Tincture vs. Extract: What's the Difference?
Let’s start with the basics. When it comes to herbal and mushroom preparations, the terms tincture and extract are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t quite the same thing.
A tincture is always considered an extract, but not all extracts are tinctures. Understanding this difference can help you make better choices when selecting herbal or mushroom products.
What Is an Extract?
An extract is any concentrated preparation made by pulling beneficial compounds from plant or mushroom material using a solvent like alcohol, water, or another liquid.
The Extraction Process:
Solvents: Alcohol, water, or other liquids are used to draw out beneficial compounds.
Breaking Down Cell Walls: In mushrooms, the solvent helps break down the tough chitin cell walls that humans can’t easily digest, making the nutrients more accessible.
Extraction Methods:
Maceration: Soaking the material in liquid for an extended period.
Percolation: A more active process where the material is mechanically crushed and liquid is passed through it.
Types of Extracts:
Herbal Extracts: Can be from a single herb or a blend of herbs.
Mushroom Extracts: Often made using dual extraction (water and alcohol) to pull out both water-soluble compounds (like beta-glucans) and alcohol-soluble compounds (like triterpenes).
Tinctures: A specific type of extract, typically made with alcohol (more on this below).
Powdered Extracts: Liquid extracts that have been dried into a powder for use in capsules or drink mixes.
Benefits of Extracts:
Increased Bioavailability: Extraction makes compounds easier to absorb.
Higher Potency: Concentrates the active ingredients for stronger effects.
Better Efficacy: Extracted compounds are typically more effective than consuming raw plant or mushroom material.
Extract Ratios:
You’ll often see extract ratios like 10:1 or 4:1 on product labels. This means that, for example, 10 parts of raw material were used to make 1 part of the final extract.
While a higher ratio can indicate a more potent extract, it’s also essential to understand which compounds are being concentrated.
What Is a Tincture?
A tincture is a specific type of liquid extract made primarily with alcohol as the solvent.
Key Characteristics:
Extraction Method: The herb or mushroom is soaked in alcohol for a specific period, usually several weeks. This slowly pulls out the beneficial compounds.
Alcohol-Based: Unlike other extracts that might use glycerin, vinegar, or just water, a true tincture always uses alcohol as the main solvent.
Potent and Convenient: Tinctures are concentrated and typically taken in small doses, often just a few drops under the tongue.
Long Shelf Life: Alcohol acts as a preservative, allowing tinctures to remain stable and effective for years when stored properly.
Versatile Use: Tinctures can be taken directly, added to drinks, or even used topically in some cases.
Quick Summary:
All tinctures are extracts, but not all extracts are tinctures.
Tinctures are alcohol-based liquid extracts, while extracts can come in many forms—liquid, powdered, or encapsulated—and can be made with a variety of solvents.
How We Do It at MO' Mushrooms
At MO' Mushrooms, we take tinctures seriously. All of our tinctures are made using a dual extraction process, which means we extract our mushrooms using both water and alcohol.
This allows us to pull out a wider range of beneficial compounds—beta-glucans (water-soluble) and triterpenes (alcohol-soluble)—to create what we believe is a more comprehensive and potent tincture than many of the mass-produced options you’ll find on store shelves.
We’re passionate about creating products that actually make a difference, and understanding the extraction process helps you see why not all tinctures are created equal.
