be a whip. And this is not at all what is required from a bath broom.

If you don’t need to cut more than two or three pieces of a young tree, you can harm the plant. Know when to stop - take care of nature!

Old people who love baths say that even in a birch grove you can’t take branches for a broom from every tree. But only from those whose birch bark on the trunk seems to shine a little. Moreover, the spots on the birch bark are not gray, but rather brownish in color. There are not very many such trees, but they exist. Try to find at least a few and stack the branches separately. Then evaluate the difference and next time you won’t regret it.

When preparing brooms, birch foliage should be dense and smooth. Someone advises to try birch leaf tongue. If it is rough, the branch is not suitable, if it is smooth and velvety, it is an excellent raw material.

You can navigate by the stem of a young birch leaf. If it has already turned reddish, you can cut it, but if it is green, it’s too early.

The video shows how to choose birch branches and correctly knit brooms from them.

We prepare oak brooms

The harvesting period for oak brooms is longer: starting from the end of June, and some are harvested in August and early September. Depends on the year and region. But even in the same region, it differs greatly from year to year. In some areas you have to hurry: later the foliage is affected by diseases and becomes lethargic or spotted. But sometimes, after disease damage in August-September, the foliage on the oak tree grows back. Then you can also get excellent brooms.

When harvesting an oak broom in the summer, pay attention to the condition of the leaf: it should be an even, dense green color, without spots. The main rule: there should not be an acorn yet. As when harvesting birch, branched shoots with large leaves are taken.

But there are lovers who harvest oak brooms in September. In this case, the leaf turns yellow or yellow. They say it also “works” very well.

For gourmet bathhouses, oak brooms, made from tree branches near which burdock grew, are highly prized. Their shoots are considered the most durable and flexible. Trees should grow in shady corners of the forest and be young: on old ones it is difficult to find non-knotted branches of sufficient length. The foliage should be large and abundant.

The preparation of oak brooms has its own specifics:

• firstly, the cut branches are stored in a shady place for an hour and a half, and only then can they be transported;
• secondly, after the oak broom is tied, you need to put pressure on it to give it the shape of a fan - this shape is the most common, but some people prefer oak brooms of the traditional spherical shape.

When to cut linden brooms

If you want a linden broom with color, you have a week and a half to prepare it. And then at the expense different breeds, blooming at different times. But in general, best period is considered when most of The flowers have already opened. The aroma in the bathhouse is amazing.

Linden with flowers smells amazing, but they won’t be able to “work” properly - the leaf is soft

There is a linden broom and a later preparation. He also has a period of two weeks - from August 15 to September 1. This is what experts say, who claim that the previously collected linden branches contain, of course, more useful substances, but the leaf on them is too soft and when steamed it curls and wrinkles so that it is absolutely impossible to steam with it.

Preparation of coniferous brooms: spruce, juniper

The "widest collection range" coniferous species. There are no restrictions here. In Siberia, coniferous brooms are made both in the most severe frosts and in the summer...

Choose a warm, fine, dry day for harvesting. The branches begin to be cut after the dew has dried. They choose the young and flexible. There are no other recommendations.

How to make nettle brooms

Despite the “terrible” sting, you just need to try the nettle broom. Then you will really enjoy steaming with it. Harvesting them for the winter is problematic, except perhaps inserting a few branches into birch and oak trees. No other way. But you can steam fresh all summer long.

Young shoots without color, about 40-50 cm long, are cut off. They are made short and fluffy. It’s better to work with gloves: it stings. It turns out to be quite soft: only for one person.

There are quite a few ways to steam a nettle broom. Basically, they dip into hot (not boiling water) water for 3-5 seconds, then into cold water. All.

The second option is to dip in cold water, then, having steamed, trample on it in the steam room with your feet, hold it over the steam, giving it a ladle of water.

Regardless of how you prepare the broom, they need to “work” on the already steamed body. That is, you first need to steam with birch.

There is one thing about using a nettle broom: it strongly stains the wood. Therefore, it is better not to put it on the shelves. Bring a rug and place it on it.

All other brooms (and what they are like and how they affect the body, read the article “How to steam a broom for a bath”) are collected in the same time frame as birch brooms until August 2.

If you want to knit a broom from herbs, you need to know the timing of its flowering - at this time they have the highest concentration of useful substances.

How to choose branches for a bath broom

Branches are cut from young trees that grow in sunny, non-wetlands, away from roads and enterprises with harmful emissions.

The length of the branches is selected depending on the selected broom size. Usually it is from 40 to 70-80 cm. Whichever is convenient for you. The thickness of the handle is selected in the same way. The diameter rarely exceeds 5 cm - it is difficult to swing too large and heavy, although it is a matter of taste and habit.

The branches should be smooth, free of diseases and dried parts. The foliage is thick and juicy, not too tough. It is advisable to choose branches with two or three branches - the broom will not only be more magnificent and beautiful, it will also be denser and will “capture” steam well. When you walk over your body with such a broom, you do not whip it, but massage it.

How to knit brooms for a bath correctly

Having selected suitable branches, you can immediately collect them into brooms. Some bath lovers advise pre-soaking them for several days in an unlit, well-ventilated place. They say the branches need to be “withered.” It's easier to work with them then.

The shoots are thicker on the inside and thinner on the outside. If there is a bend on the branches (and most often this happens), then the bend should point inward. Also make sure that the matte surface of the sheet is directed inward, and the shiny surface is directed outward. It should turn out that their shiny side is directed in one direction. When folding, give it the shape of a fan or a “bouquet” - they do it in different ways. The fan broom is more common: it seems to hug the body. The feeling is pleasant.

For the handle, remove the foliage from the bottom. Its length is selected individually, but the most optimal, established experimentally, is two palm widths. It is also necessary to expose the butts of the branches so that the brooms are better preserved during use. If everything is done correctly, then one broom can be enough for two trips to the steam room.

When folding the branches, they are turned over and shaken several times so that they are distributed more evenly. For knitting, it is better to use natural materials: thick twine, hemp rope, medical bandage or other similar materials. It is better not to use metal wire: it heats up in the bathhouse and such a broom is very uncomfortable to hold in your hands.

There are several knitting techniques:

Used for knitting and clamps. Some are plastic, some are metal. They quickly tighten the handle and hold it tightly. Moreover, after drying, it will be possible to tighten it. To prevent all these puffs from rubbing your hand, then wrap the handle with thick cotton tape: sold in hardware stores, sometimes in hardware stores or haberdashery stores. You can wrap the handle with thick cotton rope (after using the broom, you can remove it and tie the next one).

There are still many ways to knit brooms. Some people use nautical knots, which make it possible to tighten the rope after drying, others place two parts of the branches crosswise with the butts, then tie them not very tightly, then forcefully connect the two parts and tie them finally at the butt and higher. Almost every master has his own secrets. But they are very reluctant to share them. Try simple methods first, then adjust as you like. There will be your personal method of knitting a bath broom.

Proper drying

No matter how you knit the brooms, they still need to be dried. They are immediately piled up, one on top of the other. They stay like that for a day or two. They become flat under their own weight. Then they can be tied in pairs and hung on a rope or pole in a dark, well-ventilated room.

If it is possible to hang brooms in the attic, they can be tied in pairs (without cutting off the remaining twine for tying) and hung to dry on poles. The best brooms are made under a double roof: the heat will not “burn” the leaf, but will dry it out. But ventilation must be good. If you don’t have the luxury of your own attic, you can hang the broom on a nail in a well-ventilated place. In any case, you need to find a room where direct Sun rays. Only under such conditions the leaf remains green and does not fall off.

With any drying method, the brooms should not be placed close to one another - there should be free space between them. At first, in order for the branches and foliage to dry evenly, they need to be turned over once or twice a day. When they are completely dry, they can be stored.

How to store bath brooms

Dried brooms can be stacked on a bookcase or shelf (the room again should be dry and well ventilated). But from time to time, the brooms need to be rearranged so that those located at the bottom are in the middle or at the top. Moreover, the brooms should not be exposed to light: the leaf will turn yellow.

If you have your own hayloft, you can stack the brooms on dry hay, placing them loosely next to each other. Cover the top with dry hay. This is how our ancestors kept them.

For apartment dwellers, there is also a storage method: make small holes in a cardboard box, put brooms into it without crushing it, alternating the handle and the crown. In this case, you also need to periodically shift them, lifting the bottom ones up.

You can also store brooms in the refrigerator: they are packed in a plastic bag or wrapped cling film, placed on the bottom shelf, in a dark, dry corner.

As you can see, tying a bath broom yourself is not difficult. But this is just the beginning. Brooms, even the most wonderful ones, can be ruined by steaming them incorrectly. Read here how to avoid such trouble. Don’t forget to read the article, “How to take a steam bath properly.”

Massage with a birch bath broom – excellent remedy against pain in muscles and joints, promoting faster and painless recovery after various physical activity. Birch helps normalize the condition of skin prone to acne, accelerates the healing of minor wounds and abrasions, calms the body as a whole.

One of the most pronounced medicinal properties of birch broom is its intense positive effect on the bronchi - the substances contained in the plant contribute to their expansion, which normalizes lung ventilation and facilitates the discharge of sputum. That is why experts especially strongly recommend the use of birch brooms for smokers and patients with asthma and allergies.

Birch leaves contain vitamins A and C, many essential oils, tannins and other useful components. So that they are fully preserved in the broom and show their potential as effectively as possible. useful action, you need to know, firstly, how to prepare birch leaves for a bathhouse, and secondly, how to properly use the ready-made device. It is this information that you are invited to familiarize yourself with as you study the information below.

Centuries-old traditions of harvesting birch brooms

In ancient times, bath brooms were traditionally prepared 1-2 weeks after Trinity Day. Typically, this holy holiday falls in June. Along with this, in view significant differences in climatic conditions in different regions of Russia, focus on only one folk custom it’s not worth it - in many areas the birch tree does not have time to bloom before Trinity, and a broom made from such branches is of little use.

The principle is this: we focus on the characteristics of the ripening of birch. Maximum strengthening of the leaf will indicate the imminent appearance of earrings. This short time period, when the leaves are the strongest and there are no catkins yet, is the most suitable for preparing the right bath brooms.

Bath brooms are traditionally collected from weeping birch. Typically, these trees have a fairly impressive height, while possessing long, strong and quite flexible branches. Beautiful brooms are made from the branches of young and previously unblooming birch trees - such trees have the most delicate leaves.

Helpful advice! When choosing branches, make sure that the upper side of the leaves is not rough, the branches are straight and rather thin, and the leaves themselves are velvety and tender.

Branches can be cut with a sharp knife or collected with another in a suitable way. For greater convenience, the collector can climb a tree, bend it down, tie it to some nearby tree and collect the required number of branches. Birch, as noted, is quite flexible and durable, so such manipulations, provided they are carried out carefully, will not cause harm.

Important! There is no need to immediately tie the collected branches too tightly. The material is hung on a strong rope under a protective canopy so that direct contact with the sun is excluded. There should be a draft in the room. After a week, the brooms are drying out quite thoroughly. In this state, they can be placed tightly on shelves in a dry, ventilated room, for example, a dressing room or a barn.

It is better that the finished bath broom looks like a fan, and not looks like a broom. To follow this recommendation, a fresh broom should be laid out on the floor and turned over daily, repeating until the products are dry. Otherwise, the material may dry out or dry incorrectly.

For example, if the harvester tightly ties the birch branches from the very beginning, the leaves in the center of the broom will become dark and “burn”, which is why they will have practically no aroma.

The color of properly dried brooms is a concentrated green, pleasant matte. The branches should emit the aroma of balsamic birch oil, noticeably intensifying when steamed.

It is also correct to collect branches for brooms in June for the reason that during this period the leaves already grow to a fairly large size, but retain required level essential oil glands, present, however, not only in the foliage, but also in young birch shoots. Young large shoots retain high elasticity, thanks to which whippings with such a broom are easily tolerated by a bathhouse visitor.

Summarizing the above, we can draw the following conclusion: for preparing birch brooms, branches with strong and young leaves are used. Such foliage contains a maximum of components beneficial to humans. On the territory of Russia, depending on the climatic zone, the optimal time for harvesting birch brooms can range from early June to mid-July.

Choosing a time and place to collect branches

The correct time for harvesting determines the quality, service life, aroma and softness of brooms. For example, if you collect the branches too early, subsequent steaming will make the broom flimsy, short-lived and slippery. A properly prepared product will “hold the sheet” for as long as possible.

A high-quality broom is fragrant, durable and “holds the leaf” well.

Dry weather is chosen for harvesting. If the foliage is moistened with dew or rainwater, when dried it will collapse, curl, fly around, and darken. If it rained the day before, it is better to wait a few days, and only after that start collecting branches for making brooms.

To assemble branches, choose an environmentally friendly place, away from highways and other pollutants. In practice, two-year-old branches growing close to the ground have the best properties. It is convenient to use pruning shears for cutting.

What to do with the branches after harvesting?

An attic space is a good place to store harvested branches, or a heap of hay is even better. For storage of workpieces in urban areas suitable conditions balcony or even mezzanine. In this case, the brooms will need to be pre-wrapped in paper bags.

Drying brooms on the roof of the barn is also allowed. This is done in the following sequence:

• meadow hay is spread over the roof;
• birch branches are laid out on the hay with small gaps;
• a layer of hay is laid out on top of the branches;
• Every day (some experts advise increasing this period to 2-3 days) the branches turn over. This is done over the course of a month.

Most often, dried pieces are tied in pairs to a rope and stored in this position. You don’t have to knit brooms right away, but combine the branches into small sheaves. The sheaves are wrapped in hay and stored in the attic. Before going to the bathhouse, the required number of branches is pulled from the sheaf and tied into a broom.

Instructions for tying a birch broom with your own hands

The image shows the step-by-step sequence of knitting a birch broom for a bath. To better understand the process, please read the more detailed guide for this activity. The necessary information is presented in the table.

Table. Knitting a birch broom

Stage of workDescriptionPhoto

First, lay out the dried birch branches on burlap and leave for a couple of days. Branches withered in this way are better suited for preparing birch brooms.
At this point, everything is individual: some bathhouse attendants love massive brooms, others prefer small products. The only standardized recommendation is regarding length: keep it within 0.4-0.8 m. A shorter or longer broom will simply be inconvenient to use.
At the location of the handle, knots and foliage are removed. In general, approximately a third of the total length of the product is subject to cleaning.
The cleared branches are collected together. At the same time, the product is given a flattened shape. The frame is created from thicker branches - they must be placed inside the future product. Thin pieces are laid out around the frame. Place them with the curve inward. The leaves should be facing in the same direction, and the branches should be fanned out. In this case, the broom will seem to “hugg” the body of the steamer during the bath massage. One thick and dense product is enough for an average of 2-3 visits to the steam room. After this, it crumbles and becomes unusable.
The previously cleaned and collected branches are wrapped with twine: you squeeze the workpieces with one hand, and wind the rope with the other. There are no secrets here: the main thing is that the branches are tightly fastened. A strip of fabric is wound at the end of the handle - without it, there is a high risk of getting calluses in the future. Recommended handle length is 150 mm. The highest quality is ensured when tying branches with twine in several rows near the foliage, and not along the length of the handle - a handle with a free end is more convenient to use, it will not slip out even with the most powerful movements.

Helpful advice! When assembling the broom, add some fragrant herbs to its composition. For example, thyme and chamomile are good, mint and black currant are also good. If nettle, spruce and other thorny plants are added, they should be placed inside the product to eliminate the risk of damage and discomfort.

Don't make the broom too heavy. At this point, focus on own feelings: The product should be comfortable and light just for you.

Subsequent drying of brooms

There are many ways to dry brooms. Regardless characteristic features Each method, one basic general rule remains: brooms should dry in the shade. Direct contact with sunlight leads to rapid burning and curling of leaves, volatilization of fragrant and beneficial components, loss of aroma and external qualities. A broom dried in the sun will fall off immediately after steaming.

There should be a moderate draft in the room. The presence of powerful drafts is unacceptable, because... because of them, the final quality of the finished brooms will also not be the best. Ideally, the chosen room should be dry, cool and dark. While drying, brooms can be either folded or hung. To ensure uniform drying of the branches, as noted, the workpieces must be turned over daily.

The simplest drying option involves hanging brooms from a pole or even a simple rope. To provide protection from the sun, the cord is stretched under a suitable canopy.

It was previously mentioned that the best shape for a broom is a fan. To ensure compliance with this recommendation, about a week after the start of drying (during this period the brooms begin to rustle a little), you need to tightly tie the collected branches and lay the workpieces tightly. They will press together and gradually flatten, becoming like a fan.

The method involving drying in hay requires some clarification. Firstly, the hay must be sufficiently dried and fresh. The products are laid in circular layers. The foliage should be directed directly to the center of the stack. Fragrant hay is laid between the layers. Drying under such conditions contributes to maximum preservation of aroma, color, as well as shape and quality characteristics.

It is possible that the first harvesting experience will end in over-drying of the products. In this case, you shouldn’t get too upset and get rid of the preparations - the brooms can be “reanimated”. To do this, firstly, the “marriage” must be steamed for a longer time (literally for several minutes), and secondly, after steaming, the product should be kept on the heater. The steam emanating from the laid stones will help rapid recovery brooms

Important! After the " resuscitation measures", be sure to remove fallen leaves from the heater.

Having prepared brooms, ensure their proper and careful storage. The room should be cool, shady and well ventilated. Violation of any of the listed recommendations will lead to yellowing and discoloration of the foliage, it will lose its aroma and freshness.

Hay is good for storing brooms, as well as for pre-drying them. In such conditions, the foliage will be even more saturated useful elements, due to which its aroma will noticeably improve. For storage in urban areas, you can use plastic or paper bags and vacuum packaging.

If a bath broom falls off due to repeated use, you can find an excuse for this - nothing lasts forever. Much more tragic are situations when the foliage instantly flies off after the first steaming. This state of affairs is direct evidence of a violation of the rules for harvesting birch brooms.

You can find a description of the most common errors in the following table.

Table. Mistakes when preparing bath brooms

ErrorsExplanations

Practice shows that it is best to prepare brooms with a small supply. However, you shouldn’t be too zealous either: it’s much more pleasant to use a fragrant and fresh broom every time.

Before use, brooms are traditionally steamed. Fresh products do not need such preliminary preparation - they can become limp. Dry workpieces are lowered for 10-15 minutes before use. cool water, then – for a couple of minutes in boiling water.

If the birch broom is too dry, its steaming time can be increased. In this case, the basin is filled with boiling water, after which the product is lowered into the water and covered with a second bowl. Another a good option– dip the product in boiling water for a couple of seconds, and then place it on the heater. In this case, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the broom, slightly shaking and rotating it to prevent burning. Usually 2-3 such approaches with a total duration of up to 1.5-2 minutes are enough to bring the broom back to normal.

It is more convenient for two people to go to the bathhouse with brooms. The person receiving the massage is in a lying position. The performer is first recommended to wear gloves to avoid getting calluses (if there is fabric wrapped around the handle, as recommended in the instructions given earlier, you can refuse to use gloves).

Get ready right away: steaming using a broom is a whole science. First of all, remember the most important rules:

• The massage is performed with a damp broom. Periodically, the product should be moistened with a little warm water;
• touching the body with a broom should be light, soft and barely perceptible;
• If the steam room is heated to more than 60 degrees, you need to use a birch broom as carefully as possible, otherwise the steam will leave burns.

A competent bath massage helps improve blood circulation processes and normalize metabolic processes, getting rid of pathogens, strengthening the skin.

The traditional sequence of a bath massage using a broom is as follows.

One person lies on his stomach and places his arms along his body. The second bath attendant takes 2 birch brooms and carefully, slowly, from bottom to top, strokes the body of the first bath attendant. At the same time, the brooms do not come off the skin. In the reverse movement, birch brooms are passed along the sides of the body. You need to repeat all this 2-3 times.

At the next stage, the massage therapist lifts the birch brooms up to take some heated air, after which he lowers them onto the lumbar area of ​​the first bath attendant and presses them with his hand for a couple of seconds. This manipulation helps restore spinal muscles after heavy exertion, get rid of painful sensations and heal various injuries faster.

If taken bath procedures without brooms, the effect of skin cleansing and the benefits of the procedure are reduced

The so-called medicine helps well with lower back and lower back pain. stretching. To carry it out, both birch brooms are placed on the lower back, after which one is taken to the back of the head, and the second to the legs. This wiring must be done at the same time. The knees and shoulder blades are worked in the same way.

Important! During the massage, you need to make sure that the brooms touch the bath attendant’s body, and not just move through the air. Violating this recommendation in an overheated steam room will result in burns. When found unpleasant feeling burning sensation, moisten the broom with cool water.

Quitting is a very useful technique. This massage is carried out by applying quick tapping movements with the end of a birch broom on the body of the bathhouse attendant. The back is worked first, followed by the lower back, and finally attention is paid to the pelvis, hips and then to the feet. The whole procedure takes about a minute. Finally, the steamer’s torso is stroked with brooms, but at a higher speed than at the beginning of the procedure.

A stronger massage is whipping. It is carried out in the following sequence:

• the broom rises upward to capture some air;
• all parts of the body are whipped 2-3 times;
• alternately with whipping, a “compress” is performed (described earlier, when a broom is pressed against the body for a couple of seconds).

Another interesting and useful massage technique is fanning, which involves lightly waving a broom with barely perceptible touches to the skin. “Treatment” is best started from the legs, gradually moving up along the body, and then pay attention to the sides, moving in reverse direction. During the procedure, light warm air currents will be felt.

If it is necessary to warm up the body more intensively, the broom should be periodically lifted upward and shaken. A broom heated in this way is pressed for a couple of seconds on the lower back and shoulder blades, knees, and feet. If necessary, cool the product with cool water.

The massage ends with rubbing. To do this, the performer takes the broom by the handle, and with the other hand, slightly pressing on the part with the foliage, slowly and gradually rubs the body. The legs and arms are rubbed lengthwise, the torso is worked in all directions.

Important! After the massage described, you may experience slight dizziness - be careful in your movements.

Have fun!

Video - Preparing birch brooms for a bath

When to knit brooms for a bath: collection of raw materials and beneficial properties of plants

A broom is the basis of a Russian bath; of course, it can also be purchased in specialty store, but it’s much better to prepare it yourself. Then there will be complete confidence that the raw materials are collected according to all the rules and contain the entire complex of useful substances. Knitting brooms for a bath can be combined with a trip to nature.

Harvesting must be carried out within a certain period of time, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve the desired effect. Many types of trees are suitable for brooms and medicinal herbs. The main requirement is that the plant grows in an ecologically clean area, away from roads and populated areas.

Which plants are suitable for knitting brooms: the period of collecting raw materials

One of the most popular plants in Russia is birch, but it is not the only one suitable for knitting brooms.

There are traditional types:

• Oak;
• Linden;
• Juniper;
• Eucalyptus;
• Tansy;
• Artemisia;
• Rowan;
• Nettles;
• Spruce

Each of them is endowed with various beneficial properties aimed at restoring body functions. The quality of the future broom and its durability directly depend on where and when the raw materials were collected.

Birch: collection time and beneficial properties

This plant is rightfully considered the best participant in bath procedures. It has soft action on the body. The collection of raw materials begins in mid-June and continues until August 2. Young flexible branches of weeping birch and curly birch, growing on the banks of reservoirs, are best suited.

With your own hands, cut only side shoots about 50-60 cm long, without touching the tops of the trees. Harvesting at the beginning of summer is quite justified - by this time the foliage has already absorbed sufficient nutrients and is filled with essential oils.

What are the requirements for birch branches and leaves:

• The age of the tree should not exceed 2-3 years;
• The outer side of the leaf is tender and smooth; the rough ones will make a rough and hard broom;
• The leaf size is small to medium;
• There should be no knots on the branches.

Only a dry day is suitable for collection; if it rained the day before, you will have to wait a few days.

What effect do the substances contained in birch leaves have on the body:

• Relieves aches in muscles and joints;
• Eliminates skin irritation, cleansing it well;
• Wounds heal several times faster;
• It has a positive effect on the respiratory tract - very useful for experienced smokers and asthmatics.

Note!
The infusion left after steaming the broom is very beneficial for the scalp - it relieves itching and eliminates dandruff.

Oak broom: when to collect

The second most popular tree after birch is oak. It is harvested in July-September; “winter” is most suitable - it does not shed its leaves and, accordingly, is more durable. If you are lucky enough to find a tree growing in a dense darkened forest next to large burdocks, then the branches from it are also suitable for collecting - the leaves from them do not fall off for a long time.

The most popular species can be called pedunculate oak - this is the most common, it grows throughout Russia. Young trees 3-4 meters high are suitable; small plants should not be touched - they may die. Plants should be given rest and brooms should be harvested from them no more than once a year.

The earlier the broom is prepared, the more tender the foliage, but it will also be less durable. They cook them until the first frost, then they can no longer be cooked. But the optimal time ends in September, then the quality of raw materials drops.

To know how to properly knit oak bath brooms, you need to understand their beneficial properties:

• Unlike birch, oak does not cause profuse sweating, therefore it is more suitable for those with oily skin;
• The skin becomes denser, tannins and essential oils cleanse and have bactericidal properties and impart matteness and elasticity, preventing aging;
• This broom can be used for steaming by people who are prone to high blood pressure and heart disease - it calms the nervous system and helps reduce blood pressure;
• Has a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Brooms are knitted in two ways: with a shovel and with a ball. This does not affect the properties in any way and depends on personal preference.

Features of preparing brooms from other raw materials

Not only ordinary trees and shrubs can serve as raw materials for bath brooms. For them, medicinal herbs are used, which are not necessarily used as decoctions or tinctures. One of the treatment methods is to “drive” them into the skin.

To do this, herbs are collected and tied into bundles by type or prefabricated brooms are made. For correct selection you need to know when to collect herbs and how to knit brooms for a bath, combining different raw materials. Everyone has it medicinal plant There is a collection period. It is at this time that it accumulates the maximum amount of useful substances.

For brooms, flowers and leaves are prepared on a long stem so that they can be tied conveniently. They are collected by hand; the plants must have no signs of wilting and grow away from roads.

Suitable for use in a steam room:

• Tansy - collected at the end of summer, dried in the shade. Brooms made from it promote healing skin diseases and joint pain;
• Wormwood - brooms can be knitted all summer, but the best time for collecting is June. It relieves irritability and improves sleep;

• Nettle – young plants are harvested in May. At this time, it is not particularly hot and can be used even fresh. The plant has a tonic effect;
• Yarrow - collected during flowering, used in combination with other herbs. Relieves skin irritation;
• Chamomile – it is harvested in June. Bunches of the plant are tied into bath brooms made of birch or linden. Soothes and disinfects wounds.

Note!
Medicinal herbs as bath brooms should be used only after consultation with a doctor, and if there are no contraindications.

If the time of collecting medicinal herbs and other raw materials for brooms coincides, then they can be dried together. You need to know how to properly tie a broom for a bath if it contains several types of plants. Herbs are usually placed in the middle and hidden by the main branches.

Before preparing and knitting brooms from different plants you need to familiarize yourself with their beneficial properties, which are described in the instructions for use. Medicinal raw materials are dried and stored for no more than one year.

When knitting brooms from pine needles and eucalyptus

It makes no sense to harvest branches of coniferous trees for future use, because when the needles dry out, they fall off. Therefore, real experts and lovers of steaming cut off the branches immediately before going to the bathhouse. As a result, you can use fresh brooms throughout the year. The exception is juniper, but it is not stored for long.

How to knit bath brooms from coniferous plants so that excess resin does not interfere with steaming? They must be arranged in a certain sequence: thick branches are laid inside, and the outside is lined with flexible and thin ones. It is useful to add branches of other plants and wrap them with a rope; they will cover the handle and the resin will not get dirty.

Branches of some trees that do not grow in central Russia are harvested until the end of November. For example, eucalyptus, whose leaves are just gaining full strength by this time. Dry the raw materials at a temperature not exceeding 35 degrees, in the shade. For greater safety, they are packaged in paper or cloth bags.

Eucalyptus brooms help in the treatment of skin and colds, stimulate immune system. Since its branches are very thin and flexible, it is advisable to combine it with birch. The price for them depends on the size and length of the branches.

Conclusion

Bath brooms are used in medicinal and for cosmetic purposes. The time for harvesting raw materials for bath brooms varies depending on the plant, but to a greater extent it occurs in May-September, with the exception of needles. It is during this period that the accumulation of useful substances takes place.

In order for bath procedures to bring joy, it is important to knit brooms correctly and store them. The video in this article will tell you about when and how to collect herbs and tree branches.

Preparing bath brooms: combining business with pleasure

• How to make “bouquets” for a bath from various plants
• Healing properties

Steaming with a broom is a native Russian tradition that has many advantages. The preparation of brooms for the bath lasts from May to the end of August and depends on the branches of which bush or tree they are made from.

General rules for preparation, knitting and storage

It is best to use fresh twigs, they contain more phytoncides, essential oils and other active substances. But, out of season, you have to take previously prepared brooms with you to the bathhouse.

In the central part of Russia, the main preparations are made in May-June. During this period, trees, shrubs and herbs bloom, the leaves have already become stronger, have collected juice and have the greatest aroma.

Advice from the master!

Branches should be cut in dry weather. Even slightly wet leaves from rain or dew will quickly curl, fly off or deteriorate. Cut material should be stored in the shade. Under the influence of direct sunlight, beneficial essential aromatic substances will disappear from them.

Briefly, the rules for preparing brooms for a bath are as follows. There are several methods for drying tied branches.

You can do this in a dry and dark part of the attic of a house, bathhouse, or garage. But a small pile of hay is best. In the city, brooms can be stored on loggias, balconies or mezzanines in paper bags.

You can dry them on the roof of the barn:

• Spread meadow hay on it
• Place branches on it at small intervals from each other.
• Cover them with a layer of hay on top
• Turn the branches over every 3 days for a month

Then cover them with fresh grass and leave to dry until early October. In the fall you can start tying brooms.

As a rule, “bouquets” are stored on a rope, tied in pairs. But you don’t have to knit them right away, but make small sheaves from the twigs. They are placed in the attic or barn, wrapped in hay. Before visiting the bathhouse, take out a few twigs from the sheaf and tie a broom.

This is how it should be done. Place thicker branches inside, they will serve as a base. Around them, in a bend inward, distribute thinner branches.

Remove twigs and leaves from the handle of the workpiece in advance. Make the broom light so that your hand does not get tired when using it. After collecting the branches, wrap them with twine, and to avoid injury, cover the handle with a thin cloth or bandage.

There are unchanging attributes used in the steam room. One of them is a broom. It performs many functions, helping to better warm up the body, providing massage, and also providing an aromatic and relaxing effect.

You should find out when to harvest birch brooms before preparing to accept the procedures.

Properties of birch broom

A broom has been used in a bathhouse for many years as a universal remedy, which helps a person to steam in the best way, reaching the deepest layers of the skin.

It also performs massage functions, dispersing blood throughout the body. The smell emanating from the branches and leaves aromatizes the room and also heals the body. It’s not for nothing that so many people have been cured of many physical and spiritual diseases by regularly visiting the steam room.

To maximize all the beneficial properties, you should understand when birch brooms are harvested. The strength of the effect it will have on the human body depends on this.

When preparing birch brooms, you should take into account that this remedy helps with pain in the back, muscles and joints, and helps to relax the body after prolonged physical activity. If you add a few viburnum twigs to birch branches, you can relieve the skin from itching after mosquito bites.

Soaked and steamed birch brooms cleanse the respiratory tract.

Broom harvesting start date

There is a tradition of collecting branches to form birch brooms for the bathhouse after the Trinity holiday. It falls on a different date every year. Therefore, the date when birch brooms begin to be harvested shifts every year from the end of May to June.

Our ancestors had many traditions that were based on church holidays. Even long-term weather forecasts for the season were made based on an analysis of the state of nature on such key days of the calendar.

Therefore, the collection of herbs, branches, flowers of medicinal plants has always been associated with such special dates.

To answer the question of when birch brooms are harvested, the date of the beginning of this event is correlated with the Trinity. In 2015, the collection started on May 31. From this moment, according to tradition, the period of preparing birch brooms for the bathhouse began.

In 2016, this period begins on June 19. Folk legends say that the collection of material is carried out in the next 2 weeks from this date. This is when flowering and grass growth occur. The leaves of the plant have already gained the necessary strength and aroma.

Branch collection period

However, it is important not only what date birch brooms are prepared for the bath, but also what this day itself is like. It should be sunny and warm. Leaves that are wet from rain do not dry well and may spoil.

The best time to collect branches is from June to August. An important factor influencing the readiness of birch is the weather. The hotter the last days of May were, the earlier it arrives. The leaf should reach its maximum size and stay firmly on the branch. If the broom was collected early, the leaves will scatter and slide over the body while visiting the bathhouse.

The end of the collection period is marked by the coarsening of the branches. If collected late, they will fall out of the general bunch. It will be unpleasant to massage with such a product. Essential oils will be released to a much lesser extent.

Time of day

When collecting birch brooms for the winter, it even matters what time of day it was done.

The most the right time day starts at noon. When birch brooms are prepared for a bathhouse, the leaf is assessed for the presence of moisture on it. There may be dew on it in the morning. A broom collected during this period may deteriorate when dried.

After noon and until the evening on a sunny, warm day, the branches dry out well. This is the best way to collect them.

If the place where you collect the branches is quite far from the house and you have to carry them in your hands without the help of transport, it is better to do this after 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Direct sunlight can severely dry out cut leaves and shoots. Towards evening the sun becomes less active and will not harm the future broom.

If there is a birch grove near the house, collection can be done even at noon.

How to assemble a broom

Birch and oak brooms are harvested at the same time. Raw materials are collected in environmentally friendly areas, away from roads and cities. The leaves absorb all contaminants, so when steamed, such substances will be released along with essential oils. There will be quite a bit of benefit from the procedure.

When preparing birch brooms for a bathhouse, do not break many branches from one tree. You should try to harm the plant as little as possible. Biennial shoots are best. They are located closer to the ground. Branches should be cut with pruning shears to a length of 60 cm.

How to shape a broom

Two methods are used to store cut shoots. The first involves collecting branches into a sheaf. The upper ones retain the internal ones. From above, the entire workpiece is wrapped in hay. As necessary, the internal shoots are taken out and a broom is tied from them.

The second method involves storing the material in assembled form. When preparing birch brooms for the winter, they perform a certain sequence of actions.

First, the cut branches are laid out on burlap. After a couple of days, the dried shoots begin to be piled up. The length of the broom can be from 40 to 80 cm. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to use.

In the place where the broom handle will be, the branches are cleared of twigs and leaves. By folding the product, it is given a flat shape.

When birch brooms are prepared and made for a bathhouse, the stronger branches are left to form the frame. Small thin shoots are used on top of the product.

The handle is wrapped with twine and cloth. You can steam with this broom up to 3 times.

Drying the product

When birch and oak brooms are harvested, they are dried in the shade. In the sun, the leaves may turn yellow and curl. The fragrant essential elements disappear, and the benefits of such a broom will be minimal.

The drying area should be dark, dry and blocked. Brooms are hung or laid out on the surface. They should be turned over every day.

At first the branches should be twisted loosely. After 6-7 days they can be folded more tightly. A properly dried broom has matte dark leaves and a lasting aroma.

How to store a broom

A properly dried broom should be stored in a cool, dark room with good ventilation.

Attics, garages or sheds are ideal for these purposes.

Careless storage will cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. A dry broom should not be moved, thrown, or placed on it frequently.

When birch brooms are harvested, they are often stored in hay. It adds even more flavor to the product and useful qualities. This method is more suitable for rural residents. In the city, brooms can be stored in paper or plastic film, as well as in vacuum packaging. If stored correctly, the product will not lose its positive qualities for a long time.

Harvesting errors

To better understand when birch brooms are prepared for a bath and how they are made, you should consider the main mistakes that should not be made in this matter.

There are miscalculations in the time of harvesting branches. Picking shoots too early or too late will degrade the quality of the final product. Therefore, you should pay attention to the appearance of the leaves, their characteristic features readiness.

A common mistake is drying the material in the sun. This speeds up the process, but reduces the quality of the birch bundle. The broom should dry out gradually while in the shade.

It is wrong to collect branches immediately after rain. This omission will lead to darkening of the leaves. It is also unacceptable to wash a broom from dust at home. To get rid of dust settled on the leaves, you should immediately scald the broom before visiting the bathhouse. This will cleanse it of possible contaminants and help open the whole range of natural aromas.

When preparing brooms, you should provide such a number of them that you can take a new bunch with you each time. Each of them should be used once. Each time it will give off a fresh aroma and maximum benefits for the people in the steam room.

Having familiarized yourself with the rules that allow you to create the right birch broom, it will be quite simple to prepare the required amount for the whole year. By adhering to the recommendations discussed, you can get the maximum benefit from visiting the bathhouse. When birch brooms are harvested, weather conditions, time of year and even days are taken into account. A scrupulous approach to collecting and storing material is a guarantee of a good and useful time spent in the steam room. The right birch broom will cure many diseases and prevent health problems in the future.

Birch broom a constant attribute for a bathhouse for many centuries. This is the most common and proven solution. Harvesting birch brooms has long become a common practice for many bathhouse professionals. However, for some novice amateurs, the question is: when is this miracle prepared? what time and what deadlines, is still interesting and important.

When are birch brooms harvested?

It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Yes Yes exactly. If you want to know specific dates or numbers, from such and such a date to such, then this is not realistic. As a rule, according to the old tradition, it is recommended to start harvesting from the end of spring - beginning of summer, focusing on the Christian Trinity holiday. However, the date of this holiday is not constant and moves in different directions from year to year.

This should be the time of grass, the time of flowering. The best collection time is considered to be a period of one to two weeks, approximately first or better than the second one ten days of June, since by this time the leaves on the birch trees were already sufficiently formed and strengthened. At this time, the leaves contain the maximum amount of healing substances, located mainly in the buds, leaves and thin twigs. In addition, brooms cut at this time are flexible, durable, and hold leaves well.

But at the same time, it is necessary to make allowances for the latitude of the area where the brooms will need to be broken, and for what kind of summer it will be in this particular season, since the harvesting time also changes depending on this. The harvesting period lasts up to 10 days; further cutting and collecting is not recommended. Later, although it will be possible to steam with broken brooms, the healing effect will be weaker.

Collection Features: Important Details

Proper preparation, timely collection, and subsequent storage, in fact, is a whole unique science, the result of compliance with the requirements and principles of which becomes desired result in the steam room. In this matter, every nuance is important.

• It is better to cut birch on a dry day; it is preferable to do it during afternoon. Young plastic branches from not old birches, with bright fresh leaves, are more suitable for breaking, since they contain the necessary human body Components.
• It is also undesirable to prepare brooms for future use for several years, since during storage, no matter what ideal conditions you store them in, their quality will still decrease. They cut and knit everything for one year!
• What will happen to those specimens that are cut and tied earlier than necessary? On brooms harvested too early, the leaves are still weak and do not hold up well. But they give off a strong, pleasant smell in the bathhouse. It is useful to wash your hair with water from such brooms. These brooms are not prepared for future use, but only for a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the bathhouse. So this option is not excluded.
• Until what date can birch brooms be harvested? The deadline for harvesting birch brooms is end of July, his third decade. Later in August, the branches become coarser and catkins begin to appear on them. And the number of leaves damaged by pests increases. Such brooms are of little use for steaming.

Choose the right time to collect birch brooms for the bath and the best steam, health, aroma and pleasant impressions are guaranteed to you!