Mint Simple Syrup: 3 Benefits & 8 Uses (+ Recipe)

Jacqueline Eisenbraun (Senior Editor)

Mint is a refreshing flavor perfect for drinks, cocktails, and popular treats. Mint simple syrup is a wonderful staple in your pantry, so you can add flavor to your next mixed drink or holiday dessert, adding a dose of natural sweetness. Learn here everything you need to know about mint syrup.

What syrup blends offer versatility and a variety of options? Mint is a great flavor in dips, sauces, drinks, desserts, and more. Would you like to explore recipes and creative ways to use mint syrup in your cuisine? Read on to find out more about the benefits and uses mint simple syrup.

What Mint Syrup Is

What Mint Syrup Is

Mint syrup is a natural, tasty, simple syrup that’s easy to make. The recipe consists of only three ingredients: water, fresh mint leaves, and sugar. It’s a quick process, only taking about half an hour to prepare and cook the syrup, which yields eight servings or one cup.

You’ll find fresh mint leaves at your local grocery store or farmer’s market, or you can grow them in your garden with minimal effort. It’s best to use fresh leaves, as dried mint doesn’t retain the same strength in flavor as fresh leaves.

Recipe: How to Make Mint Syrup

Recipe: How to Make Mint Syrup

To get started, you’ll need a cup of water, half a cup of fresh mint leaves, and half a cup of sugar. Once you have these ingredients, combine the water and sugar in a small pan, and heat until the mixture reaches boiling.

As the water and sugar cook, whisk them together until they boil, then add the mint leaves.

Reduce the heat and cover, then continue to simmer for about ten minutes. Do not stir or whisk the water. Continue this process until the water is thick, then remove it from the stove and allow it to cool for about ten or fifteen minutes.

Transfer the liquid into a metal bowl or jar, discard them, store the syrup in a glass jar, and keep it in the refrigerator.

The best part about this syrup is that you can use it immediately if you want mint syrup for coffee or tea. It’s a fantastic condiment to keep on hand for any occasion. You can use mint syrup during the holidays, or anytime you want to spice up a hot or iced drink.

Tips for Homemade Mint Syrup

Tips for Homemade Mint Syrup

While making homemade mint syrup is simple, you may want to try some variations. If you’re reducing sugar in your diet, you may decide to use sugar substitutes, such as Splenda sweetener.

The recipe for making mint syrup is essentially the same, using the same amount of Splenda in place of sugar, which keeps for a month or longer in the refrigerator.

There are a few great tips to keep in mind when you make homemade mint syrup:

• Use the freshest mint leaves possible. If you find them at a local market or grow them in your garden, you’ll find they have a robust flavor, and the syrup will be of better quality.
• Fresh, filtered water is the best option and will give your mint syrup the best results for a clean, delicious taste.
• You can easily store mint syrup in your refrigerator for up to one month. Since it is a preservative, it may stay longer than one month if it’s chilled and kept in a sealed jar.

How to Use Mint Syrup: Popular Drinks and Food

How to Use Mint Syrup: Popular Drinks and Food

You’ll find many great uses for mint syrup once you’ve created your first batch. One of the most popular reasons people make mint syrup is to add it to cocktails and mocktails. The distinct, sweet flavor of mint is an excellent substitute for plain sugar and other sweeteners.

Mint Julep

Mint Julep

One of the tastiest cocktails, Mint Julep, is an easy drink to make and ideal for entertaining guests or as a special treat. The drink is made primarily with bourbon mixed with sugar, water, and fresh mint leaves, served over ice.

When you create this cocktail with mint syrup, you’ll need a teaspoon or just enough to enhance the bourbon with mint flavor.

This drink is traditionally served with shaved ice or poured over the rocks. It’s important to stir the Mint Julep often, even in between sips, as the mint flavoring may settle at the bottom of the glass. It’s one of the most popular mint cocktails and a great drink to enjoy on any occasion.

Mojito Mint Syrup Cocktail

Mojito Mint Syrup Cocktail

Another popular cocktail infused with mint syrup is the mojito cocktail. It’s a refreshing beverage to enjoy during the summer or while on vacation. The recipe includes the following ingredients:

• 1 ounce of lime juice
• 1 ½ ounces of white rum
• Fresh mint leaves
• Ice cubes or shaved ice
• 4-5 ounces of club soda
• Mint syrup

The amount of mint syrup you add to a mojito can range based on your preference. If you enjoy a sweeter cocktail, you may add more than a teaspoon or just a few drops for flavor.

Fill a tall glass halfway with ice cubes or shavings to make the drink. Then pour the mint syrup, lime juice, and white rum over the rocks, then cover and shake.

Shake the glass well, then pour, straining the drink into a glass with ice. Pour the club soda and mix well. You can add a lime wedge and a few fresh mint leaves to garnish the drink.

Sparkling Drinks, Smoothies, and Mocktails

Sparkling Drinks, Smoothies, and Mocktails

You’ll find many great drink recipes for kids, such as lime and mint sparkling water or soda, mocktails, mint-infused teas, and iced drinks. If you enjoy a fresh limeade or lemonade in the summer, a few drops of mint syrup, with a hint of ginger or basil makes a delicious drink served over ice.

If you’re a fan of smoothies, you can simply put various of fruits together and add a few drops of mint.

Guava, lychee, lemon, lime, and ginger blended into a drink, with a few basil leaves, maple syrup, or mint syrup, is an excellent, tasty drink that is both refreshing and healthy. In many drink recipes, mint syrup can replace sugar or other sweeteners, making it a great alternative.

Fruit Salad

Fruit Salad

Mint syrup is a delicious ingredient in fruit salad, adding a bit of natural sweetness and a robust flavor. Fruit salad is an ideal option for a light snack or dessert, with the following ingredients combined:

• Fresh honeydew melon, sliced into cubes or small wedges (½ melon)
• Strawberries (one quart)
• Kiwis (3-4, sliced)
• Red and/or green grapes (one cup)
• Blueberries (¼ cup)
• Pomegranate seeds (⅓ cup)
• ¼ cup of mint syrup

Combine all fruit in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the mint syrup over the fruit, and toss gently, coating evenly. Serve in a bowl with a few mint leaves on top. You can also garnish or add a bit of lime or lemon juice.

Desserts

Desserts

Mint is a wonderful ingredient in ice cream, pudding, whipped toppings, and in cake. It’s easy to add a few drops or a teaspoon in any recipe, whether you’re looking to add a mint flavor to a vanilla cake, a hot chocolate, or homemade ice cream.

Health Benefits of Mint Syrup

Health Benefits of Mint Syrup

Mint syrup offers several benefits in addition to its rich flavor and many uses. With just a few drops in various recipes, you’ll enjoy the rich scent, flavor, and other advantages with just a few drops in various recipes. It’s a wonderful plant that’s versatile and provides great health benefits.

Nutritional Properties

Nutritional Properties

Mint provides some great nutritional properties, including iron, manganese, folate, and vitamin A. While there isn’t a wealth of vitamins and minerals, mint doesn’t contain any fat, and there’s a bit of fiber which is always ideal for any diet.

Medicinal Benefits

Medicinal Benefits

Mint leaves are known for their medicinal benefits. They contain antioxidants, which are suitable for preventing and fighting disease, they improve your digestion, improve cognitive function, and may help provide relief from a cold virus. It’s also popular as tea, which can help you sleep better.

Stress Relief

Stress Relief

Many people find the scent of mint to be soothing and relaxing, which can reduce stress and anxiety. It’s often used as a spray or in an air freshener, which is a better alternative to store-bought brands, which often contain chemicals and artificial odors.

Mint is naturally calming, which makes it a great plant to add to your garden.

More Uses of Mint Syrup

More Uses of Mint Syrup

You’ll find that mint syrup is an excellent option for other uses, and in more ways than in recipes or cocktails. Mint is one of the most pleasant natural scents, which makes it a key ingredient in many products.

You’ll find it in many types of toothpaste, cleaning agents, and scented candles, among other items.

Aroma Therapy

Aroma Therapy

Whether you enjoy the scent of orange, rosemary, or lavender, you’ll often find mint is one of the leading scents used in aroma therapy.

You’ll find mint added to scented candles, incense, air fresheners, and diffusers, either on its own or blended with other aromas.

Essential oils are also popular, offering highly concentrated extracts like orange, ylang-ylang, lavender, and mint. Just a few drops on your pillow or bed linens can enhance the quality of your sleep.

For Cleaning

For Cleaning

Natural cleaning products often blend mint, and other scents to create a pleasant odor that masks the smell of other ingredients. While heavy-duty cleaning agents may not contain mint, you’ll often find that cleaning sprays and eco-friendly products are scented with essential oils that often include mint.

If a cleaning product doesn’t have any scent, a few drops of concentrated mint extract or syrup can improve the scent and leave behind a wonderful odor.

Toothpaste and Mouthwash

Toothpaste and Mouthwash

You’ll notice that many mouthwash and toothpaste products have a mint or mint blend of flavors, including winter mint, peppermint, and spearmint.

Natural toothpaste formulas mix mint with licorice, myrrh, fennel, and other herbs or plant extracts that are safe and beneficial for oral health. If you find the taste of mouthwash unpleasant, you can gargle with salt water and add a few drops of mint syrup as an alternative.

Risks of Mint Syrup and How to Minimize Them

Risks of Mint Syrup and How to Minimize Them

There are several risks to using mint simple syrup, which is essential to remember when you add mint to any recipes or products you consume or use.

While you may not have an allergic reaction, you may find that using too much mint syrup can cause unwanted side effects, and these effects are usually mild and typically subside quickly.

Headache

Headache

While some people find that mint can relieve a tension headache, it can also cause headaches in others. This outcome may occur if you eat too much mint or consume it in high concentration. In most cases, you won’t have too much discomfort, and the headache will usually disappear on its own.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea

Mint may cause diarrhea in some people, which may follow other symptoms, such as bloating and flatulence.

If you notice any signs of discomfort or indigestion, it’s best to avoid mint, though it’s often not serious. Mint can relieve digestive problems in some people, though it can increase issues if you have an existing condition.

Nausea

Nausea

You may feel nauseous if you consume mint, food, or drinks containing mint syrup. If you encounter this symptom or anything else that appears more serious, it’s best to consult a medical professional if it does not resolve independently. In some cases, this may result from an allergy or food sensitivity.

Best Alternatives to Mint Syrup

Best Alternatives to Mint Syrup

When you don’t have mint syrup on hand, or you’re looking for an alternative condiment to spice up your drinks or recipes, you’ll find many great alternatives for your coffee, cocktail, or dessert. You can either make these syrups at home or find them at your local market or grocery store.

Chocolate Syrup

Chocolate Syrup

This popular choice is excellent in specialty coffees, lattes, dessert toppings, and smoothies. Chocolate syrup can be easily made by melting dark chocolate in a pan and blending it with more flavors, including butterscotch or vanilla.

Hazelnut Syrup

Hazelnut Syrup

If you’re looking for an alternative to pumpkin spice lattes, or chocolate-flavored chocolate, hazelnut syrup offers a lovely taste that’s rich and perfect for sweets, coffees, and cakes.

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