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Yerba mate, coffee, and tea (left to right) are used to create caffeinated infusions

Infusion is the process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent such as water, oil or alcohol, by allowing the material to remain suspended in the solvent over time (a process often called steeping). An infusion is also the name for the resultant liquid. The process of infusion is distinct from both decoction—a method of extraction involving boiling the plant material—and percolation, in which water is passed through the material (as in a coffeemaker).

History

The first recorded use of essential oils was in the 10th or 11th century by the Persian polymath Avicenna, possibly in The Canon of Medicine.^{[citation needed]}

Tea is far older than this, dating back to the 10th century BC as the earliest recorded reference.

Preparation techniques

Infusion is a very simple chemical process used with botanicals that are volatile and dissolve readily, or release their active ingredients easily in water, oil, or alcohol. The botanicals are typically dried herbs, flowers or berries. The liquid is typically boiled (or brought to another appropriate temperature) and then poured over the herb, which is then allowed to steep in the liquid for a period of time. The liquid may then be strained or the herbs otherwise removed from the liquid, creating an infusion. Unless the infusion is to be consumed immediately, it may then be bottled and refrigerated for future use.

The amount of time the herbs are left in the liquid depends on the purpose for which the infusion is being prepared. Infusion times can range anywhere from seconds (some kinds of Chinese tea) to hours, days, or months (liqueurs like Sloe Gin).

There have been several accessories and techniques for removing the steeped or left over products that were used to infuse liquids such as water, oil, or alcohol. The use of a metal steeper, which looks like a metal clamp. Tea infusers work as strainers and assist in removal of used herbs,leaves, etc., from over steeping or leaving residues. French presses are commonly used to infuse water with various teas and coffee. Lastly, and most commonly used, the tea bag. Tea bags today are made with filter paper and filled with various tea flavors.

Examples

Left side: Lime, ginger and mint infused water

Right side: Pomegranate infused water

A common example of an infusion is tea; most varieties of tea call for steeping the leaves in hot water, although some variants (e.g. Moroccan mint tea) call for decoction instead. Many herbal teas are prepared by infusion, as well; lemon, chamomile, senna, apple, ginger, rooibos, and a great many other plants are used individually or in combination. Herbal infusions in water and oil are both commonly used as herbal remedies. Coffee can also be made through infusion (as in a French press), but is more often made through percolation.

Plants with desirable flavors 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 flavoring. Chilis, lemon, garlic, and many other plants may be used. There can be ambiguity in the labeling of these oils: for example, what is described as sesame oil may be oil extracted from sesame seeds, or another vegetable oil infused with sesame.

See also

• Aromatherapy


• Chinese herbology


• Decoction


• Herbalism


• List of cooking techniques


• Tincture


• Maceration (food)


• Percolation

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Infusions.

• 
  The dictionary definition of infuse at Wiktionary


• 
  Learning materials related to Infusion maker at Wikiversity