This is making me crazy!

[mrsbernstein]

I am attempting to make some alcohol tinctures.  I have my "high-quality" dried herbs and a TON of alcohol (brandy, Everclear, 100-proof vodka) and my jars are clean.

And EVERYONE has a different opinion of what to do!

My plan WAS to fill the jars 1/2 full will herbs and then fill the jar with vodka.  

Right?  Wrong?  How do YOU make your tinctures?

Thank you!

Mr sB

[snugglebug14]

richo cech's "making plant medicine" has excellent, detailed information on making tinctures. generally speaking, it's 1 part (by weight) of dried herb : 4 parts (by volume) of alcohol (100 proof for most herbs) hth

[witchypants]

Most of the sources I have say that using FRESH plant material rather than dried. I usually just fill a jar about 2/3 -3/4 of the way full with herbs, pour the alcohol over them (enough to cover them completely). Then let sit for a few weeks, shaking periodically. Pour the water off the top when your done, strain the herbs and bottle.

[snugglebug14]

fresh is defiitely best. op said she had dried herbs so i gave ratios for that

[chachamama]

I have a little advise. One of The reasons that fresh herbs are ideal for making tinctures is that some of the constituents in most herbs are water soluble, and some are alcohol soluble. With fresh plant material, the water is already there. With dried plant material, water needs to be added.

A general ratio for most dried plants is 1:5, with 60% alcohol (you will see this on many tincture labels). This means 1 part plant by weight to 5 parts liquid by volume, using 60% alcohol (and 40% water.

So if you have 2 oz of dried herb, you would use 10 oz of liquid: 6 oz of alcohol, and 4 oz water to get that 1:5, 60 %

I hope that helps