Sweet Remedies

How to Dry and Powder Herbs

Herbs should be dried at 90–110°F (32–43°C). You'll need good airflow and a place out of direct sunlight. This can be achieved using a dehydrator or by air-drying. Each herb will be ready to dry at different times depending on the weather, climate, and season; you'll have to use your best judgment as to when they're ready. You can also dry herbs in an oven. Set the oven on the "drying" setting or lowest possible heat. Spread your herbs on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and bake until dry and brittle. This normally takes 1 to 1¹⁄₂ hours.

To powder herbs for a recipe, it is best to grind them in a coffee grinder or suribachi immediately before use.

How to Make an Electuary, or Honey Spread

It seems everyone these days has heard about the benefits of combining honey and cinnamon. Many beekeepers now offer this blend because their customers demand it. Seemingly overnight, a historical use of honey crept back into the mainstream with this "new" product, which of course is simply an electuary. Our farm was well acquainted with these electuaries because we had been making our own varieties for many years.

At the simplest level, electuaries, which we call honey spreads, are a blend of honey and herbs. Of course, this would be a very short book if all you needed to do to make one was the ability to stir! There is a distinct art to ensuring that the herbs you choose work well both with each other and with honey. This is the part that takes practice.

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