Name: Simple Syrup for Iced Tea
Total time: PLACEHOLDER
Ingredients: 1 cup sugar; 1 cup water; 1 tablespoon grated orange zest, lemon zest, or lime zest or 1 cinnamon stick

Why This Recipe Works

Simple syrup is the best way to sweeten cold beverages from lemonade to iced tea. Unlike granulated sugar, which won’t dissolve readily, liquid simple syrup doesn’t make cold beverages gritty. Simple syrup is just equal parts water and sugar heated long enough to dissolve the sugar. The syrup can be flavored with citrus zest or spices like stick cinnamon. It can be refrigerated for up to one week.

Before You Begin

In the test kitchen, we keep sugar syrup in the refrigerator at all times during the summer. This recipe makes enough syrup for two pitchers of iced tea and can be doubled if you go through a lot of iced tea in your household.

Instructions

Heat sugar, water, and zest or cinnamon stick in small saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and discard zest or remove and discard cinnamon stick, if using. Syrup can be refrigerated for 1 week.