Kurt
Culinary Explorer
Have something refreshing!


Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves, tightly packed
Instructions:
- Prepare Mint Leaves:
- Rinse the fresh mint leaves thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
- Make Simple Syrup:
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves and the mixture comes to a simmer. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Add Mint Leaves:
- Remove the saucepan from heat. Add the fresh mint leaves to the hot syrup mixture, stirring to submerge the leaves.
- Steep the Mint:
- Let the mint steep in the syrup until the mixture cools to room temperature. This allows the mint leaves to infuse their flavor into the syrup. The longer you let it steep, the stronger the mint flavor will be.
- Strain:
- Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the mint leaves. Press gently on the leaves to extract any remaining syrup.
- Store:
- Transfer the mint syrup to a clean glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Tips:
- Adjusting Flavor: If you prefer a stronger mint flavor, you can steep the mint leaves in the syrup for a longer period of time before straining.
- Usage: Use mint syrup to sweeten and flavor beverages such as iced tea, lemonade, mojitos, or mint juleps. It can also be drizzled over desserts like fruit salads, ice creams, or used in baking recipes.
- Variations: For a twist, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice or a dash of vanilla extract to the syrup for added complexity.