Birch bark gum

Our ancestors have long known a lot about healthy and healthy food. No one used any chemicals, and consequently people were healthy. The teeth did not crumble, the gastrointestinal tract was healthy, the immune system was strong. Since those distant times, a lot of useful notes, recommendations, and culinary recipes have been inherited. Only many modern people consider them remnants of the past or grandmother's fables. But in vain. After all, they knew a lot about many things. So, on the agenda is one of the precious old recipes for making gum from birch bark. They called her sagus. Birch bark for this purpose is harvested in advance, after collecting birch sap. The bark is dried and stored in a dry, dark place.

1. Birch bark is crushed. We just take it and split it with our hands into very thin strips.

2. We put the bark in a cast-iron cauldron. The cauldron should be with a lid.

3. We make a fire. For fire, you can use a primitive construction of a couple of bricks.

4. Place the cauldron on the bricks directly into the flame. Cover with a lid. It is very important that the flame does not get into the cauldron, otherwise the resin released from the bark may catch fire.

5. From time to time we rub the bark with a wooden spatula. As if mixing the mass.

6. When the mass melts, add butter to it. We continue to cook for 20 minutes. The mass has a black color, the consistency resembles sour cream.

7. Pour cold water into an enameled bowl. Pour the mass into a container with cold water. She freezes immediately.

8. The mass turns out to be plastic. We collect it in one lump, like dough, and extract it from the water. We divide into pieces, roll sausages out of them.

9. We cut each sausage into several parts to get a small piece of gum. You can roll balls or small pads.

10. For convenience, the gum can be packed.

Have a pleasant tasting!