How to Make Homemade Mint Extract: An Easy DIY Recipe

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Creating your own mint extract is a rewarding and simple way to bring the refreshing mint flavor into your kitchen creations, from enhancing your hot chocolate during the winter months to adding a cool touch to your summer mint tea. This homemade mint extract recipe uses just fresh mint leaves and vodka, yielding a potent and flavorful extract that surpasses any store-bought version. Plus, making your own extract can be a fun project and a great way to use an abundance of mint from your garden. Follow this easy guide to make your own homemade mint extract, perfect for holiday gifts or to keep for yourself.

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Ingredients and Supplies

Ingredients Needed for Mint Extract

1/2 cup organic mint leaves

Choosing organic mint leaves ensures that your extract is free from pesticides and chemicals, which is especially important since the leaves will be steeped for an extended period. Fresh leaves are preferred because they contain the highest levels of essential oils, which are responsible for the mint’s vibrant flavor. You can experiment with different varieties of mint, such as peppermint for a classic, sharp minty taste or chocolate mint for a subtle, unique twist. Each type of mint will impart a different flavor profile to your extract, allowing for customization based on your cooking needs or personal preferences.

1 cup of vodka

The vodka acts as a solvent, extracting the essential oils and flavors from the mint leaves. It’s important to use a high-proof alcohol for the most effective extraction process. The higher the alcohol content, the better it will be at pulling out the flavors from the mint leaves. Vodka is preferred for its neutral flavor, but any clear, high-proof alcohol will work. The quality of the vodka can also affect the taste of your extract, so choose a brand that you would enjoy on its own.

Supplies

Glass Container with a Tight-Fitting Lid

A clean, dry glass container is essential for steeping the mint leaves in vodka. Mason jars are ideal because they’re readily available, easy to clean, and come in various sizes. The tight-fitting lid is crucial to prevent evaporation of the alcohol and to keep contaminants out during the steeping process. Ensure the jar is large enough to allow some space for shaking the mixture, which helps with the extraction. Since we do not use a ton of mint extract I went with these glass jars. I have used these for so many DIY projects such from our DIY Oregano Oil to our Honey Fermented Pomegranate Seeds and our Homemade Lavender Syrup. They are the perfect size and very versatile.

Coffee Filter or Fine mesh Strainer

Once the mint extract has steeped for the required time, you’ll need to strain out the mint leaves to obtain a clear liquid. A coffee filter or a fine mesh strainer will remove the plant material, leaving behind the pure, flavored extract. If using a coffee filter, consider straining twice for an even clearer extract.

Dark Bottle for Storage

Light can degrade the quality and flavor of your mint extract over time. Storing the finished extract in a dark bottle, preferably made of glass, helps preserve its freshness and potency. If you don’t have a dark bottle, storing the extract in any glass container kept in a dark cabinet can also protect it from light exposure.

Label

Don’t forget to label your mint extract with the date it was made and the type of mint used. This practice helps you keep track of its shelf life and identify the extract easily among other homemade extracts or condiments.

Detailed Instructions for Homemade Mint Extract

1. Prepare the Mint Leaves

Selecting and Cleaning

Begin with 1/2 cup of organic mint leaves. If you’ve harvested these from your garden or bought them fresh, ensure they’re free from dirt and debris. A quick rinse under cold water and patting them dry with a clean towel or paper towel will suffice. Avoid soaking the leaves, as excess water can dilute the alcohol and affect the extraction process.

Bruising the Leaves

Gently bruising the mint leaves before adding them to the alcohol helps release their essential oils, which are key to imparting the minty flavor to your extract. You can do this by lightly crushing them with a spoon or rolling them between your hands. This step increases the surface area of the leaves exposed to the alcohol, enhancing the flavor extraction.

2. Combine Mint and Vodka

Choosing the Right Container

Place the prepared mint leaves into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, such as a mason jar. The jar should be dry to prevent any water from mixing with the vodka, which could hinder the preservation process.

Adding the Vodka

Pour 1 cup of vodka over the mint leaves. The vodka should fully submerge the leaves to ensure optimal extraction. High-proof alcohol is preferred as it will extract the flavors and oils more efficiently from the mint leaves.

3. Steep

Sealing and Storing

Once the mint leaves are submerged in vodka, seal the jar tightly. Store the jar in a cool, dark place, like a pantry or a dark cabinet. This environment is crucial for the steeping process, as direct sunlight or varying temperatures can affect the quality of the extract.

Shaking the Jar

Every couple of days, give the jar a gentle shake. This motion helps move the leaves around, ensuring that the vodka continues to extract the mint flavors evenly throughout the steeping period.

4. Strain and Store

Straining the Extract

After 6 weeks, it’s time to separate the mint leaves from the now-flavored vodka. Using a coffee filter or a fine mesh strainer, pour the mixture through to catch the leaves and any small particles. For the clearest extract, consider straining it twice.

Bottling

Transfer the strained mint extract into a dark bottle to protect it from light exposure, which can degrade the flavors over time. If a dark bottle isn’t available, any glass bottle will do, provided it’s stored in a dark place later.

Labeling

Don’t forget to label your bottle with the contents and the date. This information will be helpful for tracking how long the extract lasts and for identifying it among other homemade extracts.

Why Make Your Own Mint Extract?

Customization

When you make your own mint extract, you control the intensity of the mint flavor and can experiment with different types of mint.

Cost-effective

Homemade extracts are a cost-effective alternative to expensive store-bought versions, especially if you have access to fresh herbs.

Great for Gifts

Bottled in woozy bottles or decorative jars, your homemade mint extract makes a wonderful gift for foodies, especially around the holidays.

Conclusion

Making your own mint extract is not just an easy way to save money and customize your flavors; it’s also a great step towards more sustainable living. By choosing to DIY your extracts, you reduce waste and know exactly what’s going into your food. Whether you’re looking to replicate the minty flavors of store-bought peppermint extract or create something uniquely your own, this simple recipe is the perfect starting point. Give it a try, and next time you’re baking your favorite brownies or stirring up a hot chocolate, reach for your homemade mint extract to add that special touch.

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