Hi Lisa. I use fresh. You don't have to use that much if you are not making a LOT of tincture. I believe that 2 pounds makes a half gallon of tincture--maybe more. It's been a long time since I've needed to make any. I have about 2 gallons sitting in my simples room.
I actually use 80 proof vodka. You can use either 100 or 80 proof. Depends on how much you want to spend. Here it's a bit harder to find 100 proof vodka. You can buy the cheapest American vodka you like because by law, all American vodka has to be both tasteless and odorless, so they are the same. Of course, when you look at imported vodka there's a huge price range. You CAN use dried peppers, or even powder, to make a tincture. I simply prefer to use fresh material whenever I can, and here I can buy habs or any other pepper all year long. They run about $4 a pound. I never measure my stuff out. I just always have a couple bottles of vodka on hand to make sure I have enough for when I get in my tincture making moods. What I do is just put in as much material as I have or will fit in my blender, cover with vodka and blend. If it's too thick I add more vodka and blend again. I want it to be slushy but not thick. Then when I pour it into the glass jar and let it settle, if there's not an inch of liquid on top I add enough vodka to do that. So since I don't measure, I can't give specifics. Just have a couple bottles of vodka on hand and blend away. :-) Samala, Renee -------Original Message------- Hi Renee do you use fresh or dried peppers? And if you use a 2 pounds how much vodka do you use (and is that 100 proof?). Ive made some myself but I used dried and definitely not a pound of peppers but I can always add more J
