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How to Extract Mint Oil From Mint Leaves
How to Extract Mint Oil From Mint Leaves. Oil extracted from mint leaves has many uses. In addition to acting as a flavoring agent for foods, mint oils are also used in lotions, medicines, and candy. If you grow your own mint at home, you can use the herb to create fresh mint oil in a matter of weeks with the help of some high-proof alcohol. This...
Oil extracted from mint leaves has many uses. In addition to acting as a flavoring agent for foods, mint oils are also used in lotions, medicines, and candy. If you grow your own mint at home, you can use the herb to create fresh mint oil in a matter of weeks with the help of some high-proof alcohol. This age-old method of herbal extraction is easy to execute.
Things You'll Need
Mason jar
Mint leaves
Grain alcohol or high-proof vodka
Sieve, strainer, or cheesecloth
Knife
Funnel
Step 1
Mince fresh mint leaves with a knife. The finer the leaves are chopped, the more surface area will be available for oil extraction.
Step 2
Place the chopped leaves into a glass mason jar. Fill the jar with three parts of a high-proof alcohol such as grain alcohol or vodka for every one part minced leaves.The alcohol will act as an agent to pull the oils out of the mint.
Step 3
Cap the jar and shake well. Leave the container of herbs to sit in a dark place for the next four to six weeks. Shake the jar to stir up its contents every few days.
Step 4
After the mint has soaked for four to six weeks, separate the plant material from the liquid by pouring the mixture into a clean bowl through a sieve or strainer. Wrap the soaked leaves in a piece of fine cheesecloth and squeeze out any captured extract.
Step 5
Store the mint extract in small glass bottles or jars in a cool dark place.
