how to prepare this refreshing natural drink
No carbonated drink can alternate homemade mint syrup recipe, equally suitable for children and adults. Are you fond of a gentle freshness during the summer heat? Here’s one that’s so simple and time-saving that you’ll be doing it over and over all summer long.
Want to prepare a homemade mint syrup recipe and enjoy it at any time
It is clear that if you know the synergistic principles of essential oils, you can take advantage of them and improve your well-being and health. In this sense, we can resort to aromatherapy which relieves a lot of ailments in a natural way. If the aroma has this powerful effect, where are the herbal teas and syrups produced from medicinal herbs? We no longer doubt the qualities of elderflower syrup and herbal teas to relieve digestive disorders or against hypertension. But summer is knocking on the door, the heat waves are beating down on us day after day and a good homemade mint syrup recipe will make us forget them.
Besides that you have planted this aromatic herb to involve it in the cooking and in the spring cocktails, you can cultivate a greater quantity of it to produce the refreshing drink during the hot months.
Is variety important?
Nowadays several cultivars are known (chocolate mint, lemon mint, bergamot mint), but the one that constitutes the main ingredient of a homemade mint syrup recipe is a hybrid between water mint and spearmint. This peppery species has a high concentration of menthol and is used in medicine, cooking and cosmetics, it flavors sweets, chewing gum, ice cream, toothpaste, alcoholic beverages, etc.
Since our perennial antagonist can flower from July to September and has antioxidant capacity, it is suitable for the summer homemade mint syrup recipe. Of course, growing it in a pot is not enough: you have to use a considerable amount of leaves.
With a whimsical taste, this homemade mint syrup recipe is more than simple to prepare: sugar melted in a little water that has been infused with fresh mint leaves. The result is a drink that adds minty flavor to anything you dare to combine it with.
Mint syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for the long term thanks to sugar, the role of which is well known as a preservative. The sour taste gives the drink wide use when preparing confectionery and cocktails.
For 8 cups you need 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves.
- Gather the ingredients. Pour the water into a small saucepan and over medium-high heat, bring the water and sugar to a boil, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Add the mint leaves.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, without stirring, until the syrup is slightly reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer the syrup to a small metal bowl and let stand to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Sieve and discard the mint leaves. You can use the syrup either immediately or let it cool to room temperature. It can be stored in a covered glass jar in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Homemade mint syrup without cooking: is it possible?
You can choose not to boil the mint leaves with the water. For this purpose, a large bunch of fresh mint, if possible organic, will do the trick. Pour boiling water over the leaves, with a little sugar. Let steep for 24-48 hours before straining to remove leaves. This method is completely natural. The mint syrups that you will find in stores have a very bright green, but misleading, because it is obtained using food colorings (natural or chemical). It’s surprising but true: the natural homemade mint syrup is not green and it tastes real mint. A “fall” as children say.
Equip yourself with a colander and provide the following ingredients: 1 large bunch of mint, 750 ml of water and 375 g of sugar
- Start by rinsing and removing each mint leaf. Discard the stems.
- Prepare the amount of water and sugar. Bring the water to a boil.
- Place the mint leaves in a container. Pour over boiling water, add sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Cover, let stand and infuse for 24-48 hours
- When the infusion is finished, strain through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the mint leaves and pour into bottles.
- Store in the refrigerator and enjoy with ice cubes and cold water. It’s natural and sparkling.
You can pour over strawberries and use in cocktails or smoothies. Add to an ice cube tray and your cool drink is ready to beat the heat.
One of the main reasons to make a batch of mint syrup is to add it to mint julep cocktails. The syrup adds an extra layer of minty flavor while sweetening this famous alcoholic concoction. This removes the need for regular sugar, ensuring that all the sweetness doesn’t settle to the bottom of the glass, requiring a lot of stirring.
Mint syrup is also handy for making mocktails or “kids cocktails” on festive occasions and parties. Just add to taste in sparkling water and garnish with a mint leaf.
Mint syrup is also useful for sweetening and adding flavor to beverages of all kinds. It will elevate humble lemonade, enrich herbal tea and add zest to fruit punches.
In addition to drinks, pour mint syrup over grilled fruit to make it a dessert. It is also tasty on ice cream or frozen yogurt, as well as on a simple piece of not too sweet cake.