Basic Herbalist Tools (and Where to Find Them, and How to Use Them)

Hello Healers, and I hope you’re well today!

When you’re just starting your herbalism journey, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds — figuratively and literally. You might scroll through pictures of gorgeous apothecary shelves online and think, “Wow, I’ll need to spend a fortune to even start.” But I’m here to tell you… you really don’t.

The truth? Most herbalist tools are humble, affordable, and in many cases, already sitting in your kitchen. The rest can be found second-hand, at thrift stores, or through your local herbal supply shop.

Let’s go through some basic herbalist tools, why you need them, and how to actually use them.

1. Mason Jars (aka: the Herbalist’s Best Friend)

What they’re for: Infusing herbs in oil, brewing tinctures, storing dried herbs, and mixing syrups.How to use them: Fill your jar with herbs, add your chosen liquid (oil, alcohol, vinegar, water), and let time and patience work their magic. Mason jars are also perfect for labeling and organizing your herb collection.Where to find them: Grocery stores, hardware stores, thrift shops, or even washed-out pasta sauce jars from your own pantry.

2. Fine Mesh Strainer (and/or Cheesecloth)

What it’s for: Straining out plant material from oils, tinctures, and teas.How to use it: For liquid infusions, place your strainer over a clean jar or bowl, pour slowly, and let gravity do the rest. Cheesecloth is great for squeezing every last drop out of a batch of oil or syrup.Where to find it: Kitchen sections of most stores, online, or in your local dollar store.

3. A Dedicated Cutting Board & Knife

What it’s for: Chopping fresh herbs, roots, and other plant material.How to use it: Use your knife to chop herbs to the size you need before drying or infusing. Keep a board separate from your food prep — herbs can stain wood, and garlic-scented peppermint is… less than pleasant.Where to find it: Anywhere kitchen goods are sold. Thrift stores often have inexpensive boards and knives that just need a good scrub.

4. Measuring Cups & Spoons

What they’re for: Keeping your recipes consistent and repeatable.How to use them: Herbalism isn’t always an exact science, but when you’re learning, having the same ratios each time helps you understand what works for you.Where to find them: Grocery stores, kitchen shops, or second-hand stores.

5. Small Cooking Pot (for Decoctions & Syrups)

What it’s for: Gently simmering roots, barks, and seeds to extract their goodness, or cooking down syrups.How to use it: For a decoction, combine water and herbs, simmer low and slow for 15–30 minutes, strain, and enjoy. For syrups, cook your tea with sugar or honey until it thickens slightly.Where to find it: Already in your kitchen! If not, thrift stores are full of them.

6. Mortar & Pestle (Optional but Oh-So Nice)

What it’s for: Grinding dried herbs into powder or breaking up seeds for better extraction.How to use it: Place herbs in the mortar, press and twist with the pestle until you reach your desired texture.Where to find it: Kitchen shops, online, or at cultural markets.

7. Labels & a Good Pen

What they’re for: Remembering what you made and when. Trust me — “mystery jar from last fall” is not fun to guess at.How to use them: Write the name of the herb, preparation, and date on every jar or bottle.Where to find them: Office supply stores, craft stores, or the humble roll of masking tape.

A Note on Using Your Tools

The real magic isn’t in the tool itself — it’s in how you use it. You can spend hundreds of dollars on fancy jars, copper stills, and imported strainers, or you can make do with an old teapot, a pasta strainer, and a few mason jars from the thrift store. The plants don’t mind, and the medicine works the same.

Where to Start Your Collection

• Your own kitchen — you’d be surprised what’s already there.

• Thrift stores — especially for jars, pots, and strainers.

• Farmer’s markets — sometimes herbalists sell their surplus tools.

• Online herbal suppliers — for specific items like tincture bottles or cheesecloth in bulk.

Closing Thoughts

Don’t let a lack of fancy equipment hold you back from starting your herbal journey. The most important “tool” you can bring to herbalism is curiosity. Every jar, spoon, and simmering pot is just a bridge between you and the plants.

Start simple, gather tools as you go, and remember — our ancestors made medicine with far less than we have today.

Until next time, Healers, may your jars always be full and your tea always warm. 🌿