Simple syrup, a silky, viscous combination of water and sugar, is a key ingredient for making many delicious cocktails and iced drinks. But if you want to enhance the taste of your drink some more, you can even throw in some spices or herbs to the syrup. One such example is the mint simple syrup.
To make mint simple syrup, add sugar and water in a pan and let it boil while whisking the sugar. Once it starts to boil, turn down the heat to a simmer and add the mint leaves. Let it cook for another 10 minutes until it reduces to a syrup-like consistency. Strain the mixture.
Despite having a fancy name, mint simple syrup is quite easy to make. As you might expect, it adds a minty flavor to anything you combine. So let’s see what this syrup is used for, the variations you can try, how to store it, and tips to keep in mind when making it.
What is Mint Simple Syrup Used For?

You can use the mint simple syrup in many ways. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Add it to mint julep cocktails to add a minty flavor and sweeten the boozy drinks. The syrup also removes the need to add plain sugar, so the sweetness won’t settle at the bottom of the glass.
- You can get creative, and drizzle syrup over breakfast treats like pancakes, waffles, and French toast.
- Use it for mocktails for parties and other festive occasions. Add a little syrup to sparkling water according to taste and garnish with mint leaves.
- Drizzle it over ice cream or other desserts like cheesecakes, cakes, etc.
- Enhance your oatmeal or frozen yogurt by swirling in a bit of mint simple syrup.
- You can also use it to sweeten and add flavor to different kinds of beverages like fruit punches, herbal teas, and lemonades.
- Drizzle it over some grilled fruit to make it a dessert.
- Combine the mint syrup with your favorite club soda for a homemade mint-flavored drink.
- Adding mint simple syrup to cappuccinos and coffees can give them a Starbucks-like taste.
Variations of the Drink
You can also try different variations of the drink by using different kinds of mint leaves like chocolate mint, spearmint, or even peppermint.
Similarly, this recipe can use different kinds of sugar, like brown sugar, white sugar, or even honey. But the flavor might change depending on the things you use. For example, if you want something minty, use herbs like rosemary or lavender.
How to Make Mint Simple Syrup
It’s straightforward to make and use mint simple syrup, and you can even modify the portions to produce any amount of syrup you want. Plus, there are many benefits to making this syrup at home.
When you make the syrup at home, you’ll only use simple and clean ingredients. You can also control the amount of mint you add to regulate the mint flavor. So here’s what you have to do:
Step 1: Combine Mint, Sugar, and Water
For this recipe, you need 1 cup of water and ½ cup of sugar, and mint leaves. This’ll produce one cup of syrup, which should be more than enough for eight servings.
In a small saucepan, add sugar and water and put it over medium-high heat. Let the mixture come to a boil but make sure you keep whisking it to dissolve the sugar. Then, pour in the mint leaves.
Step 2: Heat Over the Stove
Once you add the mint, turn down the heat to a simmer and let the mixture cook until it’s reduced to a syrupy consistency. This should take roughly 10 minutes.
Step 3: Drain and Cool
Pour the syrup into a metal bowl and allow it to cool down for about 10 minutes. Then strain it in a nut-milk bag or a fine-mesh strainer until the liquid passes through. Throw away the leaves.
Step 4: Pour Into a Bottle and Serve
You can use the syrup immediately or let it come to room temperature. Next, store it in a covered airtight jar and put it in the fridge. Don’t worry about the syrup going bad—it can last in the refrigerator forever since sugar is a preservative.
You can also freeze the leftover mint simple syrup. Once the mixture cools down, pour it into ice cube trays. Once they freeze completely, put the cubes in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 6 months.
Then when you want to use them, place them in a bowl and let them come down to room temperature. Alternatively, you can microwave them for 30 seconds.
Things to Remember

When making mint simple syrup, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- When it’s time to add the mint leaves, ensure the mixture is simmering and not boiling. If you put mint in boiling water, it can make the syrup bitter.
- Allow the syrup to cool down before you strain it since hot sugar water can cause burns.
- If you want the minty flavor to be more intense, add more mint leaves or allow the syrup to infuse for longer.
- Add the syrup only to a sterilized container to ensure you don’t promote bacterial growth.
- If the syrup is very cloudy, you can strain it again to get a more transparent syrup.