Byarozavik

Byarozavik (Belarusian: бярозавік) is a Belarusian traditional drink made from birch sap. Makers harvest the sap from birch trees once a year, from March to April. Tree damage from sap collection to make this drink led to a licensing system for the collection of sap, introduced in 2008. Responsibly harvested birch tree forests actually survive longer than those not harvested, as the forest is well maintained.{rn|date=August 2017} The trees can live for as long as 60 years, whether or not they are harvested for birch tree water.

Birch water is also used medicinally, externally and internally. It is traditionally viewed as a part of nature's renewable energy cycle, harvested once a year at the break of spring when the birch trees awaken from winter dormancy and their sap begins to flow from the root to the top.

The sap contains many components that people believe are beneficial to the human body, including sugars, fruit acids, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, sodium, and iron. Unique elements include saponin, a nutrient that may help block cholesterol absorption), xylitol, a sugar that promotes dental and skin health, and other cellular-regenerative elements.

Birch tree water is a traditional beverage in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and other parts of Northern Europe, and in parts of Northern China. Renowned for centuries for its taste and health benefits, people have used it to help prevent kidney stones, treat ulcers, headaches, colds, rheumatism, radiculitis, and arthritis. Some believe it is immunity-boosting and regenerative, and that it flushes out harmful substances and stimulats the metabolism. It contains antimicrobial substances (e.g., phytoncide) and has been used as a cosmetic face wash.

Entire research institutes were devoted to researching the benefits of this tree in the former Soviet Union. The birch tree water industry collapsed along with the demise of the USSR, and large scale production has only recently restarted.

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