Ever wonder if you could take everything you love about home extraction and use it on something besides our favorite plant? I did too, so I decided to find out. If you’ve got a Source Turbo sitting on your counter and a garden full of herbs just waiting to be used, this guide is going to show you exactly how to turn simple dried mint into a beautifully concentrated mint extract you’ll actually use in your kitchen.

This post is sponsored by ExtractCraft.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Guide

This is a simple, beginner friendly project that takes what you already know about tincture making and points it somewhere new. You don’t need any special skills beyond what you already use for FECO or tinctures, just a slightly different plant and a little patience.

You don’t need to be exact here, and that’s the beauty of it. You can also use the folk method, the same approach herbalists have leaned on for generations. Cover your herb, trust your eyes, and let the plant tell you what it needs. You already know how to do this.

The result is genuinely useful. A concentrated mint extract is something you’ll reach for again and again, whether you’re baking, cooking, or adding a fresh herbal note to your FECO.

And honestly, it’s just fun. There’s something so satisfying about watching your Source Turbo work its magic on something totally different from what you’re used to.

Don’t have a Source Turbo yet? No worries, you can still make this. Just leave your strained liquid uncovered and let it sit for several days so the alcohol evaporates naturally, or follow my full guide here for more detail on the process.

What You’ll Need

High Proof Alcohol vs. Vodka

You’ll notice I’m using high proof alcohol for this one, and that’s simply because it’s what I already have on hand for my other tinctures. If vodka is what you’ve got in your kitchen, don’t worry, the Source Turbo will work with that too.

Here’s the difference. High proof alcohol starts out with much less water in it, so you’re beginning the process already more concentrated. Vodka is typically around 40 percent alcohol, meaning it’s roughly half water from the start.

That’s not a problem, it just means your final extract may come out slightly less concentrated than one made with high proof alcohol, unless you take it a step further.

And here’s a fun trick. You can actually use your Source Turbo to turn vodka into high proof alcohol yourself, simply by evaporating off the water. Run your vodka through the machine on its own first, and what you’re left with is a much higher proof alcohol you can then use for this exact process.

This is really the beauty of the Source Turbo. By reducing the amount of alcohol and water in your final extract, you’re left with something far more concentrated in flavor and plant compounds, whether you start with vodka or high proof alcohol from the beginning.

The Process

  1. Measure and cover. Start with 10 grams of dried mint in your jar. Pour in alcohol slowly until the herb is fully submerged. Mint is fluffier than it looks, so don’t try to guess the amount ahead of time. Just keep pouring until it’s covered. For me that ended up being 160 mL.
  2. Soak for 24 hours. A full day is all you need to pull the flavor and aromatic compounds out of the mint. I like keeping it right around 24 hours since that’s the sweet spot for great flavor.
  3. Strain. Once your soak is done, filter out the liquid.
  4. Run it through your Source Turbo. I used the regular setting through the app with a 2 hour run time, and adjusted the altitude setting up by 2,000 feet from my actual elevation for an accurate reclaim.

The Results

This is where the Source Turbo really gets to show off. What came out was a beautiful, bright green, concentrated mint extract, ready to use exactly like a traditional mint extract in any recipe.

It’s also one of my favorite new ways to add a fresh herbal note when flavoring FECO.

Quick tip for you. The vibrant green color comes from chlorophyll, and a little bit of that may naturally carry into your reclaimed alcohol too. That’s completely normal.

If you want your reclaimed alcohol crystal clear again, just run it back through the Source Turbo a second time.

Ways to Use Your Mint Extract

Once you’ve got your concentrated mint extract, the possibilities really open up.

  • Baking. Swap it in anywhere a recipe calls for traditional mint extract. It’s especially good in brownies, chocolate chip cookies, or a simple vanilla cake for a fresh, cooling twist.
  • Beverages. A few drops in hot cocoa, lemonade, or a chocolate mint smoothie completely transforms the flavor. It’s also lovely stirred into coffee if you’re a fan of that mocha mint combo.
  • FECO flavoring. This is one of my favorites. A touch of mint extract balances out the earthiness of FECO beautifully and makes it so much easier to take.
  • Homemade chocolate. Melt it into dark chocolate for an easy, from-scratch peppermint bark or mint chocolate treat.
  • Shamrock Shake. Close to St. Patricks Day? This is the recipe you want.
  • Buttermints. Add a few drops of this to the buttermint recipe, it is perfect for this.
  • Skin and body care. Mint extract can be added to DIY lotions, lip balms, or foot soaks for a cooling, refreshing effect.
  • Savory cooking. Don’t overlook this one. A tiny amount brightens up dressings, marinades, or a summer fruit salad in a way that feels totally unexpected.

A little goes a long way with this stuff, so start small and add more to taste.

⚠️ Keep in mind this extract still contains alcohol, so you’ll notice a bit of a burn if you taste it straight. That mellows out once it’s mixed into whatever you’re making.

The Perfect Homegrown Holiday Gift

If you’re looking for a gift idea this season, this is it. There’s something so special about handing someone a bottle of extract you grew, harvested, and made yourself, and it’s a gift that actually gets used instead of tucked away in a drawer.

Pour your finished mint extract into a small glass bottle with a dropper or a tight fitting lid, add a simple handwritten label with the date and what it is, and you’ve got a beautiful, thoughtful gift for basically nothing. Tie a piece of twine or ribbon around the neck for a little extra charm.

This is extra meaningful for the gardeners, bakers, and home cooks on your list. They’ll get a little jar of something you grew with your own hands, and every time they use it, they’ll think of you.

Why This Matters

If you’ve only ever used your Source Turbo for our favorite plant, this is your sign to branch out. The same precision and efficiency that makes it incredible for tinctures and FECO works just as well on the herbs already sitting in your kitchen.

Up next, I’m running this same process on clove and thyme to see how they compare, so stay tuned for that.

SAVE THIS GUIDE 💌

Don't lose your spot! Let me email this post to you so you can come back to it time and time again!

About Emily

I’m a Registered Dietitian and Holistic Cannabis Practitioner, here to help you learn how to use the amazing benefits of the cannabis plant. My goal is to guide you in managing daily stress, finding joy again, building strong relationships, and improving your overall well-being in a natural and healthy way.

Read More About Me
The Well With Cannabis app showing the infused recipe library with dosage guidance

The Well With Cannabis App

Love this guide? Get my recipes free.

All my cannabis recipes, in one free app — with built-in dosage guidance so you can cook, dose, and track everything in one place. Add an optional wellness journal and grow tracker whenever you want to go deeper.

Download the Free App

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *