Tea-Infused Simple Syrup and Iced Tea
Tea-Infused Simple Syrup and Iced Tea
Tea-infused simple syrup is a flavored sugar syrup you make by steeping loose-leaf tea in warm sugar water, and it turns a glass of iced tea, lemonade, or a cocktail into something more aromatic. To make it, you gently heat equal parts sugar and water, steep the tea leaves, then strain. Stirred into brewed iced tea, the syrup sweetens and deepens the same flavor at once. What makes this version special is using a real loose-leaf blend, a black tea layered with lavender and bergamot, so both the syrup and the iced tea carry a floral, citrusy note. It makes about 1.5 cups of syrup plus a pitcher of iced tea and takes about 20 minutes.
The Madeline's products that make this work
Lavender Earl Grey Tea
This loose-leaf blend from The Natural Mama Co. is a bold black tea layered with French lavender, bergamot, and vanilla. It does double duty here, steeped into the syrup and brewed for the iced tea, so the floral and citrus notes come through in both.
Country Life Raw Honey
For a honey-sweetened version, this light, mild raw honey from Country Life Natural Foods can replace some or all of the sugar in the syrup. It dissolves easily in the warm water and gives the syrup a rounder sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water (for the syrup)
- 1 cup granulated sugar, or 3/4 cup Country Life Raw Honey
- 2 tablespoons Lavender Earl Grey Tea loose leaf, divided
- 4 cups water (for the iced tea)
- Ice, for serving
- Lemon slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Make the syrup. Combine 1 cup water and the sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture just begins to steam, but do not let it boil hard.
- Turn off the heat, stir in 1 tablespoon of the loose-leaf tea, and let it steep for 5 minutes. Steeping longer makes it more bitter, so keep an eye on the time.
- Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jar and let it cool. It will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Brew the iced tea. Bring the 4 cups of water to just under a boil, then pour over the remaining 1 tablespoon of tea. Steep for 4 to 5 minutes, then strain.
- Let the brewed tea cool, then pour over ice in tall glasses.
- Sweeten each glass with the tea-infused simple syrup to taste, stir, and garnish with lemon if using.
Tips and variations
Use the same method with any loose-leaf tea you like, adjusting the steep time so it does not turn bitter. For a honey version, swap the sugar for raw honey and warm it just enough to dissolve. The syrup is good in lemonade, sparkling water, or cocktails, and a splash brightens plain iced tea. To make a larger batch of iced tea, scale the brew up and keep the syrup on the side so people can sweeten to taste.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make tea-infused simple syrup?
Heat equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves and the mixture steams, then take it off the heat, steep loose-leaf tea in it for about 5 minutes, and strain. The result is a flavored syrup you can stir into iced tea, lemonade, sparkling water, or cocktails. Keep the steep short so the syrup stays smooth rather than bitter.
How long does tea simple syrup last?
Stored in a clean, sealed jar in the refrigerator, tea-infused simple syrup keeps for about 2 weeks. If it smells off or looks cloudy, discard it. A honey-based syrup may keep a little longer because of honey's natural properties, but the fridge is still best.
Why is my tea syrup or iced tea bitter?
Bitterness usually comes from steeping the tea too long or using water that is too hot, which pulls out tannins. Keep the syrup steep to about 5 minutes and the iced tea brew to 4 to 5 minutes, and use water that is just under a boil for black tea. Straining promptly also helps.
Can I use honey instead of sugar?
Yes. Replace some or all of the sugar with raw honey and warm the water just enough to dissolve it without boiling, which preserves more of the honey's character. The syrup will be slightly thinner and carry a honey flavor that suits tea well.
What can I use tea-infused simple syrup for?
Beyond iced tea, it sweetens lemonade, sparkling water, coffee, and cocktails, and it can be brushed over cakes or stirred into whipped cream. Because the syrup carries the tea's flavor, it is an easy way to add a floral or citrus note to drinks and desserts.
Related
Shop the collections: Coffee & Tea and Honey.
More guides: The Best Organic Loose-Leaf Tea and How Do You Store Loose-Leaf Tea?