HOMEMADE JASMINE DISTILLATE - MIXTURES

Herbal distillates (floral water, hydrosol, hydrolat, herbal water and essential water) are aqueous solutions of essential oils usually obtained by steam distillation from aromatic plants.

A hydrolat is produced by the distillation process, so that in effect we have two distinct products from distillation of plants, essential oil and distillate, (hydrolat).

In this process steam is passed through plant. The heat of the steam bursts open the membrane of the oil receptacles in the plant and the volatile plant oil molecules are released into the steam. The steam rises and takes with it hydrophobic, and hydrophilic molecules.

When this mixture of water and various other molecules of the plant components separate back into liquid by means of being condensed.

It produces two types of natural chemical cocktails. These separate into hydrophilic molecules suspended in water, (philia – a tendency towards or liking) making hydrolats, and hydrophobic molecules (phobia – aversion to), making essential oils.

In this method we can produce only plant distillate (water), essential oils getting produced when using a large quantity of plants and longer production process (about 6-12h).

Summer is the perfect time to make homemade distillates.

Today we will try to make Jasmine distillate in a very simple method. We do not need an expensive Distillation apparatus, we try to find all these tools in kitchen drawers.

We will need a thick pad pot, tiny jar which will raise another jar, this tiny jar don't let to touch the pot bottom another jar (there will drop herb distillate drops), one dish (we use it as a pot lid), 1 or 2 wet towels (covered pot, towels do not let to go steams outside), and also we need a little bit of ice cubes (it will help us to produce herbal distillate in less time, it is not very important detail, you can do this distillate without it).

Everything will be cooked on a low heat for about one and a half  to two hours (cooking process  will be completed when the water evaporates from the plants).

Because distillates are produced at high temperatures and are somewhat acidic, they tend to inhibit bacterial growth. They are not however sterile. They are a fresh product, like milk, and should be kept refrigerated. True, distillate has a longer shelf life than milk. Herbal distillate will keep fresh about 1 month and more (in a refrigerator).

I want to remind you that herbal distillate is not a tea, there are two different chemical compositions. It is the most delicate Aromatherapy substance.

Herbal distillate is very suitable for hydrating face (as a tonic), moisten open wounds, to drink, to produce confectionery products.

Jasmine hidrollate has slightly floral smell (the scent is exotic and mysterious). This distillate suitable for dry, normal, oily and combination skin types (pH: 3,5 to 4,9).

How to make jasmine distillate:

Take 4 glasses of organic Jasmine petals. I use fresh petals of Sweet Mock Orange (Philadelphus Coronarius). Break petals in hand and put them in a pot.

In the middle of the pot we need to put a small jar and take 3 or 5 glass of water. Water has a slightly submerged Jasmine petals.

Take towel and remove it on the pot edges very well. The pot should be tight when you put in the second bowl. Before reversing the towel can dampen it will be unwieldy.

Take the second jar (bowl) and place it on the first one.

Place the dish on top of the pot it is worth that pot will not unopened until the end of the distillation.

Everything boil on low heat for about 2 hours.

On the plate, you can continuously take ice cubes, and he dissolved wipe cloth and insert again. This method helps to condensed distillate quicker.

Depending on how much added raw materials and water, distillate production time may vary. Quit when the pot bottom of the herbs still wet - do not expose to burning it.

Distillate strength will be stronger if you insert more raw materials and water so that it more or less cover the finger thickness.

If everything works out well, you will have a wonderful smelling flower water, its taste and properties are far from tea.

I was prepared about 100ml Jasmine distillate.