Use the Herb Dryness Test

Know your Herbs are Completely Dry!

I will never forget the day I had to throw away an entire gallon jar of dried peppermint because it had become moldy. All that work wasted! And the disappointment...No peppermint tea!!

I was sure I had dried it properly. What went wrong?!?! At that time, I did not know about the test for herb dryness.

Don't let this happen to you!

There are actually two tests that will determine if your herbs are thoroughly dry. Depending upon what type of herb you are drying, one or both of the tests will need to be used.

That is how a fully dried herb leaf should feel: Just like a crisp cornflake when you break or crush it between your fingers. If there is any bend to it, or even a slight lack of crunchiness, it needs more drying time.






Cornflake Test Step 1: Dried mint leaves ready for Cornflake crispy test!












Cornflake Test Step 2: Crushing dried mint leaves between fingers.












Cornflake Test Step 3: These mint leaves pass the crispy Cornflake Test! They crumble easily when crushed.







Need a hands-on demonstration? Get a fresh box of cornflake cereal and break or crush a few of the flakes with your fingers. Now you know what you are looking (or feeling) for!

This is the test you will use when drying the leaves and flower portions of most herbs.

Note: You do not want to crush every leaf to see if it is dry. Keep your herbs whole or at least in as large a piece as possible. This helps the herb retain much of its essential oils and therefore its beneficial properties. Just check a few of the largest leaves in the batch you are drying. If they pass the test, the rest should be fine!



But, sometimes the leaves or flowers of the herb you are drying are fleshy, having thick veins (like Comfrey or Mullein), petals or sepals. Or they might have small stem that require more drying time.

Then you will need to use the second herb dryness test along with the Cornflake test to insure the job is properly done.

When drying larger leaves (like Comfrey, Plantain, or Mullein) you must allow extra drying time for their fleshy leaves and thicker veins. Some flowers with denser structures (like Red Clover) will need extra time too.


To be sure that these herbs are totally dry, you must check their leaves with the cornflake test, and their larger veins or stems with the Snap Test.






Snap Test Step 1: Dried Mullein leaf ready for the Snap Test!












Snap Test Step 2: Note that Mullein's thick central vein could cause this dried leaf to spoil in storage if not fully dry.










Snap Test Step 3: Snapping central vein of Mullein leaf to assure it's completely dry.











Snap Test Step 4: This leaf passes the Snap Test! Its central vein snapped easily in two.








If you need a hands-on feel for this test, go on a walk (best in the fall or winter) and pick up a small dry twig. Snap it quickly between your fingers. That is how your herb's central vein or stem should snap when it is thoroughly dry.

If it doesn't snap, put it back! Back in to dry some more!

It is a good idea to check each large leaf as you put it into a glass jar for storage. Better to take a little time now to prevent having to dump the whole lot later!

Note: You do not need to snap the entire leaf in two. Just snap in the center of the vein, and leave the leaf intact.


Knowing these simple herb dryness tests will give you confidence that your dried herbs will be ready for use whenever you need them!






TOP of Herb Dryness Test page
UNDERSTAND the different drying methods
LEARN about a specific herb