What Is the Best Way to Dry Fresh Herbs?
According to Linda Rector Page, N.D., Ph.D., in her book, “Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone,” fresh herbs lose volatile oils when exposed to heat or sunlight during drying, causing them to lose flavor and effectiveness. To maintain full strength, herbs should be air-dried and left as close to their whole, natural state as possible. Pick healthy-looking herbs. Stems should be upright and strong; leaves should be fully formed, without spots or decay; flowers should be fully in petal and seeds should still be in the pod. Shake gently after cutting to get rid of any insects or dirt that might be clinging. Place herbs in a colander and gently run cold water over them, removing any dead leaves, insects or debris. Do not use warm or hot water, or you will wash away the volatile oils that give your herbs their scent and their useful effects. Remove lower leaves from the stems so that about an inch of stem is bare. Put eight to 10 stems together, with the herbs hanging upsi
