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Page 47
| ters lives up to its name and it's an acquired taste: strong, pungent, and yes, very bitter. |
| Containing myrrh, saffron, rhubarb root, carline thistle root, angelica root and other aromatic, bitter constituents, Swedish bitters is the most effective digestive tonic I have foundespecially when made at home and allowed to age longer than the commercial product sold in health food stores. Men who can't get through the day without antacids or prescription ulcer drugs find that a teaspoon of Swedish bitters before meals leaves them free of heartburn, gastric upset and even the worst symptoms of indigestion. Many are able to reduce or eliminate medication altogether. |
| The Austrian distributor of Maria Treben Swedish Bitters ships the dry Swedish bitters blend to U.S. customers at a reasonable price; each box makes over a quart of Swedish bitters tincture. To order, see the Appendix. As this product is not distributed in the U.S. or England, there is no English language labeling, so save these instructions: |
| Add 5 cups of 80-proof vodka to the contents of one box in a large glass jar. Any distilled liquor of at least 80-proof will work well; substitute rum or brandy as desired. Seal the jar tightly and leave it in a warm place, shaking it every few days. Treben recommended letting the jar stand for 14 days, but the blend's flavor and intensity increase substantially if you leave it for four weeks or longer. Do so for best results. To use, strain the tincture through cheesecloth and store it in tightly closed amber glass bottles away from heat and light. Properly stored, the tincture will keep indefinitely. |
| To use Swedish bitters for improved digestion, take 1 teaspoon diluted with water or straight from the spoon a few minutes before each meal. For best results, hold the |
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