The distillation process
What you need before you can distill:
First step
It takes a lot of aromatic plants
Average yield of plants per 100 kg:
Wild lavender) : 0,5 to 0.8 kg
Lavandin super : 1,5 to 2,00 kg
True Chamomile : 0,3 to 0,80 kg
Rosemary : 0,35 to 0,4 kg
Lemon balm : 0,005 to 0,001 kg
Eucalyptus globulus : 1 to 3 kg
Thyme ct linalol : 0,075 to 0, 1 kg
Thyme ct thymol : 0,15 in 0, 25 kg
Cloves : approximately 15 kg…
-Harvesting wild plants in their biotope
Harvesting wild lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller) Alpes de Haute Provence
Harvesting St-Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum) Cévennes
-Organic cultivated herbs
Harvest of the first plantation of Helichryse (Helichrysum italicum Don) in the Cévennes
Lemon balm from our garden (Melissa officinalis), Le Pompidou
Lemon balm from our garden (Melissa officinalis), Le Pompidou
-Conventional cultivated herbs
Lavandin abrial (Lavandulka x hybrida clone abrialis), Alpes de Haute Provence
Clary sage ( Salvia sclarea), Alpes de Haute Provence
Second stage
Techniques
The principle of distillation:
Distillation has a long history (see history).
The following apparatus are necessary:
A. A still for the herbs
Still from Henry Viaud
B. A steam generator
C. A cooling system
Eventually some filters and systems to decant
History of distillation
Follow the link towards the history of the distillation