Straining Fresh Food Glycerites: Two Results From One Batch

Above, the beginning of a glycerite with fresh raspberries. To get the most out of fresh fruits, I generally crush them before adding glycerine. Some fresh foods - such as these raspberries - are easily mashed with a spoon, while others are chopped in a grinder/chopper first. 

Once the glycerine is added, this mixture is going to look a lot like a raspberry coulis.

While this method makes for a potent (and immensely fragrant glycerite), straining can be a challenge if you want a see-through and uncloudy end product. 

Today, I'm going to give you a little glycerite straining tip that gives you the best of both worlds. 

One Batch - Two Straining Methods

Below is the result of this batch after straining. The glycerite in the bottle on the right is see-through while the glycerite in the bottle on the left is quite cloudy. 

I placed a twig of dried lavender behind the bottles so you can see the difference. You can also see the inside bottom of the bottle on the right - but not the left.  

The bottle on the left is not the kind of cloudy that will clear up over time. Sometimes when making an infusion/maceration/extraction, residue plant material will settle to the bottom and leave a clear liquid on top. This batch stood untouched for weeks with no change. 

The reason? Because of the straining method used for the bottle on the left vs the straining method used for the bottle on the right. 

It's quite simple really. Here's how.

How to Strain One Batch of Glycerite Two Ways

1. Place 2-3 layers of cheesecloth in a strainer over a bowl and pour the batch into the strainer. 
2. Allow the liquid to drip through without any assistance. No pressing or squeezing!
3. At one point the dripping will stop even though there will still be plenty of material left. 
4. Bottle the liquid that has passed through the strainer. 
5. Now, gather up the sides of the cheesecloth and twist to press out as much of the remaining liquid as possible. This is going to result in a cloudier glycerite, but a satisfyingly good batch yield. 

Where to Use Clear and Cloudy Glycerites

A few years ago, I was convinced a cloudy glycerite was simply not good enough to be used in anything, but working with them non-stop has made me discover otherwise. A cloudy glycerite definitely has its uses! 

Match the glycerite to the product. Some products are more appealing with a clear look while with other products, it's not at all critical. 

Clear glycerites are great for products such as skin tonics, toners, gels, clear serums and anything where the contents is packaged 'to be visible'. A clear, clean look is both sellable and appealing. 

Non-see-through glycerites are ideal for lotions, creams, serums, masks, or anything where the end product is opaque. The inherent cloudiness disappears into the product without affecting the end result. 

You Can Do This Too

Want to learn how to make your own glycerites with everything from fresh foods to dried herbs?

This book shows you how. 

Do Tell

Do you use glycerites in your products? How do you strain yours? Please feel free to share in a comment below.