Name: Mint Simple Syrup
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup sugar; ¾ cup water; 6 sprigs fresh mint

Why This Recipe Works

Mint-flavored simple syrup can be used to add fresh sweetness to tea, lemonade, or cocktails. In this version, we brought equal amounts of sugar and water to a simmer. Doing so dissolved the sugar meaning the resulting syrup (and in turn the drink to which it's added) was grit-free. Simmering the mint muddled its flavor. So instead we added the mint off the heat and allowed it to steep in the syrup as it cooled for 30 minutes. This infused the syrup with plenty of bright minty flavor.

Before You Begin

Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, served their iced tea with a small pitcher of mint simple syrup so that patrons could sweeten their tea to their own tastes. The restaurant unfortunately closed in 2021, but they still inspired us to make our own mint simple syrup. You can use it to flavor and sweeten iced tea, lemonade, and cocktails.

Instructions

Combine sugar and water in small saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Off heat, add mint. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Discard mint. (Syrup can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.)