Essential oils are made by pressing or distilling plants. These oils are very potent and should never be used without diluting them in water, oil or alcohol. Many essential oils are harmful if taken internally. Check that an essential oil is safe to use for flavoring food or drinks before using. Purchase essentials oils for flavoring drinks from a registered pharmacist. Essential oils can breakdown harmful chemicals in plastics, so use only glass or metal pitchers and metal or wooden spoons when working with essential oils.

Lemonade is always a refreshing drink. Give it a new twist with lavender essential oil. Pour one quart of prepared lemonade into a pitcher. Add one drop of lavender essential oil and stir. Add the remainder of the prepared lemonade and taste. Add one more drop of oil if the lavender flavor is weak. Stir well. Pour over ice and enjoy.

Hot chocolate flavored with mint increases the relaxing quality of this warming drink. Prepare hot chocolate in saucepan. Add one drop of spearmint essential oil. Stir well. Taste the hot chocolate. If the spearmint flavor seems weak add one more drop of oil. Stir well. Pour into mugs and enjoy.

Earl Grey tea gets its flavor and aroma from the citrus bergamot. Boil 5 cups of water. Rinse teapot with hot water. Measure 5 tsp. of loose black tea into pot. Dip a toothpick into the bergamot essential oil and drop it into the tea pot. Fill the pot with the boiled water and let the tea steep for 4 minutes. Remove the toothpick. Add at least 3 slices of lemon to the pot. Let tea set 1 minute more. Do not put the lemons in the pot until after the tea has steeped for at least 4 minutes as the lemon will inhibit the brewing of the tea. Pour into tea mugs and enjoy.