The Fascinating World of Tinctures

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                   THE FASCINATING WORLD OF TINCTURES

The word tincture is derived from the same root as “tint” and “tinge” - the Latin verb tingere, meaning “to moisten or dip.”  

“Tincture” specifically derives via Middle English from the Latin tinctus, the past participle of “tingere.” When the word first appeared in English in the 14th century, “tincture” referred to a coloring matter or dye, but by the 17th century the word had acquired a number of additional meanings, including “a slight infusion or trace of something.” “Tinge” and “shade” are two other words referring to color that can be used the same way. “Tincture” can also refer, among other things, to the colors used in a coat of arms or an herbal or botanical solution intended for human consumption, which is the focus of our article.

Introduction

Tinctures are usually prepared by extracting plant material using alcohol, but extractions can also be made using vinegar or other substances, such as, glycerin. 

As opposed to herbal teas or capsules, alcohol-based tinctures are easy to use, portable, and more potent than other herbal remedies. Whereas you might need to prepare 4 or 5 cups of tea to get the benefits of an herb, you may only need a dropper or two of a tincture. Plus, thanks to the alcohol, tinctures have a long shelf life and can often last up to 5 years or more. 

Traditional medicine practices around the world have relied on the use of tinctures to treat many maladies, such as:

  • Cold and flu relief
  • Indigestion
  • Seasonal allergies
  • Sleeplessness
  • Stress

But the convenience and flavorful benefits of using tinctures has also reached into the mixology and culinary worlds, with many classic recipes calling for the addition of dashes or drops of “bitters,” which are a form of tinctures.

Alcohol-based tinctures

Sourcing the required alcohol is as simple as turning to your home bar or neighborhood liquor store to find a bottle of vodka or light (column-distilled) rum.  Most of these alcohols will be bottled for retail at 40% alcohol by volume (ABV), which will work great for creating tinctures.  Keep in mind, however, that alcohols at concentrations above 40% will be able to extract even more material from your botanical ingredients.

Basic preparation

You will need containers where the extraction of plant material will take place.  The most convenient and most readily-available are glass jars, such as the ones used for food preserves. 

  1. Fill the jar about halfway if using dry ingredients or about two thirds if using fresh ones.  
  2. Add enough alcohol to completely cover all the ingredients.  It is best if the alcohol level is at least 1 inch higher than the level of the ingredients.  You may have to put a small stainless steel spoon or fork inside the jar to keep the ingredients from floating.  Save the empty alcohol bottle.
  3. Tightly seal the jars.
  4. Every couple of days, open up the jars to stir the contents, add additional alcohol if needed, to keep the ingredients completely submerged.  Any plant material above the surface of the alcohol may start to grow mold, which you want to avoid at all cost.
  5. The tincture should be ready in about 2 months.  Once completed, you can chose to transfer the contents into small bottles with eye-dropper caps or you can transfer into air-tight bottles for further storage.  Depending on the volume of tincture you prepared, you may want to use the empty vodka/rum bottle that contained the alcohol you used initially.

Usage

Place a few drops directly under your tongue or squeeze a full dropper into a glass of water or tea.  You can also experiment adding the tincture into cocktails, as an extra dimension of flavor.

Basic Tincture Recipes (courtesy of www.hellowglow.com) 

Cleansing Tincture

2 parts Nettle Leaf

1 part Dandelion Leaf

1 part Lemon Balm Leaf

Sleep Tincture

1 part Chamomile Flowers

1 part Lavender Flowers

Stress Tincture

2 parts Dandelion Root

2 parts Ginseng

1 part Astragalus Root

½ part Cardamom Seeds

Mood Boost Tincture

2 parts Lemon Balm Leaf

1 part Passionflower

1 part Ginger Root

Breathe Well Tincture

1 part Ginger Root

1 part Marshmallow Root

1 part Licorice Root

Tinctures, bitters and cocktails

Bitters (most famously Angostura Bitters™) are a combination of many different botanical components, blended together to impart a definite bitter flavor.  Tinctures, as you have seen here, are usually extracts of a single botanical element, making them a very concentrated, isolated, flavor enhancer.  Start by adding a single drop or two to a cocktail.  You can also add the tincture to a spray atomizer to enhance the drink’s aroma.