Drying Herbs The Way Ancient Egyptians Did - And You Should Too!

[@Curmudgeon1]

Hi Luke, I learned about this method back in the mid 60's from a woman who was in her late 90's. She came to California in the 1880's from Ohio as a young girl in a wagon. She lived to be 105. Yes, I'm almost 70.

[@Steve197201]

Cutting those herbs must have smelled divine!

[@olgacaballero1998]

I would say that basil and parsley are one of the trickiest herbs to keep the flavor when drying. After I dry them hanging or on a wire rack the trick is not to crush them but carefully put it in a glass jar and crush them only right before use. It is actually very flavorful that way.

[@ausfoodgarden]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that for sure. I agree btw. parsley especially loses much of its flavor.

[@tonileigh8660]

Have you tried freeze drying basil and parsley? They both keep their bright green color and full flavor. And they last so long. I keep gallon jars full of them both.

[@olgacaballero1998]

@@tonileigh8660 sounds good, but I don't have a freeze dryer yes.

[@Ma1ingo]

Have you tried freezing them? I keep my Basil, Parsley and Cilantro in the freezer. They lose a little flavour but not much at all and do allow us to enjoy pesto and such in the depth of winter.

[@AlexanderAnco]

Excelente consejo, muchas gracias

[@dennismoore8351]

We love Rosemary. Down here in southwest Georgia ours is perennial. It can grow rather large. The stems will get woody. We cut the woody stems when we need them. About twelve inches long. Soak them in water for twenty minutes or so. Thread meat and veggies 9n them and put them on the grill. Wonderful fragrant skewers.

[@kbjerke]

I fully believe in air drying! Our back hallway smells *AMAZING* in the fall after harvest! Thanks for the video, Luke!

[@sharonmaresh]

I have never given spice vs herbs a thought. I learned something today. Thank you Luke!

[@mse1333]

😮

[@amandarediger2178]

That's me too!!

[@iamhis5580]

Plus it looks pretty when you hang dry them!!

[@RicoRodriguezGrows]

It’s about thyme! I’m a gardener that hang dries herbs often. 60% humidity is the goal to prevent mold. 🌱

[@lauriedavis4045]

I like to strip leaves off the top 2" where I'm tying off the bundle as well. And if there hasn't been a recent rain just before harvest, I rinse under cold water and salad-spinner the stalks of herbs (get rid of dust, dirt, pollen). Spread out on a towel overnight and bundle up the next day.

[@closetgrower]

Luke. Id really love to see a complete indoor garden grow for winter.. I know it's not the same... but something to get us thru the winter with most of the same food

[@karantha333]

I've been doing this for years. I have Sage, Thyme, Greek Oregano, Lemon Balm, English Lavender, Spearmint, and lots of Catmint. I used to have Orange Mint, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I did see Chocolate Mint once, that stuff smells so good. Great video!

[@dianeamaral3611]

Where are you from? I'm from mass. I'm just thinking I go to you. Know a lot of farmer's markets. If I happen to see the orange time I can definitely let you know

[@karantha333]

@@dianeamaral3611 I'm in CT, looking for Orange MINT. It's a hybrid, and it's not usually sold, which seems weird. I like it in tea, but it's also great in incense blends.

[@SanDiegoCaliforniaUSA]

There's a Banana Mint too. It smells amazing.

[@terridean4784]

I tried greek oregano this year and it is a keeper!

[@BlissfulBombshells]

​@@karantha333I bought Orange Mint starter plants down here in Florida at a grow shop down here in Tampa Bay Florida. They ship as well. If you are interested I can get the name of the shop again ( I forgot already🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️LoL) & post it. They're super nice & helpful there!💜🖤✨

[@francescaurban8985]

I air dry all my herbs in my herb room/ office. It's essentially a glorified closet with cedar walls. Yes, sell all the herbs and spices!!! ❤

[@katherinecornette5315]

I have been looking for Mexican Oregano. I would love it if MIGardener would carry it. Thanks Luke!

[@growduriankh]

Wow, it is a formative video, i will try this way with our tropical herb in my home yard. I am a fruit lover . I am growing tropical fruit tree including 100 durian tree inside. And this content add more value and idea for our gardening as well as our farm house. Thanks ❤

[@heysuz701]

Love my fresh herbs and spices. And really enjoy drying them like this when I have time and space.

[@tonileigh8660]

I would love it if you started selling the French and Winter Thyme to add to the common English, lemon and German thyme I already have. I find freeze drying basil works very well. My herb garden has been doubling in size every year for the past few years. This year I grew several varieties of basil from your seeds. Italian large leaf, Tulsi, lemon, dark opal, dwarf Greek, mammoth, Thai, cinnamon, Genovese, and spic globe. Next year I'm adding lime, licorice and purple ruffles.

[@Wellbaby94]

I’m running out tomorrow and harvesting my sage, lavender and rosemary to hang. Thanks for a great video

[@Erika-gm2tf]

Sometimes I hang my garden herbs from the pot rack. I use what I've already got in my small kitchen! The past two years, I cut or ripped the herbs off the stems and freeze them in little baggies. I cut some of them in tiny usable pieces, like in the case of garlic chives. It's time consuming up front, but I like how fresh the ready-to-go frozen herbs taste in cooking. I have fewer decorative house plants now and more beautiful, tasty herbs growing in pots on the window seat in the winter. I also bout some inexpensive disc shaped led grow lights, that run 12 hours overnight since they built a tall condo on my south side and direct sunlight is a rarity in my home now. The led lights glow pink and I don't love how it looks, but the fixtures are silver and disc shaped like little flying saucers so, kind of cute, but fresh herbs throughout winter, yay!

[@robertcotrell9810]

I'll be doing some harvesting tomorrow!

[@tammybyrd1054]

Love to air dry! Never knew that about lemon thyme. Please carry the different variations, didn't know there was more than two! LOVE my herb and tea garden! I have saved soooooo much money and love to use them all kinds of ways! The establish super fast and easy to grow year after year and tuck in annuals. In 7b my rosemary comes back. I mulch the base heavily and when frost or snow threatens I cover with a black trash bag. Does great. I did not know that about spices versus herbs! Thank you! Learn something new every day! Some of my herbs like the dill, fennel, etc. I pull when ready and preserve them in oils and butters and freeze to use in cooking. :) I made compound butters too and salts, etc. I cut bit pieces of my basil each year at the end of the season and bring them in and root them in the window and either leave them like that changing the water or plant up in small pots and over Winter and put them back out when i't's warm enough and never have to buy it at the new year!

[@terridee9637]

I dry herbs the same way. But I use rubber bands in the bundles and then tie string around the band to hang. I currently have mint and lavender hanging in my utility closet. Be sure to label!

[@tropicsteaders]

I will give that a try and post one YTShort at the start and one at the end of the drying period. Edit: Fennel bread? 😮 ok, got to try that now! Your sage 🤩 so glad I got sage seeds to plant!

[@hobo_fire]

I'm especially interested in the lemon thyme and winter thyme! As to one of the questions in the video, my favorite spices are ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and cardamom (in my teas specifically).

[@vickiwestlund7777]

I use my freeze dryer to dry my herbs! It’s an amazing way to preserve them!

[@firequeen2194]

I have a hanging herb air dehydrator that I use in the summer. The air (wind) dries them. It has 6 zippered compartments so I can dry herbs that aren’t long enough to hang like basil, etc. works awesome and no electricity needed. 😋 YES to the new thyme!

[@sharonbrunotte3972]

I’ve been drying my herbs for years but I didn’t know about not crushing them!! Thank U for sharing!! I love learning!!😁

[@laurieanne9712]

So helpful--thank you! Going out to trim my oregano!!!

[@azokalum]

Looking forward to learning another way to preserve home grown herbs. Thanks MI Gardener Team!👍👍

[@mariehernandez8431]

Great video Luke! I learn something new everyday!🙌🏻🙏🏻🍁🌻

[@ElinWinblad]

My herbs already died zone 5 😂 we installed a long nice curtain rod over the opening in the kitchen and use those metal shower curtain hook things to hang dry herbs and hang onion braids from

[@DeborahKEgolf]

I made myself a hanging drying rack. I'm going to make another one soon. The Dehydrator took out the smell, the flavor. So Air Drying is my go to.

[@angelaschettino1327]

Didn’t know the difference between herbs and spices! Thank you

[@jerilee76]

For years I dried my herbs this way, but have recently switched to freeze drying them, then storing them in jars with oxygen absorbers. They maintain brilliant color and flavor, but for some herbs.and all spices, hanging still makes more sense.

[@disturbed6128]

I'm in the same zone as you but wish you were in the same city so I could follow you around and take notes. You are my go to source for garden info!

[@Oktopia]

I use this method. It's both decorative and practical. I could smell this video :D

[@LB-vl3qn]

Great info, thank you. Interesting tidbit about the lemon thyme. Seems it's the same as French Tarragon, which doesn't produce seed, or at least viable seed, and must be grown from cuttings. I'd love to grow both varieties of thyme you asked about; please carry them! ~ Lisa

[@claguire831]

I love Lemon Thyme! I didn’t realize it couldn’t be grown from seed. Now I know why it can be so hard to find. Yes please carry it in your store.

[@BlissfulBombshells]

So VERY EXCITED as I have ordered my first batch of SEEDS from y'all!!! I'm in Florida so I was pleased to see you had seeds for plants which are drought & heat tolerant🤗 YAAAY❣️ Thank You💜🖤✨

[@illuminationgoddess3]

Awesome

[@ChrisKsGarden]

Thank you. I love growing herbs. I have hang dried them before. But I still learned a few new ideas. I have a couple questions: How long do you hang them. I'm always afraid they're not dry enough(to avoid mold). So I end up over drying them. Are yours in a cool or warm part of your house? I like your hanging setup. Did you build that or was it part of a small ladder that you hung up?

[@shadowcat228]

I hang herbs when i have a lot at once but when i have more manageable amounts i spread them out in a mesh herb drying hanger. Its kinda like a mesh laundry hamper with 8 tiers and a zipper on each. I have trouble finding a place to hang them so this is easier for me and they get excellent air flow.

[@stitchingafterbedtime]

I was looking for an informational video like this a couple weeks ago. Thank you for posting. 😀

[@PackRatManiac]

I'm going to be trying to grow basil indoors. I live where our frosts aren't as long and I can move them outdoors on the warmer days. I'm thinking of trying this method but in my garden shed over winter. I really don't have a good place in my house to hang them. I would also be interested in trying the other varieties of thyme. It's one of the easiest and best preforming herbs I grow and it's one I use pretty regularly in my kitchen.

[@judycee9263]

I was able to air dry parsley last year. It may have lost some flavor, but it smelled WAY better than than the store bought parsley in my cabinet. I had no luck growing thyme or rosemary this year, and only limited success with basil.

[@robingirven4570]

I always hang my herbs to dry but wasn’t sure why! I’ve got a dehydrator and freeze dryer but never used them for herbs! I need to go cut more of my rosemary. 😊

[@rebeccarekward251]

Pretty clever, you. Though lately you rather appear a bit manic😂😂. I still enjoy all things about y'all's everything 😊

[@chereederry7939]

This has been my go-to lazy method for preserving most of my herbs!

[@MarthaGonzalez-jm3vn]

I have a German thyme plant that is 8 years old. It looks like a banzai tree. I have fresh thyme year round. I live in zone 7.

[@vandenberglm]

Thank you for this video! I've been trying to add more and more herbs to my garden, but I haven't seen much about how to harvest them.

[@xJuiCYxxJaYx]

I love winter time too.

[@BiLuOma]

I love the idea to use herbs as pest repellent. I got only a little bit mint left in my garden that I could harvest and hang up. If it doesn't repel any bugs (which I don't think I got anyways) it will at least make my house smell great all winter long.

[@katie7748]

It never EVER worked to keep any pests away for me (we even had weevils in the spice cabinet!!) but I love the smell.

[@theresablougouras1926]

Hi Luke, I knew about this method, but didn't know about dehydrator method info! So yes I am going to do this, thanks from Texas. Merry Christmas 🤶 🎄 from our house to yours!

[@martinaparrrish5397]

I like the English thyme because it is easy to strip off the stem

[@andrews1621]

Maaaaaannnnn I keep forgetting to come up there. I will make sure to pop in next time I am passing through port huron! I got some Lemon thyme we love it. I like it better for aromatic. I have been trimming thyme WRONG apparently!

[@伏見猿比古-k8c]

On the topic of drying, you should make a video about hoshigaki.

[@barbcandus]

My Rosemary lived 15 years here in the mountains. Then died. Wish I knew what variety it was. I dry all my herbs in the dehydrator for winter. I use them fresh all season then in Sept start drying enough for the winter. Sage is best to dry whole and bottle whole as it retains the oils that way. Parsley and basil I grind and bottle. JAFYI

[@carbooth49]

Wow what a very informative video. Thank you. Keep up the great work.

[@azokalum]

Cool yo see the flags above the entranceway. 🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@carolkontur1442]

I am from Ohio. Yes,I am going to try this way. I hope it works!

[@rjn1124]

Nice video. I think that you have said that basil doesn't dry well but you can buy dried basil in the supermarket, which I have done. I had a pot of Thai basil, which I stopped watering and the leaves totally dried out. I stripped off the dried leaves and stored them in a zip lock. They are very fragrant. I have a hard time finding fresh Thai basil where I live so I plan to use this when I make Thai food. It doesn't look unlike the dried basil that you can buy in the supermarket only it has more of a purplish color. Do you think this will work?

[@cynbeasley1525]

I always learn to much from your videos. Thanks for educating us. I do have a question regarding deterring insects with rosemary in the garden: do they also keep the butterflies away (which I wouldn’t want to do)? I do line my rose beds with lavender to deter pests.

[@harrietrobbins9892]

Yes on the French Thyme

[@DanielleBlanchardArts]

Want the lemon thyme

[@georgehoage3162]

Thank you. This was very helpful!

[@redbroadhead2907]

Great educational video. I have learned a lot.

[@jasonlist3253]

French thyme! Yes

[@jimmypage1969]

Love a good erb

[@shiffongray1041]

This was great thanks

[@terryhuggins8529]

I would love any of the thyme you have.

[@joybrown8644]

Is a finished basement (or unfinished storage room?) an okay place to hang herbs to dry? I think I will make one of the little flower beds next to our brick patio into an herb garden.

[@sandrasherer8779]

Thank you

[@MariaInSoFla]

Great video, Luke! Was fun to watch. Any advice on drying herbs for those of us who live in constantly humid climates?

[@tannerfrancisco8759]

Dry indoors with or without a fan. If your home is so humid that it won't dry then you probably have other problems.

[@lesliecushing8330]

Yes, French Thyme please. Would you also please consider French Tarragon, which does not grow from seed?

[@leeannmillet8215]

Thanks information.

[@Xerxis1988h]

I live in Germany and we have rosemary growing in the garden, which has been growing in the bed for 5 years and it has never struggeled do to the frost the oldest groth of it looks like wood

[@debrathomas3925]

I have lemon thyme in my garden. I have to harvest often.

[@becky3086]

I love this method. My problem with it is that the herbs get dusty. I let mine dry on the counter and then put them in jars.

[@georgelowellohhdgg63nnd96]

I've been gardening/small farming for many years and still have problems raising seeds from germination to transplant, it's been a non-started for many of my transplants, except for tomatoes/peppers. Do you have info/videos on this? I use soil blocks, heat mats, and lights - it's a not a disease issue, more of a failure to thrive. It's a limiting factor for what I grow and appreciate any help!

[@nygardenguru]

I want to try French Thyme cause I need an upright growth habit. Also grow French(not Russian) Tarragon is a priori next year. Parsley for me is a staple and can be used for everything.

[@lindafaulkner7982]

Question ❤ How do you do chives?

[@Mrs.Patriot]

What variety of rosemary is that? Also, I have trouble with hang drying sage and basil. I only tie them tight enough to stay together as they dry but the stems brown, and the brown travels down into the leaves. I have to strip the leaves off and lay them out on a rack to keep them green. Any suggestions?

[@vickihalverson6328]

Please carry more thyme varieties. And having plugs to purchase would be great,if you can ship them to other states.

[@czermeno2014]

What about freeze drying? Just bought a freeze drier and was wondering about using them for herbs as well.

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

Luke,I do this but what about the dust on the leaves ??? Living near fields. 🤷‍♀️

[@tianaharn2983]

When herb drying, do you need to dry them by a window? I have some Oregano that needs some triming and was worried that I won't have space to dry them in my apartment.

[@lpmoron6258]

How about a video on the fennel and sea salt bread?

[@sunseabass]

How do you wash them before preserving?

[@yvencia1150]

Great video 😊😊

[@ronaldjunod6601]

So which herbs are considered high oil herbs that can be dried? We just started growing herbs a couple years ago and have been using the dehydrator. Very interesting video. Thanks.

[@t.lalloyd2100]

Shade vs a sunny spot for drying? Does it matter?

[@Epmuinlk]

We need the fennel and sea salt sourdough recipe

[@heatherhorton2547]

What about peppermint? Do you hang them to dry for tea?

[@stevetendrich398]

We only hang dry herbs, suggest everyone else does just as Luke does as well....

[@barbarageorge7971]

I always wash my herbs first before I dry them. Yes I know it makes them take longer to dry but my outside air is so dirty. And bugs etc in the herbs.

[@cindylou7022]

How long does this process take?

[@kimdavenport9820]

What about freeze drying them?

[@dennismoore8351]

If you plant rosemary in your yard, your dogs will rub against it and it helps repel fleas.

[@dawnowens6142]

How about drying peppers?

[@matt.s8086]

I’ve had spider mites all over some of my rosemary, thyme & oregano they might keep bigger spiders away but not the spider mites…

[@michelledenise5096]

There is an increasing interest in studying how the scent of rosemary can help with stress and memory loss…I may hang mine to dry in the bedroom!