How long should medicinal liquor be steeped before it can be consumed?
Dec 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Generally, the maceration period is relatively short, around 15 days. Common herbal medicines such as ginseng, Chinese wolfberry (goji berries), deer antler, and American ginseng contain active ingredients that are relatively easy to dissolve in alcohol. When preparing medicinal liquor, a high-proof white spirit, such as 60 or 65 degrees, should be used. High-concentration alcohol facilitates the dissolution of active components from the herbs and also serves as a bacteriostatic agent.
Most medicinal wines can be consumed after being steeped for 15–30 days, and it is recommended to finish them within 12 months. This is because prolonged steeping time is not advisable; once opened, the alcohol may easily evaporate, reducing its antibacterial effect. As a result, the herbal ingredients may spoil, potentially causing harm to the gastrointestinal tract and liver if consumed. The details are as follows:
1. Around 15 days: Generally, the steeping period is relatively short, about 15 days. Common plant-based herbs such as ginseng, wolfberry (goji berries), deer antler, American ginseng, etc., have active components that dissolve relatively easily in alcohol. When preparing medicinal wine, it's best to use high-proof baijiu (Chinese白酒), such as 60 or 65 degrees. High-concentration alcohol helps extract the active ingredients from the herbs more effectively and also serves as a bacteriostatic agent to prevent spoilage. If the alcohol concentration is too low, the active components may not dissolve sufficiently, and the herbs are more likely to deteriorate.
2. Around 30 days: A longer steeping period is required, typically around 30 days. Animal-based ingredients such as gecko, snakes, dog penis, donkey penis, scorpions, and black ants contain active compounds that require more time to fully dissolve into the alcohol. If larger quantities or denser-textured herbs are used, the steeping time may be appropriately extended to ensure complete extraction of the active components.
Prior to steeping, the herbs should be thoroughly cleaned to remove impurities and dirt. Additionally, the herbs must remain dry to maintain the efficacy of the medicinal wine.
