Hydro Distillation

A distillation method where plant material is fully immersed in water, which is then heated to produce steam carrying aromatic compounds.

Category

How It Works

Unlike steam distillation where steam passes through material, here the botanicals sit directly in water. As the water heats, it extracts water-soluble compounds while also carrying volatiles upward as steam.

Parameters

Water-to-botanical ratio, temperature, duration

Best For

Materials that benefit from prolonged water contact for fuller extraction

Comparison

Gentler than direct steam injection. The water immersion provides a different extraction profile, capturing more water-soluble flavor compounds.