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Stronger is not always better! Tips for matching your alcohol strength to the herb being tinctured:Ĥ0% to 50% alcohol by volume (80- to 90-proof vodka) The appropriate alcohol strength for your tincture will depend upon the qualities of the plant material being used. Note that stronger alcohol types can be diluted with distilled water to reach a lower alcohol content by volume.
Most spirits will work, but many herbalists favor a high-quality, clear, and low-flavor liquor like vodka or grain alcohol.
Once you've filled your container with the correct amount of plant material, you'll need to fill the rest of the space with a high-proof alcohol. Roots and berries will double in size when reconstituted! Alcohol Type and Strength.Only fill jar 1/4 to 1/3 with dried roots, barks, or berries.Jar should appear full of herb, but herb should move freely when shaken.Only fill jar 1/3 to 1/2 with fresh roots, barks, or berries.Finely chop or grind clean plants to release juice and expose surface area.Cover plants completely! Fresh Roots, Barks, & Berries Pour alcohol to the very top of the jar.Finely chop or grind clean herb to release juice and expose surface area.The appropriate alcohol strength and the relative amount of plant material to use will vary based on what you're tincturing. Here are some basic measurement guidelines: Fresh Leaves & Flowers Too much, and the amount of alcohol added won't be enough to pull out all the plant goodness from your herbs. Proportions are important here: too little, and you'll end up with a weak tincture. Your first step is to fill your tincturing container with the correct amount of herbs. Let's get started! Here are a few important tincturing tips we've learned over the years.
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Follow along as esteemed herbal educator, Thomas Easley of the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine, demonstrates how to create herbal extracts using the percolation method step-by-step:
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Much of the guidance in this post regarding herb proportions and alcohol percentages applies to both methods, but the percolation process requires a series of specific measurements and steps for effective results. If you enjoy hobbies that require care, precision, and specialized tools (or if you need a finished tincture in a couple days or less), the percolation method might be right for you! While it definitely requires more equipment, math, and work than the popular folk (maceration) method, percolation allows you to create tinctures in a fraction of the time (24 to 48 hours, on average). Some tinctures may also be used to add flavor to cocktail recipes.Ģ Ways to Tincture Herbs tHE pERCOLATION mETHOD: coMPLEX BUT qUICK Tinctures can be taken straight by the dropper or diluted in tea or sparkling water.
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A sip of herbal tea or a dropperful of tincture can be the catalyst for a lifelong pursuit of herbalism.