How to Distill Sage

Sage is an astringent tonic herb that may relax spasms, stop perspiration and benefit liver function and digestion. It also has uses as an anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant. You can distill this herb for its medicinal benefits.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Pack the sage tightly into a metal tub or container. In Turkey, this tub is made of copper, and sometimes lined with tin. Pack sage into the lid as well.
2. Add enough water to generously cover the sage in the bottom of the tub.
3. Create a seal between the lid and the container. Ideally, the seal should be made of clay. As the tub heats, the clay hardens and bakes into place, sealing any gaps.
4. Attach a pipe to the pot, and run the pipe into another container filled with cool water. This second container is called the condenser. Place the tub containing the sage on a heat source or open fire. As the water boils, the steam will carry the essential oil of the sage into the condenser where it will cool and become water again. The water and oils of the sage will separate.
5. Ladle the oil from the top of the water. The entire distillation process can take up to 3 hours.