Hou Jun shows off the products made from the peppermint oil at an ICH event. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Visitors densely occupied the booth exhibiting Nantong's peppermint oil extraction technique due to its innovative products at the recent celebration of China's annual Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province.

Situated within a subtropical monsoon climate zone, Nantong benefits from abundant sunlight, sufficient rainfall, and fertile soil, which have contributed to the distinctive aroma and exceptional quality of Longnao peppermint since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Compared to conventional methods, Nantong artisans' traditional water distillation speeds up oil extraction, reduces fuel and labor costs, and decreases distillation time. Although it costs about 70 percent more than modern techniques, it best preserves the peppermint's original aroma with minimal loss and achieves the highest oil yield. This method was added to Nantong's municipal intangible cultural heritage list in 2017.

Hou Jun is a representative practitioner of the extraction skill. Both his grandfather and father were involved in peppermint cultivation and extraction, instilling a profound sense of appreciation for the peppermint industry in their family lineage.

Faced with market challenges, he recognized that adhering to the "old trio" of cooling oil, wind oil, and peppermint oil was no longer enough; heritage needed to be infused with contemporary characteristics.

In 2013, Hou visited the Tangzha 1895 Cultural and Creative Industry Park to conduct research related to cultural and creative industries. Over the following decade, he focused on the innovation and development of cultural and creative products related to peppermint oil while preserving and passing down the traditional peppermint oil extraction technique.

Inspiration struck Hou through a prescription-free medicine, made from peppermint. He realized that similar products could aid drivers in safe driving and help students stay alert when incorporated into pen tips. Based on these effects, he developed a new type of mask with a peppermint core and obtained a national patent. Subsequently, leading a team of 17 people, he expanded the range of peppermint products from a few varieties in the past to over 100 categories today.

In recent years, the Nantong peppermint oil extraction technique has been featured multiple times at provincial ICH events. Each time they participated, Hou and his team unveiled innovative products, refreshing the youth's expectation of the ancient skill.