CEBU, Philippines - Extracting the essential oil of oregano can be very expensive since it would require distillation. However, we can infuse a base oil with oregano oil with this simple procedure:
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh oregano leaves, crushed
1 cup base oil (you can use virgin coconut oil)
Water for double boiling
Materials:
Ceramic bowl
Pan
Stove
Sterilized bottle with air tight lid
Strainer
Procedure:
1. Pour water in pan. Let it come to a boil.
2. Place the ceramic bowl in the boiling water, making sure that the water would not overflow into the bowl.
3. Pour in the base oil.
4. Allow the base oil to heat up, but not boiling, and then add the crushed oregano leaves.
5. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly and making sure that the oil would not come to a boil.
6. Remove from fire and strain oil into the bottle.
7. Let it cool down and then cover the bottle.
8. You can place fresh whole oregano leaves in the bottle as garnishing. This will also strengthen the flavor of the oil overtime.
8. Keep the bottle refrigerated.
9. This can be kept for two months or more, as long as the oil does not turn rancid.