When last we left Pineapple Sage, bunches of harvested branches were suspended from pegs in the Lichenwood dining room. Yesterday, I checked the hanging herbs and found that the leaves were just about perfect, but that the flowers were still fairly juicy and resinous. I wanted to speed up the drying process so that Thanksgiving guests would not brush up against herbs while taking their seats for the feast. Time to take out my new dehydrator.
There are some general rules for herb drying. Drying temperatures should be maintained at 68 degrees F, and never exceed 104 degrees F, for leaves, herbs and flowers. Sturdier plant materials such as barks and roots will be fine as long as the temperature does not stray far from a minimum of 86 degrees F, and a maximum of 149 degrees F. Drying these Pineapple Sage flowers took less than an hour at the lowest setting on the dehydrator.
It is very easy to over-dry herbs. They should be dry enough to crumble when rubbed. If you let them get too crispy, so that they powder easily when rubbed, and have lost the vibrancy of their color, just leave them hanging where you dried them as decorations. That will be all they are good for. With only a few exceptions, such as Vanilla Bean, Orris Root, Gentian Root, and some others, which are slow dried to promote enzymatic action, herbs should be quickly dried to retain their color, aroma, and medicinal properties.
All drying herbs should be checked regularly so that they can be processed and stored away in airtight glass containers( traditionally these are amber, but I use clear) in a dark place when they are sufficiently, but not overly dried. All dried herbs must be stored away from light and heat. Glass is the preferred container, but brown paper bags will work for short term storage. I do not store herbs in plastic. Check your herbs at regular intervals to make sure there is no damage from mold or insects.
Even experienced herbalists sometimes have trouble drying herbs. This year was so humid that herbs that appeared dry and were stored away in glass, were discovered later to have molded. I heard this from more than one surprised and dismayed herbalist in the Northeast. It's a shame when this happens. The only lesson to take from it is to pay attention and not get into too much of a routine. Each season's conditions, both herbal and weather, will create a different drying pattern.
Your reward for careful drying will many cups of delicious herbal tea all winter long!
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