Drying Herbs - a great way to save a few pounds

With the high cost of  store bought dried herbs, a great way to save a few pounds is to dry your own.  The best herbs to start with are your common garden herbs Rosemary or Thyme as they are suited to simple air drying and do not require any fancy tricks or airing fans.

They are also great herbs to start growing if you are a novice gardener, not only are they easy to grow but they can be kept in pots should you have limited garden space.

To get started you will need:

• 
  
  Sprigs of Rosemary or Thyme
  
• 
  
  String (my granny used to use dental floss)
  
• 
  
  Brown Paper Bags
  
• 
  
  Herb Dryer (either store bought or make from an old hanger)
  
• 
  
  Plastic Freezer Bags
  

Harvesting your herbs:

1. 
   
   Best time to harvest is just before your herbs flower. This is when the plants oil content is at its most potent, giving the best flavour.  Don't worry if you are unable to do this as your herbs will still be able to be dried.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   The length of your sprigs is entirely up to the size of your plant. try to take the top 4-6 inches of the branches as the youngest growth give the best flavour
   
   
   
3. 
   
   Use a good sharp pair of secateurs to cut the branches so as not to damage your plants
   
   
   
4. 
   
   Inspect your cuttings and remove any dead or diseased leaves now is also a good time to remove any unsuspecting insects :)
   
   
   

Drying Process:

1. Give your sprigs a good rinse with cold water
   
2. Dry with a clean towel as best you can to remove all excess moisture  mould can set in if the leaves are left to wet
3. Tie bundles of about 3 sprigs per bundle using your string less sprigs per bundle allows good air flow which speeds the drying process
4. Tie herb bundles to your hanger
5. Make air holes in your brown paper bags and slip over your herb bundles there should be enough holes and space in the bag to allow good air flow
6. Hang your herb hanger with your covered bundles in a warm, dry and well aerated room
7. They will need to hang for about 2 weeks, do check them every few days for signs of mould. if any do become infected you will need to throw out the entire batch and start again.

Once your herbs are Dry:

Yippee! Your herbs are dry and ready for use.

1. Remove the leaves from the stems your stems can be discarded and put on the compost heap
2. Package your herbs in freezer bags ensuring most of the air is taking out of the bag when closing , this will ensure that your herbs are kept fresh for longer.
3. Store them in a cool and dry place away from sunlight

Additional Tip:

• Don't crush your herbs straight away, crush them as you need them for maximum results

I hope you found this blog useful. Do let me know how you get on. Send me some photos and I will be sure to publish the best ones in our next blog.

Also a quick reminder: Novembers Giveaway:

For the month of November we are giving away one of our herb drying gift kits. This lovely gift box kit contains all you need to grow and dry your own herbs. Please see our last post dated 10th of November  for more details.   

Many Thanks for reading,

Vicky