We have a new partner!
Chris of Hydrosol World came to me, Tracey TieF, last year when it was yet unnamed, to ask about the market for local hydrosols. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I gave a private workshop to help Hydrosol World plan & develop their own line of exciting and innovative, useful and affordable hydrosol products.
We are now selling four unique hydrosols from Hydrosol World:
Cedarleaf Thuja occidentaslis Steam distilled in Whitby, Ontario. Plant matter from Whitby, Ontario.
Cucumber Cucumis sativus Steam distilled in Whitby, Ontario. Plant matter from Ontario.
Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus Steam distilled in Whitby, Ontario. Plant matter from USA.
Pear Pyrus communis Steam distilled in Whitby, Ontario. Plant matter from USA.
Here is their direct-steam still, which uses stainless steel chambers and copper tubing.
HOW DO WE MAKE A HYDROSOL?
By Hydrosol World Posted February 16, 2016, In Hydrosols
Hydrosols are beautifully natural products, tapping into the very heart and essence of some of the world’s most powerful plants, and their secret healing compounds. But unlocking all the potential in such plants is not an easy task, even if the process itself has been used for centuries. Creating the perfect hydrosol is a mixture, then, of classic science, intuition, and a dedication to using only the purest ingredients. Today, we’re going to walk you through exactly how most hydrosols are made, and why the production process is so important for making the best products possible.
SOURCING MATERIALS
Every hydrosol starts out as a simple plant. It could be a flower from a rose to be used in rose hydrosol, for cucumber hydrosol pieces of a cucumber and its plant, or even branches and nettles from a balsam fir tree. Whatever the source, it’s important to get the best products possible, use the right part of the plant, and ensure that the powerful compounds can be extracted with maximum efficiency. That’s why the best hydrosols start with high-quality, organic, and fresh plants. Only the freshest and best-cultivated plants have the oils and compounds that make great hydrosols, that’s why sourcing the right plants is of the utmost importance when it comes to making great hydrosols.
Once the plants have been sourced from the best places possible, it’s time to turn plants into hydrosols, all using the power of steam. Distillation, specifically steam distillation, is a very old and extremely efficient means of creating hydrosols, and the technology has been used for a wide variety of purposes. For hydrosols, it is used to capture the oils found deep inside of the plants and draw them out in a safe, sustainable, and ethical manner. Only steam and nothing else can capture the oils and compounds in a pure and unadulterated manner.
STEAM DISTILLATION
Steam distillation consists of two chambers and a small tube running between them. The first chamber contains the plants, all stripped down to their best parts. The second contains, when the process starts, absolutely nothing. Once the machine is turned on and distillation begins, steam is shot into the chamber with the plants. The steam opens up the plants and, through the miracle of hydrogen bonding, collects the oils from the plants. Then, because the steam will rise, it gently goes to the top of the first chamber. Then, the steam enters a small tube, condenses back into the water, and runs along the tube into the second chamber. Thanks to the steam mixing with the oils and compounds, the water now contains the essential oils found in the plants but watered down. Then, the water is collected, more water is added to make the perfect hydrosol, and the product is now ready to sell.
Making hydrosols is a combination of old technology, new practices, and creating something from the purest ingredients possible. With the right technology and people, the process is extremely sustainable and ensures that your hydrosols consist of only water and the powerful compounds trapped within the plants from which they get their namesake.