How to Make a Hot Pepper Tincture

Hot pepper tinctures are made by placing ground up or powdered peppers in grain alcohol for several weeks. The theory is that the alcohol draws out the medicinal qualities of the peppers for use in a variety of alternative medicine applications. Common uses of hot pepper tinctures include combating alcoholism and fighting off common ailments likes flues or colds. Cayenne peppers are often used because they are widely available in many countries.

Things You'll Need

• Vodka or Brandy
• 1/8 cup dry cayenne pepper
• 1/8 cup fresh cayenne pepper
• Coffee grinder
• Blender
• 1 quart canning jar
• Unbleached coffee filter

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Instructions

• 1

  Grind 1/8 cup of cayenne peppers with the coffee grinder. Pour the peppers into the canning jar.

• 2

  Add enough Vodka to cover the layer of ground cayenne peppers.

• 3

  Combine 1/8 cup of fresh cayenne peppers and approximately 1/2 cup of Vodka in a blender. Blend the mixture until it is roughly the consistency of apple sauce.

• 4

  Pour the mixture from the blender into the canning jar.

• 5

  Fill the rest of the canning jar until it is roughly 3/4 full. Shake the contents to mix it thoroughly.

• 6

  Store the mixture in a dark place for four to six weeks. Shake the concoction at least once per day.

• 7

  Strain the mixture through an unbleached coffee filter to remove the cayenne peppers. The resulting liquid is the hot pepper tincture.