The invention provides a continuous process for obtaining triterpenes from plants and/or their components. The process can include continuously washing at least one of plant and plant parts in counter-current at 20.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. with a solvent in which the triterpenes are not soluble or only slightly soluble and continuously extracting triterpenes from the washed plant part or parts with a solvent under an increased pressure and an elevated temperature relative to the washing pressure and temperature in counter-current to form a triterpene containing solution where the plant parts are conveyed in counter-current to the solvent flow, on the basis of their different density in a pressure-tight and heatable tube and are discharged at an end of the tube opposite to the solvent discharge. The process can also include the steps of continuously cooling and depressurizing the triterpene containing solution, where triterpene crystallizes out of the solvent, filtering the triterpene crystals from the solvent at room temperature and washing the triterpene crystals in fresh solvent.