Storing Horopito leaves

[Karearea]

I’m lucky enough to have been gifted some fresh horopito leaves from the Horopito area and need to store them for future gin runs
Any kiwi gin lovers out there have the best method for me please?
Cheers

[NZChris]

I’ve never used them. If I found some I would treat them like any other herb. Dry, then store in an airtight container away from light.

Always put the date on the container. I usually chuck my botanicals out whenever I come across a fresh lot.

[Karearea]

Thanks

[T-Boon]

Vacuum sealing is also a good idea.

[Karearea]

Vacuum sealing is also a good idea.

[NZChris]

I have vacuum sealed other botanicals, but I could smell them when I opened the cupboard so I only use glass now.

[Karearea]

Yup, I was warned about this too so my vacuum sealed bags are going in jars as well for double protection

[NZChris]

I went foraging yesterday but there’s none here. I’ll use kawakawa instead. No need to store that as there’s plenty around here to use fresh.

[Karearea]

I used some Kawakawa in my last (first ) batch and liked it but keen to try some liquorice root and horopito next time

[NZChris]

I’ve never used them. If I found some I would treat them like any other herb. Dry, then store in an airtight container away from light.

Always put the date on the container. I usually chuck my botanicals out whenever I come across a fresh lot.

I'm re-thinking that strategy.

Watching Australian Masterchef, I saw that one of the ingredients they could choose from was 20 year old Chinese tangerine/mandarin peel. I've been replacing aged citrus peel with new season peel whenever it comes available, but that might have been a mistake. The older peels I have in my apothecary will not be tossed out in the future.

Today, I harvested several years worth of my mandarin peel to sun dry and and age.

BTW, the gin I made using fresh Kawakawa leaves has an extreme louche. Tastes great, but looks like I spilled milk in it.