Want to know how to make herbal extracts? It's a homesteading skill I'm sure you'll find useful in a lot of other natural remedies and projects.
How to Make Herbal Extracts
Making herbal extracts can be a tricky process, but I'm sure that with some practice, any determined homesteader can do it. I've had my share of trial and error with this homesteading skill but when you get the hang of it, I guarantee it's worth it! All you have to consider is getting the right materials to get the job done, and to help you further, just follow the steps on this DIY tutorial!
Also see:
- How to Make Herbal Tinctures
- How to Make Herbal An Poultice
- How to Make Herbal Salves
- How to Make Herbal Infusions
Things you need to make herbal extracts:
- 200 gms of cooked basil or any green herb (peppermint, cilantro, oregano so on..)
- 600 gms canola oil
- pot
- water
- salt
- blanching basket
- ladle
- blender
- Whisk
- jar or plastic container with lid
- Steel container
- bowl or large container for ice bath
- cloth
Step 1. Strip, blanch, cool & squeeze.
Strip off the leaves from the stem.
Blanch the leaves on salted boiling water for 20 seconds or until the leaves gets a bit darker and tilt.
Immediately shock the blanched leaves into a bowl of ice to rapidly cool it.
Squeeze the water and place the leaves on a paper towel.
Step 2. Stem.
Do the same procedure for the stems but boil it for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3. Blend, heat, ice water bathe & transfer.
Combine the leaves, stem and canola oil. Blend it for 60 seconds or until it becomes smooth.
Prepare a salted ice water bath and put in the steel container. This will be in preparation for when you heat up the basil mixture.
Heat the mixture until the oil gets darker.
Immediately transfer to the ice bath and whisk the heated mixture.
Store for 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Step 4. Strain and store.
After 24 hours, strain the refrigerated mixture with a strainer then with a cloth.
And we are done. Enjoy your homemade basil extract!
What do you think of this herbal extracts? Totally useful or a complete waste of time? Let us know in the comments.
Watch this video tutorial for making basil oil extract from Chef Jacob Burton. Do this with other herbs you have in your garden:
Sounds great but how long can you store it?
Very nice instructions. I’ll be making my own herb oils with this recipe. Stating an new herb garden, to add with what I already have .
Why canola oil? Any other acceptable oils ?