Mint Simple Syrup

Whether it’s because you don’t feel like muddling mint, or because you want to batch a cocktail(or mocktail) for an event, this Mint Simple Syrup definitely comes in clutch.

Recipe: Mint Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 0.5 oz mint leaves (about 30 large leaves, small stems are fine, but remove any thicker, woody stems)

• ~12 oz simple syrup*

  
  

Build:

1. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, and prepare a bowl of ice water for an ice bath.

2. Once the water is boiling, add the mint leaves and stir to ensure they are fully submerged for about 15 seconds**. After 15 seconds, immediately transfer the mint to the ice bath.

3. Add the mint leaves and simple syrup to a blender and blend on low. The goal is not to liquefy the mint, just to break it up into smaller pieces for better extraction.

4. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. It’s fine if a few small mint pieces slip through, the goal is just to catch the majority of the larger pieces.

5. Bottle and store in the fridge. This will last for about a month.

Notes:

*Conveniently, 12 ounces of simple syrup is almost exactly what you’ll get from 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. For this recipe, it’s best if the simple syrup is still warm, but not hot.

**The blanching process is critical to ensuring your syrup stays bright green, as it breaks down the enzyme responsible for causing the mint to turn brown. If you are not concerned about color, you could skip this step though I'd advise against it.