Content
- Waldmeister himself harvest and dry
- Harvest woodruff at the right time
- The different types of drying
- The strengthening of the taste when drying
- Tips & Tricks
Waldmeister himself harvest and dry
Like many herbs used in the kitchen, the woodruff can enrich the diet almost year-round. However, drying the woodruff even enhances the characteristic taste of the leaves.
Early item Woodruff in pot and harvest Next article Woodruff freeze - for storage and flavor developmentHarvest woodruff at the right time
If you want to dry or freeze a supply of woodruff, then you should pay attention to the right time for the harvest. Although the woodruff can be used throughout the season, the amount of coumarin contained in the leaves increases from the flowering season in April and May. Since this is not only responsible for the typical Waldmeister taste, but can also cause liver damage in case of overdose, the dosage of later harvested woodruff should be extremely economical.
The different types of drying
For the harvesting and processing of woodruff, it has been proven to always tie together a few cut stems into a bundle. The stems and leaves can then be dried in different ways:
When drying in the oven and in the dehydrator, you should pluck the leaves from the stems, because bound Waldmeister bunches may stick together and not dry evenly. So that the dried woodruff does not lose its intense flavor, you should not dry it too long. When properly dried, the leaves have a delicately green color and can be stored well in screw jars or cans until needed.
The strengthening of the taste when drying
Unlike many other herbs, the woodruff does not have fresh its greatest flavor and odor intensity. As a side-effect of conserving, if you let the woodruff wither for at least a few hours before using it for Maibowle, Woodruff Ice, or Woodruff syrup, the contained coumarin will split. If you do not have the time you need, you can alternatively put the woodruff in a freezer for a short time. The brief freezing of the leaves has the same effect and makes the taste even more intense.
Tips & Tricks
Hung in a dry place in the house, the woodruff exudes its pleasant scent for at least a few weeks. Occasionally shake off the suspended posy so that all areas are equally well ventilated and allowed to dry evenly.
WK