Freeze your fruits first: Preserving summer's best flavors

Fruit preserves are the perfect way to enjoy their taste all year round. These can be jams, juices, or liqueurs. In the latter two cases, the freezing process is useful. Not only does it help preserve the fruits for longer, but it also enhances their flavor.

The end of summer is the best time to prepare preserves. Some fruits can become quite bitter when made into juices or liqueurs. Freezing can mitigate this issue.

Fruits that benefit from freezing before preparing juice or liqueur include chokeberries, dogwood, blackthorn, and rowanberries.

The duration of freezing depends on the type of fruit chosen. Chokeberry needs just 24 hours in the freezer, but the other mentioned fruits should be frozen for at least two weeks.

We don't need to take special precautions for the freezing process. A simple bag or box for the washed fruits will suffice. However, it's worth noting that, in the case of chokeberries, many factors affect whether they retain an astringent taste. These factors include the specific fruit variety, its ripeness level, and adding sugars or other fruits to the juice.

Chokeberry juice has strong antioxidant properties, slowing down the aging process in our body. It also supports our immune system, lowers blood pressure, and reduces harmful cholesterol levels. It has anti-inflammatory properties and benefits our vision. Chokeberry juice provides vitamins C, A, E, and K and minerals like magnesium, iron, and potassium.

Dogwood juice is also rich in vitamin C. It has anti-inflammatory properties, helps with stomach problems, and acts as a diuretic. Blackthorn juice also has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in vitamins and minerals, strengthening our immunity and improving our digestive system.