Oxymels and Honey Infusions

Oxymels: A Delicious Alternative to Alcohol-Based Tinctures

If you are sensitive to alcohol or prefer a different taste, oxymels offer a fantastic alternative to alcohol-based tinctures. Oxymels combine a tincture, usually made with vinegar, diluted with honey. Honey not only masks bitterness but also adds its own healing properties. It thickens the formula, making it soothing for the throat—perfect for remedies that include herbs with soothing and nourishing qualities.

To learn more about making herbal medicine check out my eBook, Herbal Formulations Volume 1: Tinctures and Oxymels!

How to Make Oxymels

  1. Choose Your Tincture: Typically, an apple cider vinegar tincture is used. Check out my page on tinctures for more details.

  2. Prepare the Honey: Warm the honey if necessary to handle crystallization. Keep the temperature around 100-110°F (37-43°C).

  3. Mix Honey and Tincture: Add honey to the tincture according to your preference—20% honey for stronger oxymels or 60-80% for a sweeter, more soothing formula. Mix thoroughly until fully combined, using a hand mixer if needed.

  4. Store: Store the oxymel in a sealed container. Honey and vinegar are naturally preserving, extending the shelf life for several years. Although you'll likely use it quickly due to its great taste!

Honey as a Menstruum

Honey can also be used as a solvent for extraction. Its thick nature means infusions take longer to fully extract, but fresh plants, fruits, vegetables, and various dried herbs extract wonderfully in honey. Its unique composition, nutritional value, and antimicrobial properties make it a valuable menstruum.

Plant Parts Suitable for Honey Extraction

Fresh and dried plants, fruits, and vegetables are ideal, though fresh extracts have a shorter shelf life and should be refrigerated and used within a couple of weeks. Fine powders like cinnamon, ginger, or turmeric also work well.

How to Prepare Honey Extractions

  1. Choose Your Plant Material: Place the finely chopped or powdered plant material in a jar.

  2. Add Honey: Pour honey over the plant material and stir well.

  3. Daily Inversion: Seal the container tightly. Invert the jar daily for 7-30 days to facilitate extraction.