Used since antiquity for its medicinal properties, borage (Borago officinalis) is considered by some as a weed found growing wild around the Mediterranean. However, borage fully deserves its place in the vegetable garden for its benefits to our well-being, or even in flower beds, as its small star-shaped flowers display a magnificent azure blue. These flowers are also very nectar-rich and appreciated by pollinating insects. Moreover, it requires very little attention and care and self-seeds year after year (at the risk of becoming invasive!). The leaves and flowers of borage can be used fresh in cooking or cosmetics, or dried. Discover all our advice on when and how to dry borage.

The ideal time to harvest borage

With borage, every part is useful! Indeed, you can harvest the leaves, stems and flowers. This "happy plant" has many benefits for general well-being and skin health. Whichever part of the plant interests you, harvest in the early morning once the dew has dried, on a sunny day. The key is to harvest your borage before the sun's rays become too hot.

borage

The stems, leaves and flowers of borage can be dried

As for the harvesting period, it runs from May to September, during the flowering of this herbaceous plant from the Boraginaceae family. However, if you only want to harvest the leaves, do so just before the small star-shaped flowers are in full bloom.

You can cut with scissors or secateurs either the whole plant, the flowering tops, or the small flowers one by one. The drying process will obviously differ depending on which parts you collect.

How to dry borage?

Traditional air-drying is always recommended to preserve borage's properties. If you've harvested flowering tops, make them into a bouquet by tying the stems with string or raffia and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated, dry room away from light. Do the same for the whole plant. After one or two weeks, they will be dry.

If you've only picked the pretty blue flowers, you'll need to spread them out on a flat surface like a tray, newspaper, or better yet a drying rack so air can circulate properly. Space them sufficiently so they don't overlap. Again, store the flowers in a dry, ventilated place out of direct sunlight. After a week, shake them to even out the drying. After 10 to 15 days, the borage flowers will be dry. Their bluish hue will still be slightly visible.

borage

Borage flowers tend to lose their azure blue colour when dried

If you don't have a sufficiently dry and ventilated room (like an attic), you can dry your borage in the oven at 50°C. Check the progress every 30 minutes. Allow 3 to 5 hours.

How to store dried borage properly?

Dried borage flowers and leaves should be stored in airtight glass containers or paper bags. The key is to keep them dry and away from light.

How to use dried borage flowers and leaves?

Although fresh borage flowers or leaves retain their properties better than dried ones, it's still beneficial to consume them dried, particularly in herbal teas or steam inhalations. For an infusion, use 1g per cup of simmering water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes. For a steam inhalation, throw two large handfuls of dried borage into a litre of boiling water and inhale the steam.

Dried borage can also be used in cosmetics. You can make a maceration with 1/3 dried borage and 2/3 olive oil. Leave to macerate for 6 weeks away from light at around 25°C. Strain and use as an oil to regenerate skin and delay ageing. In India, women also infuse borage flowers in coconut milk to make a hair mask.

borage borago

With dried borage flowers, you can make a maceration beneficial for the skin

The benefits of borage

Borage is beneficial for:

  • aiding healing and soothing sensitive, acne-prone skin or skin affected by psoriasis. It also promotes skin tone and reduces stretch marks.
  • Stimulating kidney and liver function. Consume in moderation. Pregnant women should avoid.
  • Soothing rheumatic pains.

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