Things You'll Need:
- Tea tree leaves Pot Vegetable steamer Glass measuring cup Lid Stovetop Ice cubes Pot holders Separating funnel 2 glass vials
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Step 1
Put the tea tree leaves in the pot and pour just enough water into the pot to cover them.
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Step 2
Place the vegetable steamer into the pot over the leaves and water so that there is now a flat surface covering the watered leaves.
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Step 3
Place the measuring cup in the center of the vegetable steamer.
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Step 4
Place the lid of the pot on the pot upside down so that the handle is facing down and is centered over the top of the measuring cup.
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Step 5
Boil the water on high to steam the leaves. The water will begin to evaporate and condense on the upside-down lid and slide along it to the handle to drip into the glass measuring cup.
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Step 6
Place ice cubes on top of the lid to make the steam condense faster.
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Step 7
Turn off the burner once all the ice has melted on top of the lid.
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Step 8
Remove the lid using the pot holders and pour the melted water from the ice cubes into the sink and lay the lid there as well.
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Step 9
Remove the glass measuring cup from the pot using pot holders.
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Step 10
Pour the contents of the measuring cup into the separating funnel. Make sure the stopcock at the bottom of the funnel is closed.
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Step 11
Close the top of the funnel and shake the contents vigorously.
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Step 12
Invert the funnel and open the top to release any pressure.
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Step 13
Notice that a clear line will appear in the liquid. The oil will float to the top of the water, separating the two.
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Step 14
Center a glass vial under the funnel and press the stopcock to release the water. Pour the oil into a separate vial.
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Step 15
Repeat the above steps on the leaves again to obtain more oil. Repeat this process approximately two more times to obtain maximum oil from the tea leaves.
