Infusion

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Infusion is the process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a

).

History

The first recorded use of

]

Tea is far older than this, dating back to the 10th century BC as the earliest recorded reference.

Preparation techniques

Infusion is a chemical process that uses

(typically dried herbs, flowers or berries) that are volatile and release their active ingredients readily in water, oil, or alcohol. In this process, a liquid is typically boiled (or brought to another appropriate temperature) and poured over the herb. After the herb has been allowed to steep in the liquid for an appropriate period of time, it is removed (possibly by straining) leaving an infusion. Unless the infusion is to be consumed immediately, it is bottled and refrigerated for future use.

The amount of time the herbs are left in the liquid depends on the kind of infusion. Infusion times can range from seconds (for some kinds of Chinese tea) to hours, days, or months (for liqueurs like sloe gin).

There are several accessories and techniques for removing the steeped or leftover botanicals that were used to infuse liquids, including metal steepers (which look like clamps), tea infusers (which act as strainers), and french presses (which are commonly used to infuse water with various teas and coffee). The most commonly used technique is the teabag, which is made with filter paper and filled with various tea flavors.

Examples

• Moroccan mint tea) call for decoction instead. Many herbal teas are prepared by infusion, as well; lemon, chamomile, senna, apple, ginger, rooibos
  , and many other plants are used individually or in combination.
• Coffee can also be made through infusion (as in a French press), but is more often made through percolation.
• Herbal remedies
  are commonly produced through infusions in water or oil.
• Flavored oils: Plants with desirable flavors may be steeped in an
  edible oil or vinegar for an extended period; the infused oil or vinegar is often sold still containing the plant and is then used as flavoring. Chilis, lemon, garlic, and many other plants may be used. There can be ambiguity in the labeling of these oils: for example, what is described as sesame oil may be oil extracted from sesame seeds
  or another vegetable oil infused with sesame.
• Cucumber water, a mix of sliced cucumber with citrus slices and herbs such as mint, is a popular infusion.^[1] It is sometimes known as "spa water" due to it being commonly served in day spas and similar personal care establishments.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Mate
• Aromatherapy
• Chinese herbology
• Decoction
• Herbalism
• List of cooking techniques
• Tincture
• Maceration (food)
• Percolation
• Coffee steeping

References

1. ^ Hamlin, Suzanne (8 October 1997). "Sips; In California, the Water May Taste Like a Cucumber". The New York Times.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Infusions.

• The dictionary definition of infuse at Wiktionary
• Learning materials related to Infusion maker at Wikiversity