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Tincture press information page. |
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Tincture press information page. |
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The Horizon Herbs Tincture Press Hand-squeezing medicinal herb tinctures and herb infused oils is OK for starters, but most people who have tried this soon find the method too wasteful. The hydraulic tincture press saves time and labor while increasing yields by as much as 40%. Herbs, alcohol and organic olive oil can be quite expensive, and a high quality tincture press pays for itself in short order by maximizing returns of all these precious substances. Furthermore, the higher pressures obtained in the tincture press result in better extraction of medicinal constituents from the herbs, resulting in products of increased strength and efficacy. “In over two decades in the herb industry I have had the opportunity to press out thousands of herbal extracts, using all kinds and sizes of tincture presses. The Horizon Herbs Tincture Press is manufactured according to my exact specifications, and it is the sweetest, cleanest, most efficient midsize press I have ever operated. The spring-loaded return is a breeze. Nowadays I make extracts for family and friends, and I find that this tincture press perfectly fits my needs—big enough to do gallons of echinacea, but small enough to do a scant quart of valerian.” --Richo Features
of the tincture press: Specifications
of the tincture press: |
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| Tincturing:
This is the process of making an herbal extract by steeping ground herb
in a liquid menstruum, thereby infusing the liquid with the active constituents
of the herb. These active constituents are sometimes known as "extractives."
The tincture itself is the finished product, a relatively stable solution
of extractives that is preserved (usually with alcohol) against deterioration.
Pressing: This is the process wherein the macerating extract is thoroughly squeezed or "expressed," thereby separating the herb from the liquid, which is now infused with the activity of the herb. This can be accomplished by hand. Drape the pressing cloth over a bowl, pour the macerating extract into it, close up the top, and by kneading, squeezing, and twisting, wring as much liquid into the bowl as your strength will allow. This can also be accomplished with a tincture press. A tincture press is composed of two parallel platens on a frame that is rigged with a hydraulic jack and a pan fitted with a drain hole and a hose. The macerating extract is poured into a pressing cloth inside the pan and the cloth is folded over the top of the mass of herb to prevent it from squeezing out the sides. Then the platens are jacked together, thereby efficiently forcing the liquid from the herb. Not only does this press out the menstruum, but it also forces the intrinsic plant water out of fresh plant material. The tincture flows from the pan down a hose and is captured in a receiving vessel. Using a tincture press greatly increases the yield from a given batch of extract, making the most of your expenditure for alcohol and your valuable work in growing the herbs.
Simplified procedure for making a tincture: 1) Chop the fresh herbs or grind up the dried herbs. 2) Place the herb in a glass jar, labeled with the current date and the name of the herb. 3) Add sufficient liquid menstruum to cover the herbs. 4) Put the jar in a dark place at room temperature and shake at least once daily. 5) After 2 or 3 weeks, pour the contents of the jar through several layers of cheesecloth and express the liquid, or better yet use the tincture press. 6) Allow the liquid to settle in a clean jar overnight. 7) Decant the clear liquid through a filter paper. 8) Store in correctly labeled, amber glass bottles, out of the light. |
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