Gardening – Drying herbs at home

The earliest physicians were all herbalists, using plants such as basil, horehound, rue, wormwood, sage, and garlic. For thousands of years medicine depended almost exclusively on flowers, barks, and leaves for their active principles and 500 plants are mentioned in early records of herbal remedies.

Today the home garden can supply ample quantities of fresh herbs for cooking, cosmetics, posies and teas.

Drying your homegrown herbs is simple and saves buying them from the supermarket. 

Thyme, winter savory, rosemary, sage, marjoram and oregano are among the herbs that grow so well here on the Hibiscus Coast that to keep them under control, gardeners must cut them back often.

The secret to retaining the volatile oils, scent and fragrance of dried herbs is to make small amounts and often.

Go outside with a container and sharp scissors on a sunny day, ideally mid-morning after the dew has evaporated. Snip off the newer leaves at the top – the flavour comes from the oils in the cell walls of the leaves and flowers, and the new leaves contain the most flavour.  

Create a mix of herbs including the flowering stalks of basil and calendula petals, or dry single herb types – whatever you prefer. 

Provided you grow your herbs organically, there is no need to wash them, which adds moisture to the leaves.

Back inside in a dust free, airy environment (away from kitchen or bathroom humidity), spread the herbs out on the lid of a large plastic container or similar surface. I placed my plastic lid on top of the clothes drying rack out of direct sunlight.

Some people tie their herb bunches with rubber bands, put them in brown paper bags with holes in to allow some air flow and hang them up. 

However, I prefer laying them out, which allows me to check them often, turn if necessary and control the drying process which takes about a week, depending on the humidity of course.

A simple crumble test will tell you if all the moisture is gone and the herbs are dry enough to store – simply rub the herb stalks between your hands letting the leaves fall into a container. If you have used purple basil and some calendula petals as well as the herbs, you will have a colourful result.

Store in a jar away from sunlight and heat, and feel free to send me some photos of your culinary blend.