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Essential oils can make a fantastic and flavoursome addition to any dish, and often come with added or increased health benefits due to their concentrated nature. Essential oils are easier to store than fresh ingredients, and only a drop or two is needed to make any dish stand out above the competition. 

When adding essential oils to any dish, it is best to dilute using olive oils (savoury dishes) or honey (sweet dishes) before stirring well into the dish to ensure an even distribution of taste. One drop is estimated to be roughly the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of dried herbs or spices. 

Always add essential oils when the food has finished cooking and is off the heat as they will dissipate at high temperatures and the taste will be lost.

Cooking with lavender isn’t just about the taste, but the proven relaxing effect it has while you are cooking. Add a few drops to a dish to feel the stress of the cooking process melt away, allowing you to enjoy your dishes without feeling flustered from all the mixing, baking and icing! 

The health benefits of Lavender Oil are extensive and well documented, from anti-viral to anti-sceptic and is a powerful treatment for respiratory problems. Have you ever tried Lavender Wine?

Cooking with Peppermint Oil may not surprise you, but it is a highly versatile oil that really stands out and defines dishes with its unique and powerful flavour. Chocolate Peppermint Snaps, anyone?

Peppermint should be avoided by those with high blood pressure, as the compounds found in peppermint can make symptoms worse. 

Citrus oils are a cooking favourite. There is no orange peel or lemon seeds to clean up after cooking, and the oils taste crisp and fresh with any dish, from cakes to meat dishes. 

Citrus oils are made using the skin of the fruit, with orange, lemon and bergamot oils being the most popular. All of these oils have many uses around the house, so should be considered essential oils to have in the cupboard at all times. 

Preparing fresh ginger for cooking is time consuming and can be a pain to do. With ginger oil, just a few drops are necessary to achieve that family favourite flavor. 

Ginger oil can be added to ginger snaps, bread and cakes, or can be stirred into stir fries and marinades. Ginger is scientifically proven to aid with digestion and nausea, so pack those ginger snacks for the children in the car on long journeys!

Chai Tea tastes best when home-made, and Cardamom oil is an essential ingredient for a delicious brew! Most commonly used to ease nausea, it is also shown to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy. 

Cardamom oil is a fantastic alternative to cardamom seeds and although it is one of the most expensive spices in the world, using Cardamom oil is a cost effective way of getting this essential oil into your diet.