Sealand Birk Water. The latest addition to my local health store. My curiosity caught the best of me and I grabbed the different flavors available, curious to see what it could possibly taste like, compared to mineral water.
But what exactly is birch water?
Directly tapped and bottled from the Birch tree, the harvesting takes place in Spring. Birch trees absorb a significant amount of water thus, contain a lot of sap.
While it’s being touted in the media as the latest super drink, birch water is nothing new. It has been used for centuries in Northern countries and Eastern Europe in folk medicine. Birch sap is a natural source of nutrients and minerals, rich in magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium. It is said to be helping treat kidney and bladder stones, rheumatisms, ulcers, and many other ailments. For the skin, birch water has replenishing benefits and is used to heal dry skin, eczema and other forms of inflammation. Those familiar with Weleda may have come across their cellulite oil which also contains birch oil for its diuretic properties. It’s still important to keep in mind that although these benefits look very promising, not a lot of scientific evidence can back them up. If you’ve been drinking birch water, we’d love to hear your testimonial in our the “Nourish” section of our Network.
I tried two types of birch water: the original one and another enriched with ginger and lemon. I was a bit taken aback at first because I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Birch water feels very refreshing and has a sweet taste, (sweeter than coconut water) which is due to the naturally-occurring xylitol. The lemon-ginger version adds more punch, and could totally pass for a soft drink – minus the added sugar and preservatives. As a result, I’m not sure if this works as a tonic and medicinal drink, but at least it’s a much better alternative to sodas and artificial-flavored fruit waters that you can find in supermarkets. Birch water could actually please children and teenagers taste buds and anyone with a sweet tooth.
My main concern is the use of plastic bottles. Not only are glass containers recyclable and reusable, but they ensure chemical stability and do not evolve any potentially harmful substances, so I’ll be on the lookout for a plastic-free version.
What are your thoughts on birch water?
