If you grow peppermint in your garden, you can easily learn how to make peppermint extract and use your fresh herbs. Peppermint extract is useful for culinary purposes, it can be used in baked goods, cocktails, ice cream, and more. Once you have this delicious extract on hand you will find more ways to use it in your kitchen. If you don't have a garden, dried peppermint can be purchased at a local herb shop or online and will work to make this extract.
Peppermint Benefits
Peppermint is a wonderful digestive aid. It soothes and calms the digestive system when used internally or externally. Peppermint helps to alleviate gas, indigestion, nausea, and heartburn. You can also use peppermint for relaxing nerves and improving circulation.
Medicinal Uses for Peppermint Tincture
Peppermint tincture can be used all on its own to help with digestive issues. Use 1-2 dropperful of the tincture for gas, bloating, nausea, or indigestion. You can also add it to a cup of hot water and sip it like a tea.
The words tincture and extract can be used interchangeably. Usually extract is used when referring to culinary uses and tincture is used in medicinal purposes. It is the exact same thing.
How to Make Peppermint Extract
Ingredients Needed:
- Fresh peppermint leaves
- 100 proof vodka
Instructions
- Place fresh peppermint leaves in a large, clean glass jar and pour on the solvent ensuring that the herb is covered.
- Close and label your jar with the name of the herb, solvent, and the date.
- Shake the jar for 1-2 minutes.
- Store in a cool dark place for at least 30 days (or longer), shaking the jar every 1-2 days.
- After 30 days you are ready to strain out the herbs. Pour the jar through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth. (There are some new fancy tools for this I have found like this herb press that helps make it less messy and extracts every last drop).
- Squeeze out the herb to get all remaining liquid.
- Discard or compost your herbs.
- Pour your finished tincture into a clean dark class bottle using a funnel.
- Close and label your jar with the name and date of your tincture.
Peppermint Extract
Ingredients
- Fresh peppermint leaves
- 100 proof vodka
Instructions
- Place fresh peppermint leaves in a large, clean glass jar and pour on the solvent ensuring that the herb is covered.
- Close and label your jar with the name of the herb, solvent, and the date.
- Shake the jar for 1-2 minutes.
- Store in a cool dark place for at least 30 days (or longer), shaking the jar every 1-2 days.
- After 30 days you are ready to strain out the herbs. Pour the jar through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth. (There are some new fancy tools for this I have found like this herb press that helps make it less messy and extracts every last drop).
- Squeeze out the herb to get all remaining liquid.
- Discard or compost your herbs.
- Pour your finished tincture into a clean dark class bottle using a funnel.
- Close and label your jar with the name and date of your tincture.
Recipes with Peppermint Extract
- Add to your homemade ice cream recipes, like this one Vegan Ice Cream
- Mix up your typical brownie recipe and add some peppermint extract for a chocolate mint treat
- Add peppermint extract to hot cocoa
- Use peppermint extract in your sugar cookies for a minty twist on a classic holiday cookie.
- Make homemade peppermint soap
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