| How Dry Herbs You Make at Home Actually | | | | are doing is letting most of the water within the herb |
| Concentrate Herb Power | | | | evaporate naturally. We do this because once herbs |
| We will start by recapping the methods of drying | | | | are harvested, water quickly becomes an enemy of |
| herbs we discussed in my previous articles. | | | | freshness as the moisture attracts bacteria and |
| - Drying herbs from cuttings - This method includes | | | | decay. The clock begins to tick the minute after your |
| cutting the herb stalks close to the base, tying them | | | | herbs harvest. |
| in a bunch, and hanging the herbs upside down to dry | | | | After we have removed the water from the herbs, |
| - Drying herbs on a screen - This method is for the | | | | what remains are the herbal essential oils, minerals, |
| leaves of herb garden plants only. They are spread | | | | salts and other nutrients. Without the moisture, these |
| on a screen and placed in a dry place out of the | | | | essential oils etc... are concentrated in every leaf. As |
| direct sun and turned regularly until they are dry | | | | you have no doubt noticed, the aroma and flavor of |
| - Drying herbs in oven - On a low heat, leaves of | | | | dried herbs is far different and more intense than a |
| herbs are placed on a baking sheet and turned | | | | freshly picked leaf. Without the water content, the |
| regularly until dry | | | | essential oils are very slow to decay and because of |
| Why should you dry herbs? | | | | this the dry herbs will last for months. |
| Drying herbs, stops the clock for your herbs and | | | | However, how dry herbs are achieved is very |
| makes it possible to store your herbs for weeks and | | | | important. Excess heat as well as dampness when |
| months, so they can be used all year. But there is | | | | using the methods above can cause the essential |
| another reason that we haven't talked about that I | | | | herbal oils to break down, leaving you with a bunch |
| think you should know. Drying herbs actually increases | | | | of stale dried leaves. |
| their strength, but only if you understand how to dry | | | | What about drying herbs in the microwave? |
| herbs properly. | | | | I do not recommend the drying herbs in microwave |
| How can herbs get stronger just by drying them? | | | | method. There is no real control with this, and |
| First, understand and imagine what is inside the leaf | | | | because you are basically cooking the herbs from the |
| and foliage of an herb plant. Like us, herbs are mostly | | | | inside out, I believe that not only is the water |
| comprised of liquid. Herbs contain water, of course, | | | | removed, but the essential oils of the herbs are also |
| but also essential oils and minerals, etc. Together | | | | degraded. |
| they are a complex and powerful blend that, through | | | | In my next article I'll talk about more herbs and |
| the ages, has been our natural disease fighting | | | | growing tips and also provide more information on |
| partner here on earth. | | | | how dry herbs can be used in your new healthy life. |
| When herbs are dried gently and gradually, what we | | | | |