Historically, what is the most common way to extract botanicals?

The most common way to extract botanicals historically has been through infusion. Infusion involves steeping plant materials in a solvent, typically water or oil, to allow the beneficial compounds to infuse into the liquid. This method is accessible and has been utilized for centuries in various cultures to extract flavors, fragrances, and medicinal properties from herbs and flowers. It is particularly popular in the preparation of teas, herbal remedies, and culinary applications, where the infusion method effectively captures the essence of the plant in a form that can be easily consumed or used.

Other extraction methods like cold pressing, steam distillation, and solvent extraction are more specialized and often used for specific purposes, such as extracting essential oils or specific phytochemicals. While all these methods are valuable in their own right, infusion stands out as the most historically prevalent method due to its simplicity and widespread application in everyday practices.