10/19/2026
I’ve been experimenting with a new method of making herbal tinctures and I am so excited to share it with y’all!
If you’ve ever made tinctures, you’re probably familiar with the traditional maceration method, where herbs soak in alcohol for about 4–6 weeks (sometimes longer) to extract their beneficial plant compounds.
But did you know there’s another way? It’s called percolation!
An herbal percolator is a special vessel used to extract the soluble constituents from herbs in a much shorter amount of time!
Instead of letting herbs sit in a jar for weeks, the dried herbs are finely ground, moistened with a solvent and carefully packed into the percolator.
The menstruum is then allowed to slowly drip down through the herbs, dissolving and carrying the plant’s soluble compounds with it. The finished liquid, called the percolate, is collected at the bottom!
✨ Why is this method so fascinating?
🌱 Faster extraction - Instead of waiting weeks, the extraction process can often be completed in a matter of 24/48 hours, depending on the preparation.
🌱 Fresh solvent moving through the herb -
As the menstruum travels through the plant material, it continuously dissolves and carries away extractable constituents.
🌱 Controlled extraction - The flow rate, herb preparation, and packing all play a role in how efficiently the herbs are extracted.
🌱 Percolation has been used by herbalists and pharmacists for generations!
I chose oat straw for my first percolated tincture!
I had previously made an oat straw tincture using the traditional 6 week maceration method, so I was especially curious to see how the two would compare.
And y’all… THE COLOR DIFFERENCE! 😳
My percolated oat straw tincture came out SO MUCH DARKER than the one I had let macerate for six whole weeks!
I was absolutely fascinated watching that rich, deep color drip out of the percolator!
Now, a darker color doesn’t automatically mean a stronger or more potent tincture, but it certainly shows a visible difference in what was extracted. And it makes me even more excited to keep learning about this method!
One of my favorite things about herbalism is that there is ALWAYS something new to learn! Even when we’re working with the same beautiful plants, different preparation methods can give us different results.
I’m loving this new adventure in herbal medicine making and I can’t wait to experiment with more herbs!
