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An amber glass dropper bottle with cloves in front of it.
Nico

How To Make Clove Tincture & Extract (Many Herbal Benefits)

Cloves are commonly used in baking during certain holidays but they also have potent antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Here’s how to make clove tincture to be able to enjoy these health benefits all year round. 
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Infusion Time 56 days
Total Time 56 days 10 minutes
Servings: 1 Bottle
Course: Tinctures for Inflammation
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Equipment

  • An airtight container with a lid – I use a glass mason jar with a piece of parchment paper between the metal lid and tincture to prevent the alcohol from corroding the metal.
  • A small amber glass bottle with dropper tops - I use these ones
  • A fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter - I like this unbleached cheesecloth
  • A small funnel
  • A coffee grinder (optional) - to blend the cloves

Method
 

  1. Add the dried cloves to a coffee grinder. Blend until they are a fine powder. (I don’t have a coffee grinder so I use whole cloves to make this tincture.)
  2. Add the cloves to a sanitised clean mason jar (or any glass jar you have).
  3. To begin the extraction process, submerge the cloves in alcohol and make sure they’re completely covered.
  4. Add the lid and shake the jar to ensure all of the cloves are covered by alcohol.
  5. Leave the jar to sit in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight for 6-8 weeks.
  6. Aim to shake the jar 3-4 times a week to keep everything covered in alcohol.
  7. After 6-8 weeks, use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain off the tincture. If you ground your cloves, I’d recommend using cheesecloth or a coffee filter to ensure that all of the cloves are removed from the final tincture. 
  8. Use a funnel to add the tincture to an amber glass dropper bottle.
  9. Add the date and label the tincture to make sure you don’t forget what it is.

Notes

How much clove tincture to take?

Start by taking a small amount (a few drops) and work your way up to a full dose. I like to take 1 dropper full per day.

How long does clove tincture last?

Like many homemade alcohol-based tinctures, clove tincture has a long shelf life if stored away from direct sunlight. I like to use the tincture within 1-2 years.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!