Decoction
General description of the method; for a specific herb always check suitability, plant part and safety on its card.
Longer simmering of plant material in water.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
- Preparation time (rough guide):
- About 15–45 minutes of simmering depending on material.
- Equipment:
- Lidded pot, strainer, heat source; a storage jar for the cooled liquid.
- General preparation safety
Concentration rises with time and herb amount. Do not exceed guidance for toxic or strongly acting species; skip preparation if you are unsure.
More detail
A decoction is made by simmering plant material in water — often around 10–20 minutes depending on tradition and plant part. Denser parts (roots, bark, some seeds) are often prepared more reliably this way than with a short infusion.
Compared with an infusion it can extract more compounds, but also more tannins or bitterness; the flavour profile differs from a delicate tea. Combine this overview with the herb card for suitable plant part and contraindications.
Related methods
Methods are often compared — links below go to the detail page with short context.
Recipes in the catalogue
These herbs have a published step-by-step procedure for this method — full instructions are on the herb card under processing.
- American ginsengAmerican ginseng root decoction
- Black pepperWarming pepper and ginger decoction (kadha)
- CacaoCacao decoction from crushed beans (cacao tea)
- Ceylon cinnamonCeylon cinnamon bark decoction
- ComfreyComfrey leaf decoction for external compressing
- Common bistortBistort rhizome decoction
- Field horsetailField horsetail spring-top decoction
- Greek mountain teaGreek mountain tea — boiled the Greek way
- TurmericGolden milk — turmeric decoction
- ValerianValerian root decoction
Herbs in the catalogue
Published herbs that list this method on the card.
Showing 15 of 147 — 15 herbs in the list
- American ginsengPanax quinquefolius
- AshwagandhaWithania somnifera
- Black pepperPiper nigrum
- CacaoTheobroma cacao
- Ceylon cinnamonCinnamomum verum
- ComfreySymphytum officinale
- Common bistortPersicaria bistorta
- Field horsetailEquisetum arvense
- FingerrootBoesenbergia rotunda
- Greater galangalAlpinia galanga
- Greek mountain teaSideritis scardica
- MarulaSclerocarya birrea
- TurmericCurcuma longa
- UmckaloaboPelargonium sidoides
- ValerianValeriana officinalis