Drying, in general, refers to methods for lowering the moisture content of damask petals, and these techniques lower enzymatic and microbiological activity and lengthens the shelf life rose. Additionally, drying reduces the weight and volume of the product, making it easier to store and transport. The following prerequisites for drying must be met: Reduce the moisture content until it reaches the equilibrium point. For each particular temperature and relative humidity, the equilibrium limit varies and is established in accordance with standards or client requirements. minimal degradation of active substances, color, flavor, and fragrance The prescribed range for microbial load should not be exceeded. There may be no need to include any chemical additions. Method for drying aromatic and medicinal plants: Dry naturally Natural drying is the simplest drying technique. This technique is typically used for manually gathered medicinal and aromatic plants that are kept out of direct sunlight or in well-ventilated areas.
The items are either hung in bundles, which is to say several stems are gathered together and wrapped into a bundle, or they are arranged on the tray in thin layers. In a comfortable, shaded location, they are hung upside down. It is preferable to use a tiny fan if the room's natural ventilation is insufficient. Dry with hot air Traditional techniques of drying in the sun or shade have a number of drawbacks, such as their inability to handle the volume of medicinal plants produced using mechanical harvesting equipment or their inability to meet the requirements for medicinal plant quality. During the harvest season, the high air temperature and relative humidity encourage the growth of fungi and the dispersion of insects in the collected goods. Strong solar radiation also has a negative impact on plant quality, diminishes the amount of essential oil, and alters the color of the products. As a result, the natural (traditional) drying procedure in the sun or shade cannot live up to requirements and cannot satisfy customer expectations. Convection air flow drying is frequently utilized to solve these issues. Heat energy is transmitted between a solid and a fluid when their temperatures are different. The term "convection heat transfer" refers to this phenomena. The product may dry out if some types of air heaters increase the temperature of the air around it.
The temperature of medicinal plants rises in hot air, which also causes moisture to evaporate. The air has the necessary capacity to absorb water evaporated from the product based on the air conditions surrounding it and the relative humidity difference between it and the air. Warm air has a lower density than cold air, which causes an airflow known as natural convection. Forced convection is the term used to describe air movement produced by air conditioners. A layer of material may allow hot air to pass through or around it. Within solids, convection also helps transfer heat. The most popular drying technique today is hot air drying. Using microwave energy to dry The idea behind microwave drying is that when plant material is exposed to a high-frequency electric field, it absorbs energy. The water in the plant matter absorbs the energy, which causes its temperature to rise and the water to evaporate. Unfortunately, for thicker layers and non-homogeneous plant material, the electric field is not constant. Only highly expensive thermometers may be used for temperature control, and the temperature of the material and the air are not the same. The plant material will be destroyed if a place becomes too hot. The drying process may be precisely controlled with microwave energy, which improves product quality, cuts down on drying time, and boosts energy efficiency.
Freezing off (sublimation) Heat-sensitive, delicate, and priceless materials like some medicinal plants can benefit from freeze drying. The plant material is frozen in this procedure, and the ice is then instantly turned into vapor (sublimation). The frozen plant material is subjected to a partial pressure of water vapor below 600 pascals to cause sublimation. By conducting this operation in a vacuum, it is simple to produce and maintain a partial pressure of water vapor below 600 pascals. Plant material is entirely frozen during the first of three phases of freeze drying, known as primary freezing, which employs temperatures below zero degrees Celsius. In the second stage, loose ice is eliminated through primary drying or sublimation. The bound water is taken out during secondary drying, which is the last phase. The following elements are essential while drying medicinal and aromatic plants:
- It is not advisable to collect plants in humid conditions (produced by rain and dew) or during the hottest portions of the day.
- Before drying, the required organs must be separated from the rest of the plant.
- It is best to separate wastes such as bug bits, other plant leftovers, stones, mud, wood, and similar objects before drying the product.
- The primary goal of washing the collected product is to remove the muck from the subsurface organs and roots, which should be used solely with water.
- Every tool used for gathering, cutting, transporting, erecting fences, and spreading plants must be clean.
- The drying place should not be near companies that produce hazardous dust, fumes, or essential oils.
- To ease drying, our plants' rhizomes, tubers, roots, and other thick, meaty organs, as well as their fruits, should be cut at various angles and broken into smaller pieces.
- Plants should not be stacked or compressed in any way, but rather spread out in low layers on clean surfaces.
- Light plants, such as chamomile and cumin, can be easily displaced by wind while drying, increasing their losses.
- To expedite the drying process, the product should not be turned upside down. It is ideal to dry plants on wire netting, fences, and other mesh surfaces that are elevated off the ground to enhance air flow.
- Plants should not be over-dried in industrial techniques where the heat can be controlled because, first, it may impair the chemical nature of their components, second, it is costly, and third, over-dried plants absorb some moisture again and reach a balance with the humidity of the environment.
- Because of specific methods, the humidity can be unusually high at times. It is therefore more vital to pay attention to ventilation and heat in order to dry these organs.
- Heavy metal contamination is possible when utilizing newspaper sheets or other printed papers as a substrate and drying place.
- When dried plants are exposed to the humidity of the environment, they absorb some moisture. If the moisture comes from aromatic compounds, it will alter the taste and fragrance of the dried plant. Dried plants in unfamiliar environments might absorb the odor of paint and polish.
- The use of microwave radiation or visible light reflected from surfaces to dry medicinal and aromatic plants is not recommended due to the potential harm to the active components.
There are numerous challenges if you attempt to do this on your own, including the fact that sunlight destroys a significant portion of the aromatic scent and its characteristics, that you have no control over the environment's temperature, the amount of drying, and the flower's drying period. On the other hand, because it is in a public area, it is subject to a variety of pollution, banana bugs, and soil deterioration. But with our expertise and techniques, we can manage these circumstances and quickly make dry, high-quality petals for you. In our global rose water export company, we use the best machines and methods to pasteurize rose water. We promise to provide you with the highest quality products at the most competitive prices. Rose is the focus of many fragrances and cosmetic companies around the world because of the countless benefits it offers. Some of these brands are among the most well-known brands in the world. To clarify, if your products are not selling as well as before, you should try experimenting with different ingredients to see what effect such changes have.