Health Benefits of Mint Extract

Add a drop of mint extract to your favorite beverages or desserts for a refreshing flavor. It also makes a great gift for friends or family that enjoy cooking and baking!

This homemade mint extract is incredibly easy to make. Just pat the mint leaves dry and muddle them a little bit with a muddler or wooden spoon to release their oils.

Refreshing

Mint extract adds a minty freshness to beverages and desserts. It can be added to lemonade, iced tea, hot chocolate, and mojitos. It can also be used in sauces and salad dressing to elevate their flavor. The minty aroma is very refreshing and can be used in aromatherapy to beat stress. It has adaptogenic properties that regulate cortisol levels and help build a natural resilience to stress.

This homemade mint extract is easy to make and very cost effective compared to purchasing a ready-made version. All you need is two ingredients: mint leaves and vodka. While this recipe takes a bit of time to steep, the hands-on work is minimal and the wait is well worth it! It makes a fabulous homemade gift for the bakers in your life.

To make the extract, first wash and dry the mint leaves. Then, bruise the leaves with a muddler or wooden spoon (this step is essential to releasing the oils). Once the leaves are infused, place them in a glass jar and fill the rest of the way with vodka. Close the jar and shake to combine. Allow the mixture to steep for one to two months, shaking periodically to stir the leaves.

Once the extract has reached its desired strength, strain it to remove the leaves. A fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or coffee filter can be used for this process. The remaining liquid can be stored in an airtight jar or bottle, and labeled with the date of preparation.

Antioxidant

Mint extract has a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. It is also known to soothe the respiratory system and reduce symptoms of bronchitis and other breathing issues. It can be added to tea or other beverages for a cool, refreshing taste and health benefits. Inhaling the steam from a hot cup of minty tea can relieve a cough and other respiratory problems. It can also be used in desserts and sauces to add a hint of mint flavor.

Both types of mint exhibited notable antioxidant activity in the assays, but Medina had higher values than Hasawi in most of the tests. This may be due to the Mint Extract fact that the soluble and bound phenolics were dechlorophyllized, while the aqueous infusion was not. Chlorophyll serves as a photosensitizer and interferes with some of the antioxidant tests, such as iron chelation.

Inhibition of copper-catalyzed LDL cholesterol oxidation is one of the most important properties in the selection of functional foods, as dietary inhibition of free radical induced lipid peroxidation can lower blood cholesterol levels and prevent coronary heart diseases (Halliwell 1997). The phenolic compounds in the mint extracts inhibited the oxidation of human LDL cholesterol by 50%, and also suppressed the COX-2 gene expression at both transcriptional and post translational levels.

The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of the Artificial butter flavoring phenolics in mint extracts are largely responsible for its medicinal properties. Clinical trials have shown that mint extract can alleviate digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, reduce headaches and promote respiratory health by soothing the lungs and calming the nerves.

Antimicrobial

Mint is a natural antiseptic and has antimicrobial properties that help clean your home. Simply fill a spray bottle with water and two tablespoons of your homemade mint extract to make a simple cleaner that is safe for the entire household. It will also leave your house smelling fresh and minty. Mint extract can also be used as a mouthwash. Add a few drops to your toothpaste for an extra minty taste and healthy teeth.

The rosmarinic acid in mint has allergy-fighting qualities and can reduce symptoms associated with respiratory problems like asthma. It can also reduce the occurrence of dust mites and spiders in your home by suffocating them. If you are suffering from sinus headaches, try a few drops of mint extract in some hot water to relieve the pain.

The volatile oils in mint have strong antimicrobial and antibiotic properties. In one study, crude ethanolic extracts of nine Mentha species displayed significant activity against six pathogenic bacteria. Disc diffusion tests showed that the essential oil of spearmint had the highest activity, followed by peppermint and eucalyptus. The activity of coriander seed, lemon grass, fennel, rosemary and lavender was moderate. These activities were due to the presence of monoterpenes such as pulegone, isomenthone, menthol, 1, 8-cineole, and borneol. These compounds are responsible for the pharmacological effects of these plants and have been used in traditional medicine.

Culinary Experimentation

Mint Extract is a delicious and refreshing addition to many desserts. Drizzle it over ice cream or gelato for an extra minty treat, or add it to fruit sauces for an unexpected twist. It can even be used to flavor cocktails, like mojitos.

This mint extract recipe is easy and quick to make at home, and it is much cheaper than purchasing an expensive store-bought bottle. Plus, it’s all-natural and additive-free! It also makes a great gift for the bakers and cooks in your life.

Sterilized jar: Choose a glass or other food-safe jar to hold the leaves and vodka mixture.

Vodka: Choose a high-proof alcohol to help extract the oils from the mint leaves. Other alcohols, such as white vinegar or glycerin, can be used but will not have the same effect.

Leaves: Choose fresh mint leaves for maximum flavor and aroma. Alternatively, you can use dried mint leaves in place of fresh, but the final flavor will not be as strong.

Plant extracts are effective preservatives because they contain many plant constituents such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and terpenoids which are capable of inhibiting microbial growth (Negi and Jayaprakasha 2003; Shan et al. 2007). Moreover, phenolic compounds such as rosemarinic acid, caffeic acid and eriocitrin which are present in Mentha species have significant antimicrobial activity (Padmini et al. 2010).