Like many herbs used in the kitchen, dried woodruff can enrich the diet almost all year round. However, drying the woodruff even intensifies the characteristic taste of the leaves.

Harvest woodruff at the right time

If you want to dry or freeze a supply of woodruff, you should pay attention to the right time for the harvest. In principle, the woodruff can be used throughout the entire season, but the amount of coumarin contained in the leaves increases from the flowering period in April and May. Since this is not only responsible for the typical woodruff taste, but can also cause liver damage in the event of an overdose, the dosage of woodruff that is harvested later should be extremely economical.

The different types of drying

When harvesting and processing woodruff, it has proven useful to always tie a few cut stalks together in a bundle. You can then dry the stems and leaves in a number of ways:

  • suspended upside down in a well-ventilated place
  • in the oven at a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius and with the oven door slightly open
  • in a special dehydrator

When drying in the oven and in the dehydrator, you should pluck the leaves from the stalks, because bound bouquets of woodruff might stick together and not dry evenly. So that the dried woodruff does not lose its intense taste, you should not dry it for too long. When properly dried, the leaves still have a delicate green color and can be stored well in screw-top jars or cans until needed.

Flavor enhancement when drying

In contrast to many other herbs, woodruff does not have its greatest taste and smell intensity when fresh. As a side effect of preserving, the coumarin contained is broken down if you let the woodruff wilt for at least a few hours before using it for May punch, woodruff ice cream or woodruff syrup. If you don't have the time to do this, you can alternatively put the woodruff in the freezer for just a short time. Briefly freezing the leaves has the same effect and makes the taste even more intense.

tips and tricks

Hanging in a dry place in the house, the woodruff exudes its pleasant scent for at least a few weeks. Shake the hanging bouquets from time to time so that all areas are equally well ventilated and can dry evenly.

WK

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Category:

Herbs