BIRCH

Birch is a thin-leaved tree. Belongs to the family Betulaceae. They are many species of birch and they are organized into subgenera. That’s why each of them has their own native place. Among them Europe and Asia, North America.

Birch species are usually small to medium-sized trees (height from 30 to 45 m with a trunk girth up to 120-150 cm) or shrubs.  Birch has green leaves that are oval or elliptical in shape. Leaves are single or double serrated on the edges. Bark of the birch can be white, grey, yellow, silver or black in color. Individual flowers are arranged in long clusters known as catkins. Birch tree produces fruit called "samara" which can release around one million seeds each year. Bark contains substances such as betulin and betulinic acid. The leaves of the tree contain a lot of vitamin C, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and sesquiterpenes. The sap of birch contains a number of important minerals and sugars like fructose and glucose. It is a rich source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron and phosphorus as well as vitamin C and thiamine.

Methods of use:

• Tea
• Extract
• Oil
• Dried herbs