Revitalize your digestion with the invigorating essence of oranges in this homemade bitters recipe!
Herbalist
Jess
Remedy
Bitter
Difficulty
Easy / Beginner
Disclaimer: As always, I am not a licensed medical or healthcare professional. I love herbalism and want to share all that I have learned, however, please do your research, and consult with a healthcare professional or herbalist before incorporating any herbal remedies into your routine, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications.
If you are a fan of cocktails & mocktails, you probably know (or maybe just heard) about Bitter Extracts. Today bitter extracts are more widely known to be enjoyed in alcoholic beverages but before they became that tasty splash in your alcoholic drink they were traditionally digestive tonics. Not much of a cocktail drinker myself, I didn’t hear of a bitter extract until I went down the rabbit hole of herbalism. So – with that, let’s briefly dive into bitter extracts. Afterward, try the recipe at the end and tell me what you think!
So, What are Bitter Extracts?
Quite simply, they are tonics that jump-start your digestion. They are made out of bitter herbs and foods and are…well – bitter. When taken straight they make your face pucker a little and make your mouth feel like a dried-up sponge. Fortunately, you don’t have to take it straight (unless you want to, you weirdo) and can combine it with your favorite drink like tea or water. You can also add a touch of sweetener, like honey. They are typically made with alcohol, similar to a tincture but they do not need to sit for as long. You can find more in-depth information between tinctures and bitters in The Herbal Apothecary series.
What are the Benefits of Digestive Bitters?
Consuming bitter foods and drinks helps stimulate your digestion. The receptors on your tongue react to the bitter flavors, setting your body’s digestion process in motion. Whether you are eating bitter foods or taking a bitter tonic, jump-starting your body’s digestion before eating is beneficial to gut health. For more information on how Digestive Bitters are beneficial to your health check out my post: From Ancient Roots to Modern Remedies: A Comprehensive Guide to Digestive Bitters
With your digestion geared up and ready to go, it has been shown to help relieve:
Not only does consuming bitter foods and tonics help your digestion but it also helps with overall gut health. A healthy gut not only has the benefits listed above but also helps:
What goes into a Bitter?
The thing that I love about making digestive bitters is the fact that most of the ingredients (if not all) are already in many households. If not, they are easily accessible and inexpensive. Most bitter extracts use the following bitter herbs, spices, & foods and these are the ones that the recipe below will use as well.
Putting it all together, literally.
Another thing that I like about making bitter extracts (or herbal extracts for that matter) is the fact that they are so incredibly easy to make. Get ingredients. Put ingredients in a jar – shake and wait. Boom – done. Shake 1 to 2 times a day for a week and then give it a taste. If the flavors are to your liking then strain and enjoy! If not, continue to shake daily and wait another 1-2 weeks, tasting each week.
Another way that some prefer to do this is to make Individual extracts or buy them and then add them together in a new jar to use.
What Now?
Get brewing! The options out there are endless. Start with the simple recipe below and then start adding your unique touch to it. Don’t like oranges or grapefruit? No worries – add pear instead.
As with many herbal remedies, bitter extracts are versatile. Start simple and then continue to learn more about bitter herbs and what spices complement each other.
Orange Bitters
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dried hawthorn berries
- 1 tbls fennel seed
- 1 tbls anise seed
- 3 cloves
- ¼ cup shredded ginger
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup hibiscus
- 1 tbls artichoke leaves
- 1 orange diced
- ¼ to ½ cup honey to taste
- Alcohol vodka or grain alcohol 80 proof - 100 proof (recommended)
Instructions
- Place all herbs, spices and orange in a 1-quart jar.
- If using, add honey.
- Fill the jar with the alcohol making sure to stir well and that everything is covered by alcohol.
- Cover with lid and shake 1 to 2 times per day.
- After 2 weeks, strain through a mesh, making sure to squeeze out all the alcohol and preserve liquid in a dark bottle.
- Take approximately ½ teaspoon or about 5 to 10 drops before eating.
Notes
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What’s your favorite bitter blend? How did you enjoy these little tonics? Comment below and let me know!
