How To: Blueberry Glycerite

There have been glycerites galore around here lately, and before the summer season disappears completely, let's make one more, luscious, lovely extract with glycerine.

Because we can.

We're getting a bit advanced with this one, because blueberries can be a bit tricky to work with, but you can totally do this, so get out your equipment and let's get busy with blueberries!

Formula

50 % Glycerine
49.5 % Fresh Blueberries (I used organic)
0,5 % Preservative (I used benzyl alcohol)

Figure out how big a portion you want to make, then measure everything by weight. I made a small portion here (because I'm swimming in glycerites these days), so i chose a jar that holds 500 ml.

Blueberries can be sneaky. Sometimes a berry getting ready to go wonky will hide in the bunch. Since we don't want to add any wonky or even semi-wonky berries to our lovely glycerite, every single berry should be carefully examined.

Cutting every berry in half will both help max goodness be extracted and allow you to sort through every berry. Use only firm, plump berries that are bursting with blueberry deliciousness.

Method

• Sterilize the jar and your equipment
• Slice the berries
• Weigh the berries
• Weigh and add glycerine
• Add preservative
• Place lid on jar
• Keep jar in a dark and not too warm area
• Agitate the jar daily for 5-7 days

Here's a peek at the jar shortly after I put on the lid. One cannot help but fall in love with the deliciousness of the color, can one?

Fast forward 6 days. 

Straining

Straining any glycerite is an exercise in patience, so here are a few tips to help ease the process.

You'll need

• Container
• Funnel (or 2)
• Filters 
• Latex gloves (you'll see why in a minute)
• Bottle for your glycerite

Be sure your funnel, container and all equipment is clean before you start. Don your latex gloves, place the funnel over your container and line it with a filter. Prepare a second filter (so it can be slotted into place with one hand)

Pour the glycerite into the funnel and scoop out any floating berries (there will still be berries in the filter).

Now, GENTLY gather the edges of the filter and lift it up while placing a new filter (or second funnel with filter) into place. You now have a handful of filter number 1 - containing mostly berries and some glycerite

Ever so gently, squeeze the filter you are holding to extract as much liquid as possible.

Discard the fruit-laden filter.

You now have a setup that looks like this: a filter full of glycerite that is slowly running through.

Key word: slowly.

They say patience is a virtue.

Prepare to be virtuous.

Here's how:

Place your filter/container setup in a completely undisturbed place.
Cover it loosely with a 'foil tent' or other material that will keep dust, bugs and everything else undesired at bay.

Wait.

Wait some more.

Wait even longer.

If your glycerite stops dripping altogether, don a fresh pair of latex gloves - CAREFULLY gather the edges of your filter together and lift it out while placing a new filter.

Then, EQUALLY CAREFULLY, pour the glycerite from the first filter into the second.

Wait.

Wait some more.

Wait even longer.

If necessary, repeat the above filter-replacement exercise.

When the glycerite has finished filtering, transfer it to your bottle.

Date and label the bottle.

Rejoice at your virtuous-ness.

Time Factor

This glycerite took a total of 5 and a half hours to filter through. I did the filter-replacement exercise twice.

It was worth the wait.

Have fun.

:)


Blueberry fun facts 

• Blueberries have an average water content of around 84% 
• 100 grams of blueberries is about 57 calories 
• Blueberries have a natural content of methylparaben

Glycerite How to's on This Blog

Cucumber: 1
Cucumber: 2
Lemon
Strawberry

Coming up

All about the magic of glycerine and its many properties.