Eucalyptus - proper harvesting and drying

Eucalyptus belongs to the myrtle family, and has many varieties, from giant tropical trees, to garden shrubs and decorative indoor varieties. But they all have one thing in common - it is an evergreen plant, and the content of essential oils does not depend on the size of the tree itself. It is the same everywhere and is directly proportional to the size of the sheet.

Ingredients: eucalyptus
Time to bookmark: Whole year

You can harvest eucalyptus leaves all year round, but experts advise doing this in the fall, when the concentration of essential oils reaches its peak, and this is usually combined with the formation of the crown of a tree or shrub.

eucalyptus drying

Due to the high content of essential oils in the leaves, you need to try not to damage them. Eucalyptus branches are tied into small brooms and hung under a canopy, away from the sun. You can dry eucalyptus right in the house. After all, the smell of eucalyptus repels mosquitoes, flies, and other annoying midges, and at the same time saturates the room with a healing aroma.

eucalyptus drying

Drying eucalyptus leaves in an oven or electric dryer is not recommended, unless you have temperature control and the ability to set the temperature to +35 degrees. At higher temperatures, all the essential oil will simply evaporate.

After the eucalyptus leaves have dried, you need to pack them well to protect the precious essential oil.

Pick dry leaves from the branches and place them in a glass jar with a lid. Or, if you want to store them as a “broom”, wrap them in thick paper and wrap them with plastic wrap on top. Dry eucalyptus retains its properties for up to two years, if properly dried and stored.

How to prepare a tincture from eucalyptus leaves, watch the video:

Eucalyptus - proper harvesting and drying

Categories

Recent Entries