I totally get your point about lemon juice sometimes making things taste even sharper—I learned that the hard way with a lavender tincture once. Thought it'd mellow out nicely with citrus, but nope, it just got weirdly bitter. Your idea about using creamy or sweet stuff like yogurt or honey sounds spot-on though. I've had success mixing overly strong extracts into smoothies or oatmeal; it really helps mask that medicinal edge without diluting potency too much. Definitely agree less is usually more when experimenting... trial and error, right?
Yeah, smoothies are a lifesaver for masking weird herbal experiments. Another trick I've found helpful is diluting overly strong tinctures into a larger batch of something neutral—like plain tea or even just water—and then freezing it into ice cubes. That way, you can toss one or two cubes into drinks or soups gradually without overpowering the flavor. Plus, it's budget-friendly since you're not wasting your hard-earned herbs... learned that after nearly ruining a whole batch of chamomile extract once, haha.
Your ice cube trick is honestly genius—I wish I'd thought of that sooner. I've definitely had my share of herbal mishaps... once made a peppermint tincture so strong it felt like mouthwash every time I used it, haha. Diluting it into tea helped, but freezing smaller portions would've been way smarter. Anyway, don't beat yourself up about the chamomile batch—it's all part of experimenting and learning what works best for you.
I've been thinking about trying tinctures myself, but honestly, stories like yours make me a bit nervous, haha. The peppermint mouthwash thing sounds intense... I wonder if there's a way to test potency safely before committing to a whole batch? Like maybe starting with tiny amounts or something? I'm just worried about accidentally making something way too strong and then feeling obligated to use it anyway because herbs aren't exactly cheap. Has anyone found a reliable method for testing strength early on?
I've been nervous about this too, honestly. One thing I've tried is making a really small test batch first—like just a tiny jar or even half a jar—to get a sense of potency before committing to the full recipe. You can also dilute a few drops in water or tea to test strength safely without overwhelming yourself. I learned this the hard way after making a chamomile tincture that ended up way stronger than I expected... tasted awful and made me super sleepy at the wrong times, lol. Now I always start small and dilute first. Also, labeling clearly helps—write down exactly how much herb and alcohol you used, so if it's too strong or weak, you can adjust next time without guessing.
