Paul Kushner
Mint simple syrup is an incredible take on the classic simple syrup formula. Keep reading to find out how to make it yourself and be the talk of the town with your mint-infused cocktails at your next party.
How to Make Mint Simple Syrup
Before we give you the lowdown on how to make mint simple syrup, it’s important to mention again that the portions of sugar and water should be to your liking.
Mint Simple Syrup
You can scale up or down this recipe as required, but you can also reduce or increase the amount of sugar to make the syrup taste better to you. There is no right answer here.
Ingredients
- Water - ½ cup
- Sugar (can be processed, turbinado, or demerara) - ½ cup
- Fresh Mint Leaves - ¾ cup
Instructions
- In a pitcher or bowl, combine the mint leaves and sugar.
- Add the boiling water and stir until the sugar has fully dissolved.
- Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes for the mint leaves to steep.
- Strain liquid into a jar or container to remove mint leaves.
- Cover and refrigerate to prevent crystallization. You can keep this for up to two weeks.
- Enjoy!
About Mint Simple Syrup
Unless you exclusively drink straight spirits, the chances are that you’ve had some sugar in a cocktail before. Most cocktails need a bit of sweetness to balance out the flavor profile. Otherwise, the spirits and raw ingredients taste too strong, and the drink becomes too harsh to enjoy without a simple syrup.
However, the sweetness in a cocktail can come from a variety of sources, not just sugar alone. Many liqueurs are sweet because of sugar added during the refining process, which means those cocktails don’t need any extra sugar in the recipe.
When you do want to use sugar in your drink, though, there are a few different options to choose from. Aside from your standard processed white sugar, you can use turbinado, a mix between processed and raw sugar, or demerara, pure raw unprocessed sugar grains.
Then there is simple syrup, a combination of whatever form of sugar you want and water. That’s it. Most bars boil equal parts water and whatever sugar they prefer, resulting in a viscous mixture that is as sweet as it is versatile.
Depending on their cocktail list, the bar may add or reduce the amount of sugar to adjust the sweetness they want to infuse into each drink.
Since simple syrup is so, well, simple, to make, there are many different things you can do to tweak the recipe to your liking. Just add whatever fruits, spices, or herbs you want, and you’ll get a simple syrup with a distinct flavor profile of the additional ingredients. The options are endless.
One of these amazing twists on simple syrup is mint simple syrup, a refreshing and vibrant take on the classic formula. It’s an incredibly easy way to inject some variety into your everyday cocktail and can be the perfect way to take the edge off of a hot summer day.
Cheers!
Making mint simple syrup is super easy and doesn’t require any more effort than standard simple syrup. If you grow your own mint, mint simple syrup is a great way to ensure that the mint you harvest has a long shelf life.
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