|
General Characteristics
|
- Mentha oil is
obtained by steam distillation of Mentha arvensis leaves.
- Mentha oil and its
constituents and derivatives are used in food, pharmaceutical and
perfumery and flavouring industry.
- Menthol is the main
constituent of mentha oil and slow cooling through refrigeration,
crystallization, centrifugation and drying is done to obtain it. It is
used in the manufacture of lozenges, toothpastes, pain balms, cold
balms etc.
- Mentha is widely
cultivated in India and its leaves are used in making sauces/chatni in
most households.
|
|
|
|
Supply Demand Scenario
|
- India is the largest
producer and exporter of menthe oil in the world. At present the major
producers of mint oil in the world are India, China, Brazil and the
US.
- Mentha arvensis is
cultivated in India in the semi- temperate regions in the foothills of
Himalayas in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar. The all-India area under mentha in the country is estimated at
about 1,25,000 hectares.
- India at present
produces about 15,000 tonnes of mint oil and exports 3,000 tonnes
which earns it foreign exchange worth Rs. 100 crores annually.
- India exports
different types of mint oils to a number of countries including
Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, UK, USA, etc. these
varieties include the Japanese mint oil (derived from Mentha
Arvensis), peppermint oil (Mentha Piperita), dementholised Japanese
mint oil, spear mint oil (Mentha Spicata), water mint oil (Mentha
Aquatic), horsemint oil (Mentha Sylvestries), Bergamont oil (Mentha
Citrate) and still others.
- In the first 9months
of 2002-03, India's exports of mint oil were 3,000 tonnes valued at
Rs.102.95 crores against 2,850 tonnes valued at Rs. 97,91 crores in
the same period in 2001-02.
- India cultivates
about eight species of mentha however three species are approved /
recognized by the purpose of quality standards and international
marketing.
The country's annual requirement of peppermint oil is about 10ton,
which can be met by growing the crop, over 10,000 acres.
- The mint crop gives
maximum oil content when it has just reached the flowering stage,
after which the oil content begins to decline, but in cases where
there is delayed flowering, as at Delhi, yellowing of the lower leaves
is an indication for cutting in time. 2-3 cutting are done during the
season.
- Freshly cut herb is
left in the field for 2-4 hours during the sunny weather. This
partially dried herb is further dried in small bundles by hanging over
wires in shade till it is reduced to 1/3 or ¼ of its original weight,
taking care that the leaves do not get crisp. The crop should not be
heaped for drying in the sun as it is reported to result in reduction
of oil by about 20-25%.
- Distillation of dried
leaves is cheaper than that of fresh leaves. By steam distillation and
filtration, a golden yellow volatile oil is obtained. Leaves and
flowering tops give the highest yield. About 50% of menthol can be
separated out in crystalline form on cooling the oil. The remaining
(dementholised) oil is used as peppermint oil. Manufacture of menthol
from dementholised oil has been taken up on commercial scale by three
or four firms in Bombay, West Bengal and Gujarat. There are several
small distilleries in U.P also for the distillation of oil.
- The peppermint oil
is stored in coloured bottles, air-tight aluminium or galvanized
containers in cool dry place. Presence of moisture in the oil may
rancidify the oil. Since it is acidic in nature, it should not be
stored in tin containers.
- The natural oil
yields on an average 40-50% menthol and 50-60% dementholised oil,
which can be used both in confectionery and medicine in place of
imported peppermint oil. Japanese mint oil is not distinguished from
the peppermint oil in the Indian trade. The dementholised oil has been
found to contain menthyl acetate (24.4%), free menthol (44.8%),
menthone (24.6%) and hydrocarbons (6.2%). Among the hydrocarbons,
alpha-pinene, a-1-limonene, carophyllene and cademene are present.
|
|
|
|
Fortnightly Price Volatility in Mentha Oil at Delhi
from 2002-04
|
|
Volatility
|
< 2
|
2 - 5
|
5 - 8
|
> 8
|
|
No. of times
|
29
|
11
|
4
|
4
|
|
% of times
|
60.4
|
22.9
|
8.3
|
8.3
|
|
|