Herb Drying and Storing

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing that!

 

, Starr Moonchyld

<starrmoonchyld wrote:

>

> Herb Drying and Storing

>

> Here are a few tips for storing your fresh herbs through next

[Guest guest]

RE Herb Drying and Storing

 

This list is inaccurate in several respects and I doubt it has come

from a trained herbalist because:

 

1. " Herbs can be dried in the oven, microwave, dehydrator, flower

press, or by hanging " .

 

Method of drying depends on what active constituents are required, for

example, drying aromatic herbs in an oven or microwave will drive off

the volatile constituents. The taste may be fine but that is because

the flavour molecules are not so volatile, but in reality the

resulting herb will NOT be " whole " anymore.

 

2. " For all methods, harvest your herbs in the morning, after the dew

has dried "

 

Incorrect, if one needs a herb high in alkaloids then nighttime

gathering is best and at a full moon even better.

 

" Hang stalks upside down inside a brown paper bag, which is tied shut

with the seed heads inside "

 

This only works in somewhere like a dry shed or garage. If you do

this indoors any bugs eggs on the flowers will hatch and eat their way

through the paper bags. If they are moth eggs you will end up with

nice little holes in you best cloths-been there done that and learnt

my lesson the hard way!

 

3. Oven Drying: Only suitable for roots, or plants not bearing

essential oils. In addition too much heat causes enzymes in the herb

to break down delicate but useful substances.

 

4. Microwave Drying: More or less as the above.

 

5. Air Drying: OK, but ideally not in the house.

 

" also the volatile oils contained in the herbs that give them each its

unique flavor and aroma " See 1. above. A common mistake thinking

that just essential oils give flavour in plants, that is why the

flavour trade use CO2 and molecular extracts as those processes

produce better flavours than just the essential oils. In these

processes one can control them to give exactly the natural molecules

required for different purposes such as flavour or fragrance.

 

Dehydrator Drying: Yes, a good commercial dehydrator is one of the

best methods, but expensive for a home user.

 

" I used vinyl window screening cut to fit into the dehydrator trays "

Vinyl? I wonder what chemicals have leached into your herbs.

 

Flower-press Drying: " Pressed herbs will take longer to dry--up to 6

weeks, maybe longer " .

Yes on time factor but also very prone to going mouldy.

 

Freezing Herbs: Yes, the best method for home users. It captures all

the plants goodies and very little chemical degradation takes place.

 

" and pouring boiling water over them for 1 second "

I don't see the point of this. It is easier to use cold water to

clean them if that is the object. Drip dry and put the whole herb in

freezer bags and straight in the freezer.

One second of boiling water is not enough to subdue enzyme changes in

herbs such as Melissa.

 

Beware of information posted on this group when the origin of it is

" unknown " ; it may not be as good as you think.

 

Martin Watt

http://www.aromamedical.com

 

, Starr Moonchyld

<starrmoonchyld wrote:

>

> Herb Drying and Storing

>

> Here are a few tips for storing your fresh herbs through next winter.

>