The Drying Process of Wintergreen Leaves

Timing

• Timing is everything in harvesting wintergreen leaves. For maximum flavor, cut stems for drying just before the plant begins to bloom. Check on the plant daily, since wintergreen grows quickly. When a small bud appears at the top of the plant, it's time to harvest. The time of day that the plant is cut can also affect the flavor. Harvest mid-morning, after frost or dew is gone, but before the intense heat of day arrives. In most areas, this will be around 10 a.m. Dusk is another suitable option. Harvesting at the optimum time means the amount of oil in the wintergreen leaves will be at its highest, resulting in the most flavor after the leaves are dried.

Preparation

• Preparing wintergreen leaves is a simple but important part of the drying process. Most drying methods depend on the wintergreen leaves remaining attached to the stem. Cut long stems from the wintergreen plant, 1 to 2 inches above the base. Shake the stems to remove dirt, debris and bugs, then rinse them in cool water. Make sure all of the dirt is removed since you won't want it on the dried leaves. Handle the leaves gently, taking care not to crush them. Layer the stems in paper towels or cheesecloth to remove the water.

Oven-drying

• Since quick drying is the best way to preserve mint leaves, an oven is one of the best ways to go, especially if you don't have a food dehydrator available. It's important to keep the temperature low, since you don't want to cook or bake the leaves, which would remove much of the flavor. Set the oven to 180 F, place the stems on a cookie sheet in a single layer and put them in the oven for two to four hours, or until they are dry. A slightly slower, but safer method, is to warm the oven to 200 degrees, turn it off, wait 20 minutes and then place the leaves in the oven overnight. If they are not completely dry by morning, turn the oven on to about 140 degrees for about 20 minutes. Remove the leaves from the stems after drying.

Hanging

• The traditional method of drying wintergreen and other herbs is to hang them. This method is ideal in some ways, since it forces the oil into the leaves, but also requires specific conditions. You will need an area that is dark, dry, warm and has good air circulation. Tie a bunch of stems together tightly. Place a paper bag over them and tie it at the top. Hang the stems upside down for one to two weeks, until they are completely dry.

Food Dehydrator

• A food dehydrator is one of the quickest and easiest ways to dry wintergreen leaves. It takes the guesswork out of the process and ensures that the leaves will not become either moldy or cooked. Simply place the leaves in the dehydrator following the manufacturer's directions. The leaves do not necessarily need to be attached to the stems for drying in a dehydrator, but it may make handling them easier.