Infusion

Infusion

An infusion is the outcome of plants with a desired flavour in water or oil.

An infusion is very similar to a decoction but is used with herbs that are more volatile or dissolve readily in water or release their active ingredients easily in oil. Making an infusion is virtually the same as making tea from leaves. Pour boiling water over the herb (or water of the appropriate temperature) and allow to steep for a time, usually 15 to 30 minutes or until the mix cools. The mix is then strained, bottled, and refrigerated for future use. Quantities of the herb/water or oil mix will vary according to the herb or how strong you want the mix. Common measurements are one ounce of herb to one pint of liquid but this may vary greatly.

Examples

* Herbs or other plants can be placed in boiling water for a few minutes, then discarded, and the water drunk as a beverage. A common example is tea. Many other drinks, often called herbal teas although they may contain no tealeaves, are prepared in this way. Lemon, chamomile, senna, apple, ginger, rooibos, and a great many other plants are used individually or in combination. Infusions of this type are sometimes drunk for pleasure; others are claimed to be advantageous for health.
* Herbal remedies and essential oils are prepared with 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb, or 2 to 4 fresh herbs, or flowers or berries, infused in oil or water (which does not need to be boiled) for about ten minutes and strained. Waiting too long before straining results in a bitter-tasting infusion. The herb/botanical is then removed from the oil and the oil is used in the many recipes or methods which call for short-term infused oils.
* Plants with desirable flavours 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 flavouring. Chillies, lemon, garlic, and many other plants may be used. There can be ambiguity: for example, what is described as sesame oil may be oil extracted from sesame seeds, or an inferior quality vegetable oil infused with sesame.

The first recorded use of essential oils was in the 10th century by the Muslim Persian chemist Avicenna.

ee also

*Herbal tea
*Aromatherapy
*Chinese herbology
*Decoction
*Herbalism
*Tincture
*Tisane

References

* [http://www.indio.net/taino/main/remedio/prepare.htm "Preparing Herbal Remedies"] ( [http://www.indio.net Indio.net] ) accessed April 17, 2007
* [http://www.cancerlynx.com/tea.html "Herbal Infusion (Medicinal Strength Tea)" by Sarah Holmes, Clinical Herbalist] ( [http://www.cancerlynx.com/ CancerLynx] ) accessed January 7, 2006
* [http://www.pindariherbfarm.com/educate/infusion.htm Basic Guidelines in making oil infusions] by Ken Atherton Phc.


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  • infusion — [ ɛ̃fyzjɔ̃ ] n. f. • XIIIe; lat. infusio 1 ♦ Action d infuser dans un liquide une substance végétale dont on veut extraire les principes solubles. Les tisanes, le thé se font par infusion dans l eau chaude. Infusion à froid. ⇒ macération. 2 ♦… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • infusion — in‧fu‧sion [ɪnˈfjuːʒn] noun [countable, uncountable] the act of putting a lot of money or something else that is needed into a company, organization etc: infusion of • Most Japanese acquisitions have been followed by an infusion of capital or… …   Financial and business terms

  • Infusion — In*fu sion, n. [L. infusio a pouring in: cf. F. infusion. See {Infuse}, v. t.] 1. The act of infusing, pouring in, or instilling; instillation; as, the infusion of good principles into the mind; the infusion of ardor or zeal. [1913 Webster] Our… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • infusion — Infusion. s. f. L action d infuser quelque drogue. On ne tire ordinairement le suc d une drogue, que par l infusion qu on en fait dans quelque liqueur. Il se prend aussi, pour La liqueur où on a mis infuser quelque drogue. Une infusion de sené,… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • infusión — introducción terapeútica de un líquido, especialmente de suero salino en una vena. Goteo . Preparación farmaceútica obtenida añadiendo agua hierviendo sobre drogas medicamentosas para extraer los principios activos solubles fotografía [véase http …   Diccionario médico

  • Infusion — Sf Einträufelung von Flüssigkeiten per. Wortschatz fach. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. īnfūsio ( ōnis) das Hineingießen, das Einspritzen , zu l. īnfundere hineingießen, hineinspritzen , zu l. fundere gießen, fließen lassen und l. in .… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • infusión — sustantivo femenino 1. (no contable) Sistema mediante el que se sumergen unos productos, generalmente plantas, en agua hirviendo para que pasen a ella sus elementos solubles: una taza de infusión. Toma una infusión de tila. 2. Bebida obtenida por …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • infusion — c.1400, from O.Fr. infusion (13c.) or directly from L. infusionem (nom. infusio), noun of action from pp. stem of infundere (see INFUSE (Cf. infuse)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • infusion — [in fyo͞o′zhən] n. [< Fr or L: Fr infusion < L infusio] 1. the act or process of infusing 2. something infused; tincture; admixture 3. the liquid extract that results from steeping a substance in water 4. Med. the introduction of a solution …   English World dictionary

  • Infusion — (v. lat.), 1) so v.w. Infusum, s. Aufguß; 2) (Med.), Einbringen flüssiger od. gasförmiger fremder Stoffe in Blutgefäße, bes. Venen lebender Thiere od. Menschen. Die I. hat als Heilung wenig Erfolg gehabt u. wird jetzt meist nur zur Erforschung… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Infusion — (lat., »Eingießung«), das Einbringen von Flüssigkeiten in den Körper auf ungewöhnlichem Weg behufs Aufnahme in den Blutkreislauf. Man unterscheidet je nach dem Verfahren: 1) I. direkt in die Blutadern (intravenöse Injektion), 2) I. in die… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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