Concentration and Harvest

From 40-gallon ferment to 6oz concentrated jar delivering therapeutic dose in one teaspoon daily.

The Concentration Target

Current formulation: 1oz (28g) three times daily = 84g/day Target format: 1 teaspoon (5ml) daily from 6oz jar = one jar per month

Required concentration: 3–4× current formulation

Achieved through two compounding methods:

1. 70/30 botanical:brine ratio (vs. standard 60:40) → 1.5× botanical density
2. Freeze concentration of brine to 35% original volume → 2.8× brine concentration
3. Combined effect: ~3–4× total

Freeze Concentration (Primary Method)

No heat, no live culture kill, no thermal degradation:

1. Draw brine from mid-level of vessel (not top or bottom) — 25–30 liters per harvest cycle
2. Pour into shallow stainless trays
3. Freeze solid at −20°C (standard freezer)
4. Allow to begin thawing — drain the concentrated liquid as the first fraction thaws
5. Water (ice) crystallizes first, concentrating all dissolved compounds in the remaining liquid
6. Discard ice fraction (essentially pure water, compound-depleted)
7. Collect concentrated brine: 3–5× original compound concentration, live culture preserved

Why the first fraction is most concentrated: Ice nucleates from pure water preferentially. The last liquid to freeze contains the most solutes. The first liquid to thaw (as temperature rises back above 0°C) is the most concentrated fraction.

Botanical Matter Harvest

Open mesh bags. Extract minced botanical matter into collection vessel. This is NOT spent material:

What remains in the botanical matter after 120-day aqueous extraction:

• All highly lipophilic compounds (AKBA logP 6–8, carnosic acid logP 4–5, thymol logP 3.3) — essentially no aqueous extraction
• Intact fiber matrix with prebiotic function undiminished
• Fermentation-enhanced compounds (biotransformed to more bioavailable forms)
• Phytic acid reduced (mineral bioavailability improved)
• Piperine concentrated in softened peppercorns (consume peppercorn = consume piperine)
• Thymoquinone in softer, more accessible nigella seed matrix

The relish principle: Brine + botanical matter together are superior to either alone. They are complementary delivery mechanisms for different compound polarity classes.

Product Assembly

1. Combine concentrated brine with botanical matter at 40% brine / 60% botanical ratio
2. Fill 6oz mason jars
3. Use one-way valve lids for live product (CO₂ exit without O₂ entry)
4. Quality check: pH 3.0–3.5 in concentrated brine, complex sour-herbal aroma, characteristic trigeminal profile present
5. Label: batch number, harvest date, pH, botanical pack version

Yield Calculation (40-gallon batch)

• Brine volume: 91L → concentrated to ~25L (×3.5 concentration)
• Botanical matter: ~55kg
• Product per jar: ~177ml (6oz), 60% botanical / 40% brine
• Approximate yield: 200–225 jars per batch
• At staggered 4-tank operation: ~200 jars monthly

Serving Protocol

Dose: 1 teaspoon (5ml) daily at 3–4× concentration Timing: With a fat-containing meal — dietary fat solubilizes lipophilic compounds from botanical matter during digestion (the lecithin system in the brine assists, but meal-fat absorption through the gut mucosa is the primary lipophilic absorption route) Introduction: Start ½ teaspoon daily. Increase gradually. Use DAO enzyme supplement for first 4–6 weeks if histamine-sensitive.

Connections

• [[System Architecture]] — the source
• [[Brine Formulation]] — what's being concentrated
• [[Botanical Pack]] — the matter being harvested
• [[Product Concept]] — the commercial angle
• [[Sensory QC Protocol]] — quality assessment at harvest