How to Make a Herbal Tincture (with or Without Alcohol)
Making a tincture with or without the use of alcohol couldn't be easier. Use this template whenever you're making homemade tinctures from fresh or dried plant material.
Equipment
- Pint mason jar (or other glass jar with tight metal lid)
- Funnel
- Cheesecloth
- Sticker label and marker (to label the finished tincture)
Ingredients
- Fresh or dried plant material prepared as directed below
- Vodka or other high-proof alcohol or vegetable glycerin if making an alcohol-free tincture
Instructions
- Fill a clean, empty mason jar with fresh or dried plant material using the measurements provided below as a guide.
- Cover the plant material with alcohol, making sure the contents of the jar are completely covered. If you're preparing a glycerite tincture, cover the plant material completely with a preparation of 3 parts glycerin to 1 part distilled water.
- Screw the lid on tightly and shake the contents of the jar. Place in a cool, dry location away from light, allowing the extraction to occur over the next 6 to 8 weeks.
- Give alcohol-based tinctures a shake every few days; glycerite tinctures should be agitated every day. If solvent levels appear low at any point, add more to cover the plant material.
- Once the tincture is ready to be decanted, line a funnel with cheesecloth and place the tip of the funnel into the neck of a dark amber glass bottle. Pour the solvent and the plant material into the funnel, pressing to make sure all of the liquid is extracted.
- Label the tincture with its contents, date of production, and suggested usages. Store in a cool, dry area away from light.
Notes
Made with fresh leaves and flowers: finely chop or grind clean plant material, fill jar 2/3 to 3/4 of the way with chopped leaves and flowers.
Made with dried leaves and flowers: fill jar 1/2 to 2/3 of the way full with dried leaves and flowers.
Made with fresh bark, berries, and/or roots: finely chop or grind the plant material. Fill jar 1/3 to 1/2 full with chopped bark, berries, and roots.
Made with dried bark, berries, and/or roots: make sure the plant material is finely cut before adding it to the jar, filling it 1/3 to 1/2 of the way full.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!