How to Dry Calendula
Learn how to dry calendula with this easy tomutorial! Calendula is one of the easiest herbs to dry and is very useful for skincare products, tea, and more.
Equipment
- Drying surface a baking rack, drying basket, or drying screen
- Glass jar for storage
Ingredients
- Fresh calendula flowers
Instructions
- Begin by harvesting your calendula. Place a finger on either side of the stem, directly under the flower head, and pull up to pluck the flower off of the stem. Do not wash the flowers.
- Lay the flowers face down on a drying screen or tea towel.
- Place the flowers in a dry location out of direct sunlight for a few weeks until they have no more moisture in them and the petals feel crunchy.
- Transfer the dried flowers to a jar and store in a cool, dark place.
Notes
- Don’t wash your flower heads after harvest. Calendula has a sticky resin on it which provides many of the medicinal benefits. If there are any bugs on the flowers, I like to gently blow them off.
- Place the flowers face down immediately after harvesting for best results. They start to close up quickly and it’s best to have the petals fanned out for airflow.
- If you dry herbs a lot, I definitely recommend investing in an herb drying rack like the one I have. It keeps everything organized and simple, and it saves my counter space!
- Don’t forget about your calendula. If you leave herbs to dry too long, they may get dusty. It’s best to get them in an airtight container as soon as they are fully dry.
- How long the calendula takes to dry will depend on the humidity and airflow, but I usually leave mine for about a month just to be safe.
- Be sure your flowers are completely dry before moving them to a jar. Any moisture left in the flowers may cause mold to develop.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!