How to Make an Herbal Glycerite
A glycerite is essentially a tincture made without alcohol. Instead of spirits, the solvent is vegetable glycerin, a thick, sweet, syrup-like liquid derived from plant fats. The result is a gentle, sweet-tasting extract that is suitable for people who avoid alcohol, including children, those in recovery, and anyone who simply prefers not to use an alcohol-based preparation.
Glycerites are not quite as potent or broad-spectrum as alcohol tinctures. Vegetable glycerin is an excellent solvent for some constituents (sugars, glycosides, and tannins, for example) but does not extract resins or some alkaloids as effectively as alcohol does. For many herbs and many purposes, however, a glycerite works beautifully and has the added benefit of tasting considerably more pleasant than a vodka-based preparation.
What Is Vegetable Glycerin?
Vegetable glycerin (also called vegetable glycerol) is a colourless, odourless, viscous liquid. It is sweet-tasting without containing sugar, which makes it suitable for those monitoring their blood sugar (though still worth discussing with a healthcare provider if this is a concern). You can find it at health food stores, apothecaries, and online. Look for food-grade vegetable glycerin derived from coconut, palm, or soy.
Step by Step: Making a Glycerite
What you need:
- Dried or fresh herb
- Food-grade vegetable glycerin
- Filtered water
- A clean glass jar with a tight lid
- A fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Dark glass dropper bottles for storage
Standard ratio:
- For dried herbs: 3 parts glycerin to 1 part water (giving you roughly 75% glycerin)
- For fresh herbs: glycerin can be used undiluted, as the herb itself contributes moisture
Method:
- Fill your jar roughly half full of dried herb.
- Mix your glycerin and water together in the correct ratio, then pour over the herb until fully submerged.
- Seal the jar tightly and label it with the herb, date, and solvent.
- Store in a warm location (unlike tinctures, a little warmth helps glycerites extract more effectively). A consistently warm kitchen shelf or even a slow cooker set to low can speed up the process.
- Steep for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking regularly.
- Strain through cheesecloth, pressing well to extract all liquid.
- Bottle in dark glass dropper bottles and store in a cool, dark place.
Shelf life: 14 to 24 months, generally. Glycerites do not last as long as alcohol tinctures, and they can ferment if exposed to too much warmth or light during storage.
A Faster Method: Warm Glycerite
If you want results in days rather than weeks, you can use gentle heat to accelerate extraction. Place your jar (without the metal lid, and using a heat-safe container) in a slow cooker filled with water, and keep it on the lowest setting for 24 to 72 hours. This warm-water bath method speeds things up considerably while being gentle enough not to damage heat-sensitive constituents.
When a Glycerite Is the Right Choice
- Making preparations for children
- Avoiding alcohol for personal, health, or religious reasons
- Working with herbs where the sweet taste of glycerin complements the preparation (elderberry glycerite, for example, is genuinely delicious)
- Creating remedies you want to take directly under the tongue without the sharp taste of spirits
A Note on Safety
Glycerites are among the gentler preparation forms in herbalism, but the herbs themselves still carry their own safety considerations. Check the herb profiles in The Herbalist's Codex for any safety notes relevant to the plants you are working with.