Learn How You Can Make an Herbal Tincture To Use In Your Witchcraft Practice
Herbal tinctures are not only great for therapeutic properties, but make excellent edible potions to use in all of your witchcraft and spell work.
So, what is a tincture anyway?
*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products that I use and find value in suggesting. Tinctures are herbs that are extracted with alcohol to make an herbal remedy. You can extract a single herb or a blend of herbs into a tincture. This is also the same way to make bitters.
Annnnd… they make the most amazing bases for witchcraft spell and potion work.
Because you can choose specific herbs for their therapeutic properties, their magickal properties, or both! You can create specific blends for just about any purpose you can think of for your craft. I’ll say it again, you’re only limited by your imagination.
I’m always adding new herbs to the Herbal Encyclopedia where you can find everything you need about a specific herb, from its therapeutic to magickal purposes, extraction ratios, and more.
Once you’ve decided what you’d like your potion (tincture or bitters) to accomplish, you can choose the right herbs to get the job done.
So, what’s the best way to extract herbs for a tincture?
I personally like to extract each herb individually and then blend the extractions together afterwards. This allows me to test tiny batches until I get the right amount of each herb and test the flavor. I do have a few blends that I’ve created and extract all at once.
But some herbs extract better with different alcohol proofs and time. That’s why I create most tinctures or bitters individually and blend later for the best, most potent, and flavorful results.
How do you make a tincture?
You’ll need:
Herbs of your choosing
100 proof alcohol (You can use Everclear and dilute it if needed. Using vodka imparts no flavor and is neutral, but you can use rum, whiskey, or brandy. However, these will impart flavor to the tincture or bitters.)
A clean glass jar with a lid to hold the herbs and liquid
Liquid measuring cup
A kitchen scale* (The herbs must be measured by weight due to the fact that herbs have different volumes. One ounce of lavender has way more volume than one ounce of gentian root.
Distilled water if you need to dilute the alcohol to the right proof
Sieve, coffee filters, or cheesecloth
The Alcohol:
Some herbs require different proofs of alcohol for extraction. If you don’t know the proof for a specific herb or can’t find it, use 100 proof as a general rule. If using Everclear, it will need to be diluted with distilled water to create the right proof, or you can just buy 100 proof alcohol and call it good.
To dilute Everclear (which is 190 proof) to 100 proof, it’s about 50/50. So to dilute, say 10 ounces of Everclear to 100 proof, you’ll need to add about 9 1/2 ounces of water. But now you’ll have 20 ounces total, so keep that in mind.
Decide how much total alcohol you want to end with and divide that number by half and then dilute. If you wanted to end up with 10 total ounces, you’ll need to only dilute 5 ounces of the Everclear with 4 1/2 ounces of water for a total of about 10 final ounces.
Once you have your alcohol ready you’ll need to decide on the extraction ratio. This is easy, I promise!
The Ratios:
Ratios are simply how much herb to liquid.
A ratio for standard strength is 1:5. Strong would be a 1:4 ratio. Extra strong would be 1:2.
Decide how much liquid you’re going to use. Let’s say you want to make 8 ounces for this example and want it to be standard strength.
Simply divide 8 by 5 for a 1:5 ratio. The number 1 always represents the liquid in the ratio. The larger number represents the amount of herb.
If you want 8 ounces of liquid (1:) so you’ll need 1.6 (:5) ounces of herb. 8 divided by 5 = 1.6.
Let’s do 16 ounces of liquid at a 1:4 ratio for a strong strength.
16 divided by 4 = 4. You’ll need 16 ounces of liquid and 4 ounces of herbs.
It’s easy once you get the hang of it!
Tincture Recipe for 4 ounces
Standard Ratio of 1:5
4 ounces of 100 proof alcohol (by volume)
3/4 ounce of herbs (by weight)
The Tincture:
Choose your herb or herbs. Decide on the ratio.
Weigh your herbs! Always, always weigh your herbs since herbal material can have much different volumes. If you plan on making tinctures, invest in an inexpensive kitchen scale. I can’t stress this enough.
The herbs must be measured by weight due to the fact that herbs have different volumes. One ounce of rose petals has way more volume than one ounce of dandelion root.
Add the herbs to the clean glass jar then add the alcohol.
Close the jar and give it a good shake. Label the jar with the herb/s, the date you made it, and the due date. Store somewhere out of the sun. A cool dark cabinet is the best. Steep for the recommended time. Give it a shake every now and then.
Once your tincture is extracted, strain through a mesh sieve, coffee filter, or cheesecloth to remove the herbal bits. Squeeze as much liquid out as you can. Be careful squeezing the coffee filter. It will pop and you’ll have to start over with the straining!
Decant into clean dark glass bottles like amber boston rounds. Label with the herbs , the name, and the date. Store in a cool dark place or in the fridge for an even longer shelf life.
Tinctures or bitters will last a very long time but they do lose potency over time. I tend to make smaller batches to use up before this becomes a problem.
How to use your tinctures:
This is the fun part! There’s nothing more magickal than blending your herbal tinctures into beautiful potions that can be consumed or used in spell work. This is kitchen and green magick at its finest.
Nothing will make you feel more witchy, I promise!
If consuming, a dose is about a teaspoon. Your potions and tinctures can be taken straight or added to warm water, milks teas, smoothies, yogurt, or club soda. Use them to meditate, enhance psychic abilities, protection magic, therapeutic uses, and more.
When making herbal tinctures and bitters always make sure the herb/s are safe to consume, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing. Or consult your doctor is you’re not sure.
Now go brew up some Magick!
Our website and information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Occult properties of herbs are provided for historical interest only. All magick and magickal items, recipes, and formulations are intended for curio only. No magickal effects are guaranteed.
