How to Make Simple Syrup

If you want to learn how to make simple syrup for cocktails or simple syrup, and with it. You want to improve the taste of your drinks, this issue will interest you. We tell you how to make simple syrup. The syrup or simple syrup is used mainly in classic cocktails of strong alcohol to give a sweet taste and make it more enjoyable or in margaritas to accompany the taste of fruit.

Although you can get syrup and simple syrup in many liquor stores and other shops, they are artificially made. In the world of cocktails we know well that when things are natural or made by you, they are better. Here you check Long Island Iced Tea.

What is Syrup?

The syrup is a mixture of water and thick sugar. That’s why it is used in cocktails to sweeten. Being so sweet and concentrated, one must be careful when adding syrup in the drinks because it can turn a strong cocktail and bitter taste into a soft and sweet, as well as a nasty and cloying one. As its name implies, simple syrup is very easy to make. Also, read How to Make Margaritas.

The only ingredients that are needed are sugar and water. Since it is necessary to cook it, it does not have those annoying grains of sugar, which makes it become a habitual sweetener in those drinks in which the texture is fundamental. Once you learn how to prepare it, you can try other variants and add the flavour you want.

Function:

The scientific explanation for this is: sugar, commonly known as sucrose, is made up of two smaller sugars, glucose and fructose. When boiled in water, these sugars are separated, forming an even sweeter solution than the starting sugar. Sugar does not readily dissolve in cold prepared drinks, but simple syrup is easily incorporated with other ingredients, eliminating the problem of undisclosed sugar in the bottom of the glass. The syrup is used in many prepared beverages.

Basically, simple syrup i.e. a dilution of sugar water also can be made very easily at home or at the kitchen bar and saved for later use in the preparation of cocktails. To do this all you need is water, sugar and a saucepan to heat where both ingredients are. And how is it done? Very easy: light the fire, put the saucepan and put in it two parts of sugar for a part of water. You may like Homemade Healthy Drinks.

How to Make Simple Syrup At Home

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (220 g) granulated white sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) of water

Method 1: Prepare simple syrup:

• Fill a pan with equal amounts of water and sugar and then mix. Keep in mind that the sugar will dissolve, so, in the end, you will get a little less than you thought. If you started with 1 cup (220 g) of sugar and 1 cup (240 ml) of water, you will get 1 ½ cups (360 ml) of simple syrup. If you need more or less than that amount, the proportions are adjusted accordingly.
• Bring to a boil. Let the mixture reach a boil over medium or medium-high heat. Move it from time to time to help dissolve the sugar.
• Cook the mixture over low heat until it becomes transparent and the sugar dissolves. Mix from time to time with a whisk or spoon. This will probably take 3 to 5 minutes.

• Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool. If you are going to prepare simple syrup for a recipe, you can use it as soon as it cools down; otherwise, read on to learn how to store it.
• Pour the simple syrup into a glass jar or bottle. If you choose to use a bottle, the first thing to do is to place a funnel through the neck of the same, to be able to empty the syrup more easily.
• Store it in the refrigerator. Now, you can use it to sweeten iced tea, coffee, lemonade and cocktails. It will last about 4 weeks.

Method 2: Prepare the Simple Syrup of Flavours:

• Fill a pan with equal amounts of sugar and water. Start with 1 cup (220 g) of sugar and 1 cup (240 ml) of water. Mix both ingredients.
• Heat the mixture until it reaches the boiling point and then simmers until the sugar dissolves. This will take about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir the mixture occasionally.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add some spices and fresh herbs. You can use powdered or dehydrated herbs; however, it avoids the use of ground spices, since they would be very difficult to filter. If you want to try several different flavours, first pour the simple syrup into jars and then add the herbs or spices you want.

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Cinnamon sticks split in half.
• 1 tablespoon lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange zest.
• 1 tablespoon dehydrated herbs such as thyme, lavender or rose petals.
• 3 to 4 fresh sprigs of rosemary, thyme or lavender.
• 1 cup (20 g) fresh mint or basil leaves.
• ½ vanilla pods. First, you must remove the seeds and then incorporate them.
• Cover the pan well and wait 30 minutes. During this time, the herbs, spices or flowers you added, will stand and release their flavours in simple syrup.
• Strain the herbs, spices or flowers. They may look pretty in the bottle, but they will reduce the expiration time of the syrup. Place a sieve or fine mesh sieve over the jar or bottle and pour the simple syrup. Discard the herbs, spices or flowers remaining in the strainer.

If you are going to fill a bottle, perhaps it would be good to first put a funnel in the neck of the bottle.

• Close the jar or bottle tightly and store the syrup in the refrigerator. Use it to sweeten or flavour iced tea, coffee, lemonade, and cocktails. It will last about a week or two.

Tips for How to Make Simple Syrup:

• To obtain thicker simple syrup, use 2 measures of sugar per 1 of water.
• For the less sweet and not-so-thick syrup, use 1 measure of sugar per 2 of water. If you want it to be very watery, use 3 measures of water for 1 sugar.
• To prepare a variant of uncooked syrup, fill a flask with equal amounts of hot water and caster or extra fine sugar (not powdered sugar), cover it well and shake it to mix.
• You can use honey to make simple syrup! It only substitutes sugar with honey.

Warnings:

• The simple syrup has an expiration time. If fungus appears or starts to dismiss a rare odour, discard it.
• Avoid neglecting syrup while cooking; the sugar can burn and caramelize.