Peppermint oil is distilled from the leaves and stems of peppermint plants.
Peppermint oil is distilled from the peppermint plant which grows throughout Europe and North America. Peppermint oil is used to flavor many common foods, and has been prized for its therapeutic properties for thousands of years. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, peppermint oil's oral use is an alternative remedy to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Diluted peppermint oil is also used as a balm or massage oil to treat muscle aches and pains, and in steam inhalations to help clear blocked sinuses and revive the senses. Enfleurage is one of the easiest and cheapest methods of making peppermint oil at home without using chemicals or destroying the herb's active properties.
Instructions
1. Chop the fresh peppermint leaves and stems into smaller pieces. Place in a dry, sterilized jar and fill the jar to the top.
2. Fill the jar with olive oil, completely covering the fresh peppermint. Shake the jar to distribute the oil evenly and use a skewer or chopstick to remove any air bubbles from the oil.
3. Tightly secure the lid of the jar and place it in a warm, shaded place.
4. Leave the contents of the jar to infuse for three days. Check the jar once each day to ensure that the peppermint is still completely submerged in the oil. Shake the jar and use a skewer or chopstick to push down any exposed peppermint if necessary.
5. On the third day, remove the plant material from the oil by straining the contents of the jar through a cheesecloth (or a piece of unbleached muslin) into a glass bowl. Discard the plant material.
6. Refill the jar with more fresh peppermint and transfer the peppermint-infused oil collected in Step 5 back into the jar.
7. Repeat the process outlined in Steps 1 through 5 several times (or until the desired potency is reached) adding new peppermint to the recycled oil each time.
8. Strain the peppermint oil for a final time and pour into an airtight glass storage bottle.
Tags: fresh peppermint, distilled from, leaves stems, Peppermint distilled, Peppermint distilled from, plant material, skewer chopstick