Star Anise Oil Extraction Process

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Star Anise Oil Extraction

What you need:
– EssenExTM 100 Distillation Kit for Star Anise oil distillation
– 50-60 grams of Star Anise “Stars”.
– Grinding tool (blender or food processor)

Preparation:
– Place Stars in Freezer for 24 hours.
– For initial runs, use 50 grams of the Stars. Later, more or less may be used.
– Use a blender or grinder to render <3mm particles of the stars.
– Add water to powder with ratio 1 ml water per gram of botanical. ( 1:1 by mass)
– Place in EssenExTM as described in user manual.

Trial:
– Place the reactor into the microwave with mug of water.
If multiple batches are run, change water in the mug between trials.
– Each batch should run for 5.5 minutes on a power setting of HIGH (1100 watts)
Lower power units: simply add 30 seconds to a minute for the cooking phase.
– Allow the batch to cool for 6 minutes. In or outside the microwave. Caution: do not raise lid prior to 4 minutes and be careful if moving from microwave as jar will be quite warm initially.
This is a key step to your success. Cooling allows the vapors to condense and form more oil and it allows the reactor to be handled much easier!

Collection:
– Pour top contents of the beaker into the easy separator and rotate it using the palms of your hands while resting it on a cloth (kitchen towel) on a hard surface (counter top). The motion should     be similar to starting a fire with sticks.
– After a few seconds, stop rotating the separator and observe the oil layer.
– Repeat the process if you believe more oil will collect.
– Once the oil is separated (above the hydrosol in the neck of the flask), use the pipette to place it in a vial.

Yield:
– Upon lifting the lid, a small amount of ice should be remaining on screw.
If not, then reduce the amount of water added.
– With nominally good Anise, 1.5 to 3% by mass.

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