Fresh Herb Tincture Calculator

Making your own tinctures is one of the most reliable ways to extract the full spectrum of therapeutic compounds from medicinal plants. Although there are many elaborate extraction methods, this calculator focuses on the essentials: getting your alcohol–water blend correct for fresh herb tincturing.

Producing a high-quality tincture depends on three key factors:

• The herb: Use organic, correctly identified plant material harvested at the appropriate stage, using the correct part of the plant.
• The alcohol: Use high-quality ethanol. Purity is important, so choose good-grade spirits or pharmaceutical-grade ethanol.
• The water: Use clean, potable water to dilute high-strength alcohol as required.

The calculator guides you through the key inputs:

A. Ethanol % vol
The alcohol strength printed on your bottle of ethanol or spirits.

B. Gram herb
The weight of the fresh plant material you are tincturing (leaf, flower, root, bark, etc.).

C. Ratio 1:?
The herb-to-menstruum ratio. For example, a 1:3 ratio means 1 kg of herb produces 3 L of finished tincture. Ratios determine tincture strength.

D. Tincture % vol
The desired final alcohol percentage of your extraction. If starting with high-strength ethanol, you will dilute it to your target strength. The calculator performs this dilution for you.

E. Plant moisture %
The moisture content of your herb. Different species contain different levels of water. A reference list of typical moisture values can be provided below the calculator.

F. Ending total ml
The total volume of tincture you expect after maceration. This depends on how effectively you can press the marc at the end.

The calculator then provides the required blending values:

G. Ethanol ml
The volume of ethanol needed.

H. Water ml
The volume of water needed. Always add ethanol to water, not the other way around, to minimise splashing and to improve safety.

I. Starting total ml
The combined volume of your alcohol–water mix before adding it to the fresh herb.

Mix the alcohol and water thoroughly, then pour over the herb and ensure the material is fully submerged. If the menstruum does not cover the herb, you will need to adjust to a higher ratio. This will reduce the concentration of the final tincture but ensures proper extraction.

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Disclaimer: This calculator is provided as a general guide only. All figures should be checked carefully, and it is your responsibility to ensure that your calculations, methods, and finished tinctures are appropriate, safe, and in line with any professional, regulatory, or legal requirements that apply to you.