Lexington, KY - During the summer months my kitchen's window ledge is lined with mason jars filled with colorful tinctures. Days turn into weeks as these jars, holding an array of herbal infusions from tarragon vinegar, lemon balm olive oil and basil vodka, steep slowly in the morning sun. With a few ingredients, you too can make herbal infusions simply and affordably.
Tea
Herbal teas are undoubtedly the most common way of infusing herbs. Herbal tea is a term for tea made from herbs instead of leaves from a tea plant. Herbal tea is also known as tisane. It can be made from either fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots. Herbal tea is usually made by pouring near boiling water over the herbs and allowing the mixture to brew for several minutes. A cup of chamomile tea before bedtime may be just the trick to getting a good night's sleep and a tall glass of iced peppermint tea after a big meal will help settle a weary stomach.
Herbal Tea
Heat 8 oz. of cold water for each cup. Use 1 tea bag or teaspoon of loose tea per 8 oz. cup of tea. Heat water to just under a boil (160-180 degrees). Pour water over the tea, let steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
Syrup
Simple syrup infused with herbs is easy and the results are delicious. This summer, try making your kids snow cones with lemon balm/peppermint simple syrup instead. Become a master mixologist at your next party by adding elderflower infused simple syrup to cocktails. Sangria can go from good to great with chamomile syrup and a basic mojito really goes to the next level with the addition of mint infused simple syrup.
Herbal Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Choice of herb (lemon balm,
peppermint and elderflower all work great)
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan; heat to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the herbs, pushing them under the surface with a spoon; remove the saucepan from the heat. Cover; let herbs steep 15-30 minutes. Pour syrup through a sieve, pressing firmly on herbs with the back of a spoon to extract all of the syrup. Discard herbs. Store in a glass jar.
Oil
There's something enchanting about starting with a jar of olive oil, and within a couple of weeks, depending on the herbs infused, the oil having taken on some of the most beautiful shades of greens, yellows, pinks and gold. No matter the color, these jars of herbal infused oil are potent enough to add immense flavor to a main course and have the scent and healing power to pamper you during your next back massage.
Aromatic savory herbs such as rosemary, basil and tarragon infused into olive oil are a perfect addition to marinades, salad dressings and dipping oils. Try marinating pork tenderloin in coriander infused oil, making a rose infused olive oil cake with a dollop of crËme fraiche or drizzling warm basil oil over a Mediterranean couscous.
Herbal infused oils can also be used to make a variety of balms and salves. Depending on the herb used, these balms can be used to heal dry skin, help eradicate poison ivy, relieve sunburns, bug bites, and provide you an inexpensive, yet luxurious bottle of massage oil.
Basic Infused Oil
Use fresh herbs or dried (herbs can be mixed). Rinse and towel dry fresh herbs. Place in a jar or bottle. Mash with wooden spoon. Pour extra virgin olive oil over herbs in jar. Cover jar with cloth and tie with string. Set in a sunny spot (not direct sunlight) for 2 weeks. Strain, pour oil into a clean jar and store in the refrigerator.
Vinegar
Nearly every supermarket stocks herb infused vinegars nowadays, but for a fraction of the price you can easily make your own. Tarragon, basil or sage infused vinegar added to dressings really packs a punch of flavor to salads, and a splash of infused vinegar on a deli sandwich can make a boring turkey sandwich something memorable.
Beyond culinary uses, these herbal vinegars have many great uses around your home. A soothing rose-calendula bathing vinegar can alleviate an itchy sunburn and chamomile vinegar hair wash can not only keep your scalp healthy but will brighten natural blonde highlights.
Infused vinegars are extremely beneficial for your pets as well. The same herbal vinegars that make our scalp and hair healthy and beautiful can do the same for your furry animals. The next time you bathe Sparky, try diluting vinegar and use it as a rinse after bathing. It not only helps restore the acid pH levels to your dog or cat's skin but controls dandruff and helps give added shine to their coat. The fact that vinegar is a natural odor remover is a welcome benefit as well.
Basic Infused Vinegar
2 1/2 cups white wine vinegar
or apple cider vinegar
6 tsp. chopped fresh herbs
Bring the vinegar to a boil in a saucepan then pour it over the herbs in a glass bowl. Transfer to
a clean mason jar when slightly cooled. Cover and leave to infuse for 1 week. Strain and pour into clean jar to store for up the 3 months.
Pet Care/Vinegar Rinse
Simply add 3 tablespoons vinegar to 1 qt (4 cups) water, and use as a final rinse. (Do not wash it out). Towel dry as normal. For long-haired pets, keep a diluted vinegar rinse of 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 cup distilled water in a spray-bottle for use as a detangling solution during grooming sessions.
Honey
Mint, lavender, rose petals, thyme, rosemary and lemon herbs add a fantastic component to honey with immense flavor and scent. Switchel, a mixture of apple cider vinegar, water and infused honey was the Gatorade drink of the 1600s and is still made by the Amish today.
If your palate isn't tempted by the tastes of Switchel, you can still find a variety of uses for infused honey. Lavender honey is great mixed into a glass of warm milk and rose hip honey tastes delicious drizzled over a bowl of yogurt. Adding savory herbs like rosemary to honey is an outside-the-box infusion approach and is a fantastic accompaniment to warm Brie or a delicious glaze on the holiday ham.
Honey is an excellent immune booster and allergen fighter. Garlic honey taken at the onset of a cold may just help keep it at bay. When you can, buy local. The benefits of honey are numerous (both externally and internally) and even more so when you use honey pollinated close to your home.
When using herbs of any kind, always do your research. Some herbs, when used in excess, can cause side effects, such as skin irritations or illness. Always dry fresh herbs thoroughly after rinsing to keep bacteria from forming in your infusions.
Infused Honey
2 cups honey
1 cup fresh herbs or 1/3 cup dried
Heat the honey gently over low heat -
do not boil. Place the herbs in a jar (canning jars work well) and pour the heated honey over them. Let the honey sit at room temperature in a dark place for 10 days to several weeks.
Megan Smith is a stay-at-home mom, a business owner and a part-time writer. She blogs daily at www.ittysmitty.com.