The philosophy behind tincture is to capture the spiritual and physical essence of the plant. This is done by using the power of ethyl alcohol to dissolve and preserve the herb in question.
Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.At first check the solution daily to make sure the vodka, brandy or rum still covers the herbs. Let the mixture steep for at least two weeks and up to three months. When you reach the allotted waiting period, line a sieve with the cheesecloth or muslin and pour the liquid thru the sieve into another bottle. Gather up the ends of the cheesecloth and squeeze to extract all of the liquid. You can now fill small bottles with droppers with the tincture for ease in use. Be sure to label the jar with the name and the date.FRIDAY NIGHT FIESTA: Score a pinata and rethink the food. Fish tacos, three-cheese chorizo nachos and homemade fruit ices for dessert all feel fresh.AFTERNOON TEA: Go old school with tea sandwiches, bite-sized sweets and Mason jars filled with iced tea. Don flowy sundresses and play preppy games, like croquetThere are no right formulas for making tinctures. Experiment with different combinations. Be sure you write down the formula so when you come up with a winning combination you will have it on file.The substance used to extract the herbs is known as the menstrum. The herbs you are tincturing are known as the mark. Tincturing will extract and preserve both the water-soluble and alcohol-soluble properties of an herb.WANT MORE IDEAS? Let food be your guide. Plan a party around delectable dishes that everyone loves--wings, pizza, ice cream--and add a DIY spin with wacky sauces and toppings.When purchasing herbs, make sure you are buying from a reputable source. Better yet, grow your own herbs to be sure of the highest possible quality. When growing your own you can make any number of combinations to make up your tinctures. I have also found that when growing my own herbs I get the most enjoyment, knowing not only did I make the tincture but I grew the herbs. I become part of the process from beginning to end.There are several items that you will need to make your own tinctures. First you need either powdered herbs or fresh cut herbs. Vodka, brandy or rum, 80-100 proof to cover the herbs. Mason jars with lids. Muslin or Cheesecloth that is unbleached. Lastly, labels for the jars.Here are a few ideas for treating colds. Make tinctures from the following herbs:You will need 7-10 ounces of chopped fresh herbs for every quart of vodka, brandy or rum. I prefer to use fresh herbs when making my tinctures. When using powdered herbs, I use 4 ounces of herbs to one pint of liquid. If you are making a tincture from bitter herbs it is best to use rum as it will mask the taste of the herbs. To make a non-alcoholic tincture use distilled water, glycerol or vinegar. Keep in mind that if you use vinegar the tincture will have to be refrigerated.WOMEN'S WORLD CUP VIEWING PARTY: The pinnacle of women's soccer plays out from late June through early July. Make T-shirts supporting your teams and nosh on globally inspired cuisine.
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Author: Mary Hanna
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