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Lemon Balm Glycerite

Learn how to make a lemon balm glycerite for your home apothecary. Please note: the method for making a glycerite with dried herbs is different from the one below. Although you can make glycerites with dried herbs, fresh herbs are generally best for glycerites. This batch should yield approx. 4 oz. or 95 ml of glycerite.
*Always consult a doctor before taking any herbal supplements.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Glass jar with lid
  • Blender or stick blender
  • cheesecloth
  • sieve
  • Container for holding sieve
  • Small funnel
  • Amber colored dropper bottles (I ended up using 1 4oz and 1 2oz bottles as I harvested 6 oz of glycerite when finished)

Ingredients

  • 50 g fresh, clean and dry lemon balm leaves
  • 100 ml food grade vegetable glycerine

Instructions

  • Place the 50 g of lemon balm leaves in a small bowl.
  • Pour the 100 ml of vegetable glycerine over the lemon balm leaves and stir briefly.
  • Using a stick blender, blend this mixture for about a minute. It is okay if it is still chunky. Or put the mixture into a countertop blender and blend for a few seconds. A bullet blender also works great, although I add the leaves a few at a time and shake it around while blending.
  • Pour the mixture into a lidded jar labeled with the proper information, then set aside for 2-4 weeks, stirring once a day. (free template link below)
  • Line a strainer with cheesecloth.
  • Pour the herbs into the cheesecloth.
  • Grab the four corners of the cheesecloth together and squeeze the syrup out.
  • Set aside your syrup.
  • Place a small funnel on an amber dropper bottle.
  • Pour your syrup into the amber dropper bottles.
  • Put the lid on and label. Store in a dark cupboard.
  • The dosage for glycerites is generally higher because they aren't as strong as tinctures. Try doubling the dosage: 60 drops, 3- 5 times a day.
  • Properly made, a glycerite should last 1-2 years.

Notes

Notes:
If you are wondering why blend the herbs? Blending the herbs allows you to harvest more syrup. Having done both whole-herb and blended-herb glycerites, I have been able to harvest significantly more syrup from the blended herbs. This is because it is easier to squeeze liquid out of finely chopped herbs. It also exposes more of the herb's surface area to the menstruum, which in this case is glycerine.
Free label template here.