Materials
- 250 g powdered herb (medium fine around 40 mesh is ideal). A coffee or spice grinder is a good option to get the desired result.
- 650 ml of ethanol solvent (menstruum)
Method
- Premoisten the herb material by adding it to a large bowl or jar and slowly add 350 ml of the menstruum making sure to stir continuously. The ideal consistency should be like damp sand — it shouldn’t leak any liquid or be too dry.
- Cover the bowl and leave to rest for 24 hours.
- Divide the herb into three portions, and add the first to the percolator, then tamp down firmly and evenly. Repeat with the other two portions of herb material. The packed herb should feel compact, slightly springy and even, not rock hard.
- Place the coffee filter on top of the herb material.
- Add the weight.
- Slowly pour the remaining menstruum over the filter, making sure to pour evenly and slowly around the entire filter.
- Allow a couple of drops to emerge from the bottom then tighten or close the outlet. This allows for the release of any trapped air.
- Allow to rest for a further 24 hours.
- Open the percolation valve/cap slowly to allow for roughly one drip every five seconds.
- Once the amount has been collected, allow the tincture to rest for a further 24 hours to allow the sediment to settle.
- Pour off the finished extract and bottle in an amber glass jar and label.
This editorial draft organizes preparation facts extracted from 1 research source. It is not ready for publication until every quantity, step and safety note has been checked against the linked source trail.
Preparation overview
Percolation passes solvent through prepared plant material to create a concentrated extract. Grind size, packing, solvent, flow and final ratio are process-critical and require expert review.
At a glance
- Prep: 60 mins
- Yield: a herbal percolation extract
Equipment
- Percolation cone
- Wide-mouth jar
- Wooden spoon/pestle
- Unbleached coffee filter (avoid any with glue as this will pass into the final extract)
- Small weight (can be a clean pebble or marble)
- Amber bottle for storage
- Label
- Large bowl
- Measuring jug
- Cover the bowl and leave to rest for 24 hours.
- Assemble the percolator.
- Place the coffee filter on top of the herb material.
- Add the weight.
- Slowly pour the remaining menstruum over the filter, making sure to pour evenly and slowly around the entire filter.
- Allow a couple of drops to emerge from the bottom then tighten or close the outlet. This allows for the release of any trapped air.
- Allow to rest for a further 24 hours.
- Open the percolation valve/cap slowly to allow for roughly one drip every five seconds.
- Continue monitoring regularly until approximately 500 ml has been collected. This may take between 6–12 hours.
- Once the amount has been collected, allow the tincture to rest for a further 24 hours to allow the sediment to settle.
- Pour off the finished extract and bottle in an amber glass jar and label.
Storage and shelf life
- The tincture should keep for a couple of years, as long as the correct ratio of ethanol to water was used. For more information on tincture making see our article — How to make a herbal tincture.
- What can I use if I don’t have a percolator?
- A simple homemade percolator can be created using a large glass bottle such as a wine bottle with the bottom removed. The bottle can be turned upside down so the extract drips out the mouth and the filter paper is placed in the neck of the bottle. The herb can be packed at the top.
Safety review
- This automated research draft must be checked against every linked source before publication.
- Alcohol-containing preparations may be unsuitable for children, pregnancy, liver disease or people avoiding alcohol.
Editorial verification checklist
- Confirm plant identity, plant part and preparation form.
- Verify every quantity, ratio, temperature and duration against the primary source.
- Check allergies, pregnancy, childhood use, medicine interactions and route of administration.
- Rewrite explanatory prose in the site’s own editorial voice and attach claim-level citations before publication.
!
Pause before using
- This automated research draft must be checked against every linked source before publication.
- Alcohol-containing preparations may be unsuitable for children, pregnancy, liver disease or people avoiding alcohol.
Editorial standard
Useful data, visible limits.
This note is compiled into an original HHT format. Imported research lineage remains stored internally for deduplication, correction and audit, while the public page focuses on the preparation, safety boundaries and independent evidence references.
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