Part of the reason that I decided to grow mint this year was so that I could try making my own peppermint extract. Jesse and I are pretty much obsessed with mint (especially mint plus chocolate) so we go through a lot of mint extract. Even though I buy my extracts through Azure Standard, they’re not exactly cheap, so making my own seemed like a great way to save some money.
I finally got down to it last weekend. The extract has only been sitting for a few days so far so I can’t tell you how it came out, but I wanted to share the method now in case anyone else has an abundance of mint just begging to be used for something.
How to Make Peppermint Extract
I did a quick Google search and found a multitude of recipes, all of which followed the same basic outline. Taking direction particularly from this recipe from Crunchy Betty and this recipe from Saved by the Egg Timer, here’s what I did:
Harvest a bunch of mint leaves from your mint plant. I chose to cut off stalks of mint because my plant was getting quite big, but I’m sure that you could just pull off individual leaves if you prefer.
Harvested mint leaves
Remove mint leaves from stalks (if applicable) and pack leaves into a measuring cup to determine how much mint you have. I ended up with about 1/2 cup of mint. Since I wanted to make my mint extract in a pint jar, 1/2 cup of leaves was a good amount for me, but you could easily use more or less leaves if desired.
Mint leaves ready to be rinsed
Rinse mint leaves with water, then squeeze leaves in your hands to bruise the leaves before placing them into a clean glass jar. (Bruising the leaves helps them release their oil when they’re placed in the vodka.)
Add about two to four times as much vodka as you have mint, making sure that use enough to submerge all of your leaves. I originally planned on adding one cup of vodka for my 1/2 cup of mint, but that didn’t end up being enough vodka to cover my leaves so I bumped it up to 1 1/2 cups.
Cover your jar with a lid and allow to steep for about a month in a cool, dark place. (I put mine in my pantry.) After the month has elapsed, you can start tasting the extract to see if it’s developed the flavor and intensity you want. If so, strain out the leaves and use the extract just as you would store-bought extract.
If your mint extract is not yet strong enough, allow it to continue to steep until it reaches your desired flavor.
That’s it! I can’t wait to try out my finished extract in our favorite mint recipes.
This post is shared at Pennywise Platter, Simple Lives Thursday, Monday Mania, Make Your Own Monday, the Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival, Fat Tuesday, Traditional Tuesdays, Living Green Tuesdays, Scratch Cookin’ Tuesday, Fresh Foods Blog Hop, Freaky Friday, Fight Back Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, and Fill Those Jars Friday.
Have you ever made peppermint extract? What are your favorite ways to use up fresh mint?
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You’re making me really wish I had planted peppermint this year! I can’t wait to see how it turns out for you. : )
I just launched a new real food blog carnival called Fill Those Jars Friday. I’d love to have you come stop by and share this on it: http://toomanyjarsinmykitchen.com/2012/08/10/fill-those-jars-friday-august-10-2012/
See you there!
Mindy
Mindy @ Too Many Jars in My Kitchen! recently posted..Fill Those Jars Friday: August 10, 2012
What a fabulous idea! My mint always grows well (too well) and this would be a great way to use it in the winter. ….hmmm, maybe I will do the same with my lemon balm, etc!
Amy@10th Ave. recently posted..A wee bit of girly
If you do try other extracts, please let us know how they turn out! I’ve only ever made vanilla and peppermint but I don’t see why other herbs wouldn’t work.
Thanks! I’m bummed I picked all mine for tea – will have to plan for this next year!
Heather
Heather@DiaryofaSmallTownEarthMuffin recently posted..Summer in a Pot: Hamburger Ratatouille (GAPS/SCD/Grain Free/Gluten Free)
Glad you enjoyed it, Heather!
So easy Meghan! Thanks for sharing it with us at Scratch Cookin’ Tuesday!
Kathy @ Granny’s Vital Vittles recently posted..Scratch Cookin’ Tuesday 8/14/2012
i love this post! i always end up with SO MUCH MINT i can’t use it all! the thing is like a bloody weed! that being said, a few mojitos never hurt anyone
thank you for taking the time to link up with us at the Wednesday Fresh Foods Blog Hop! We hope to see you again this Wednesday with more fantastic seasonal & real food posts
xo, kristy
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[...] we have How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract from Whole Natural Life. I have an abundance of peppermint going crazy in my backyard and I have been trying to think of a [...]
[...] we have How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract from Whole Natural Life. I have an abundance of peppermint going crazy in my backyard and I have been trying to think of a [...]
[...] we have How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract from Whole Natural Life. I have an abundance of peppermint going crazy in my backyard and I have been trying to think of a [...]
[...] we have How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract from Whole Natural Life. I have an abundance of peppermint going crazy in my backyard and I have been trying to think of a [...]
[...] How To Make Homemade Peppermint Extract by Whole Natural Life. Making your own mint extract looks so easy. What a clever way to use fresh mint! [...]
What a simple recipe, can’t wait to try this. Do you use just the vanilla seed or pod too when doing vanilla extract? I use alot of vanilla so this has to be less expensive then store bought and taste better too…
Cheryl, for vanilla extract, I recommend checking out this tutorial: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/making-homemade-vanilla-extract-aka-why-laura-bought-a-gallon-of-vodka
Have you tried making this in oil instead of vodka? I bought an organic version that was sunflower oil.
Thanks!
Tina, I haven’t tried making this in oil rather than vodka. If you give it a try, let us all know how it turns out!
Thank you thank you thank you. I have so much peppermint. This will make great gifts!
)
I agree – homemade extracts are a great gift idea! I’d totally get on that bandwagon except most of the people we give gifts to live a thousand miles away so transportation is an issue.
I hope it goes well for you!
How about shipping sun-dried tomatoes? I just built a solar dehydrator, there are some good examples on YouTube .
That is a good gift idea, Rex. If I had an abundance of tomatoes I’d try it – but unfortunately no abundance of tomatoes here.
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Thanks for sharing. I dehydrate cuttings for tea, removing the leaves after I dehydrate, then I use the stems in potpourri. I also make a strong spearmint tea and put it in a spray bottle to use as a flea repellent for the dogs A great safe spray that you can use around their eyes, nose and ears. Smells great too.
Thanks for sharing these ideas, Joan! I didn’t know you use the stems for anything.
I’ve not made my own extracts before.
Tell me though ?
Is it alcoholic ? Or does that evaporate?
Was concerned about that and giving it in an uncooked concoction like pudding ?
Also ?
Have you ever grown chocolate mint ?
YUM !
Yes, the extract is alcoholic. As far as I know, though, I think that’s the case for all commercial extracts as well, unless you buy one that uses oil instead of alcohol. Since you only use a teaspoon or two in an entire recipe I personally wouldn’t be concerned about the alcohol.
I’ve never grown chocolate mint. I have very limited gardening space for the next few years but I will definitely be filing that suggestion away for the future. Thanks!
I was wondering if this method would work for ‘lemon balm’….it came up by itself & has become a shrub! Any other suggestions for using ‘lemon balm’ would be greatly appreciated!
I don’t know, Pam. I don’t have any experience with lemon balm. I’d say give it a try and see how it goes! Or perhaps just try googling lemon balm uses. I’m sure there are a lot of things you can do with it.
Yes, that will work just fine with lemon balm, if you do a lemon balm/feverfew mixture it is a great migraine reliever.
i have just picked a bag full of mint and have them sitting on the kitchen counter, studyind what to do with them , and here you are, you are a saviour, thant you very very much, you guys are awesome, going and buy the vodka an dtry this now.
This is awesome! I bought some whole vanilla bean and picked peppermint and chocolate mint from my garden to make this yesterday!
Rebecca recently posted..DIY Fall Spice Sugar Scrub Recipe
[...] now you know how to make homemade extracts. The same concept can be used with homegrown mints for homemade mint extract, or to make homemade orange extract and coconut extract. The shelf life is indefinite – [...]
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[...] you know how to make homemade extracts. The same concept can be used with homegrown mints for homemade mint extract, or to make homemade orange extract and coconut extract. The shelf life is indefinite – [...]
I can’t wait to try this!
Linda @ Axiom at Home recently posted..Lentil Soup
Wonderful blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a
paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any recommendations? Cheers!
I highly recommend checking out the blog Blogging with Amy. She has a whole series on how to get started blogging. I was really confused about how to get started, too, and I found all of her info very helpful. Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing about how to make a peppermint extract.but my problem is I don’t have vodka is there any alternatives.Not all place here in middle east is allowed.Please help m I wanna try this peppermint extract.
Evangelyn, are you able to buy any other type of hard alcohol? I think you might be able to make it with something other than vodka. I’d do a google search and see what you can find out.
If you can’t find any other alcohol, I’m afraid I don’t have any advice. I’d try searching for “how to make alcohol-free peppermint extract” or something of that sort.
What do you use the peppermint extract for? Please share!
Marlene, you can use it any way you would commercial peppermint extract. Our favorite mint recipes are these homemade mint chocolates and this chocolate mint coconut ice cream.
It does work for lemon balm. Follow the directions for mint except steep it in the sun for up to 4 weeks, then store it in a dark container in your cabinet. Take a teaspoon every half hour for up to 2 hours to cure a headache. Works!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Rhonda!
[...] Homemade Peppermint Extract?! Hot Dog! I see homemade peppermint coffee creamer in my future!! [...]
I have had AMAZING success in making pure vanilla extract and my two attempts at making mint extract have been DISMAL failures (and I also follow an online recipe).
Have you cracked open your mint extract yet? How is it?
Devo K recently posted..Chewy granola bars
[...] instructions. For the Foodies in your life, gift them with culinary essentials like homemade peppermint extract or this beautiful vanilla extract.Any dudes (or gals) that love to barbeque will love this tasty [...]
I make many extracts like this with different leaves. Remember, if you want to make syrup, stir in the sweetener after you have the consistency you want and let it sit for another couple of weeks. I use maple syrup,honey Blue Agave to make syrups. if you just want to sweeten things up a little, go to your health food place and get a small bag of stevia leaves in the bulk section and add it with your other herbs to steep..be careful though its very sweet.
Thank you! This looks great — I’ll try and get a hold of some vodka. I can’t wait to hear how this turns out!
I’ve made peppermint extract for years. I use the mint vodka to make a liqueur (schnappes) by making a simple syrup and adding it to the mint vodka with some green food coloring.
Thanks for sharing, keltic!
How long will it keep after its done?
Maddie, I’m not sure, but since it’s in alcohol I would guess it would keep indefinitely…? The flavor might disapper over time, but I’d be surprised it it actually spoiled.
I’m guessing that you use the vodka for its alchohol content? would it be better to use a higher proof? Because I know that there is much in there other than the booze that might affect the flavour. Also would it be a good idea to reduce the liquid volume evaporating some of it? would that perhaps make it stronger?
Also can you use this method for extracting other flavours from other plants like vanilla pods?
Thanks for the recipe!
I don’t know, Erik–I haven’t played around with the method at all. If you experiment, let us all know your results!
And yes, you can use a similar method to make your own vanilla extract.
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