Spearmint Essence Recipe
The easiest way to extract flavour from herbs and spices and to create a shelf-stable product, is to use alcohol. Alcohol is both a very effective a solvent and preserving agent.
To create an essence, choose your alcohol from vodka, being the most commonly used, or Bacardi, which has a slight vanilla flavour or another spirit, then select your herb and add it to the alcohol and allow it to steep for anywhere from a few days to weeks or months.
Making vanilla essence using Bacardi is quick and easy. Fill a small jar or bottle with Bacardi, e.g. an old maple syrup bottle is good. For a bottle of that size you will need to add two vanilla pods that you have cut open and scrapped the seeds from. Add the pods and the seeds to the bottle, shake and allow to steep in your pantry for a month or two before using. Leave the pods in the bottle and as you near the bottom of the bottle, top it up again with Bacardi and add a new pod. I usually have three or four bottles on the go so there is always a spare bottle on hand.
Spearmint Essence Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup of Vodka (any vodka over 30% ABV is ideal)
- 1 tablespoon of spearmint tea
Method:
- Add the ingredients to a clean jar or bottle and allow to steep for 2-3 days.
- Strain and discard the spearmint tea, then re-bottle the essence into a clean bottle or jar.
- Be sure to label your essence.
This will keep indefinitely in your pantry and can be used to flavour icings, marshmallow or coconut ice, or other baked goods.
