Find out more about Romanian bors!
When you say Romanian soup, you automatically think of bors, the sour and aromatic liquid obtained by fermenting wheat or rye bran, which gives flavor to the food. The name bors comes from the Slavic word borscht, even though the two have relatively different meanings. The Slavic peoples call borscht a beetroot soup served hot or cold, with or without meat. In some areas of Romania (Moldova, Danube Delta), the term is used to refer to all soups, regardless of whether they are soured with bors, vinegar, or cabbage juice. However, in the broad sense, bors specifically refers to the ingredient used to sour the soup. Romanians are the only ones who use this product for this purpose. Additionally, bors can be consumed as a drink due to its pleasant, invigorating taste and beneficial health effects.
How is bors prepared?
If you ask 10 people how they prepare bors at home, you will likely get 10 different recipes. However, the basic ingredients remain the same: wheat or rye bran, water, and husks (bran left over from the previous fermentation, used as an inoculum). For added flavor, people include ingredients such as sour cherry leaves and twigs, lovage, cornmeal, and others, depending on personal preference.
Generally, the bran is soaked in a little water, then hot water is added and left to cool. The husks and "special" ingredients are then mixed in and left to ferment in a warm place. This process usually takes about 24 hours, after which the liquid is strained into bottles and stored cold. Unfortunately, interest in making bors at home has declined in recent years, as it is now readily available in grocery stores and agri-food markets.
What are the benefits of drinking bors?
Bors contains a complex of microorganisms, primarily lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, which contribute to the fermentation of bran and are known for their probiotic effects. Fermentation also releases essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, and enzymes.
Due to these properties, bors is believed to have multiple health benefits, even though they have not been confirmed by clinical trials. In popular tradition, it is considered one of the most effective remedies for hangovers, as well as for invigorating the body and combating anemia. A bors cure is thought to help with digestive issues (such as indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea) and respiratory conditions (including sinusitis, bronchitis, and asthma). Additionally, it may aid in regulating blood sugar, supporting cardiovascular health, and protecting the body against infections. Many people also consume to detoxify the body or as part of weight loss diets, benefiting from its tonic effect and low-calorie content.
Bors in the HealthFerm Project
As part of the HealthFerm project, we aimed to investigate the microbial composition of Romanian bors and analyze its correlation with geographical origin, type (homemade or factory-produced), and chemical composition. To achieve this, we collected 33 bors samples, which were microbiologically analyzed at the Department of Microbiology of the Institute of Biology Bucharest. The samples included both homemade bors, provided by individuals, and commercial products purchased from supermarkets and agri-food markets.
Figure 1.Bors samples collected in the HealthFerm project
How do we analyze microbial composition?
To analyze microbial composition, we use specific culture media inoculated with dilutions of the received bors samples. These are then incubated at 30°C, the optimal temperature for microorganism growth (Figure 2).
Figure 2. The appearance of lactic acid bacteria (left) and yeast (right) colonies developed on specific growth media
In this way, more than 380 bacteria and more than 70 yeasts were isolated. They are stored in cryotubes, at a very low temperature (-80°C), in their growth medium supplemented with glycerol, which protects them from freezing.
Figure 3. Cryotubes with microorganisms isolated from bors samples
How do we identify the microorganisms in bors?
From all microbial isolates, we extract genetic material (DNA) using specialized kits. We then amplify the sequence of a gene unique to each microorganism, serving as a species-specific identifier. This allows us to determine which bacteria are present in each bors sample. The studies are still ongoing, but we will keep you updated on our findings—so stay tuned to our blog!
