Making Flavored Drinks with Simple Syrup

To make something a little special to drink, why not try making a simple syrup, mixing in some flavoring, and using that to make a drink? In this article you will find instructions for making refreshing drinks using a simple syrup, as well as many different flavoring ideas.

Making the Simple Syrup. First of all, you need to make the simple syrup. A simple syrup is water and sugar heated together until boiling and the sugar is dissolved. In traditional lemonade, for example, the water and sugar are merely mixed with lemon juice. Heating the mixture, as when making a simple syrup, helps the sugar to dissolve completely.

The ratio of water to sugar for a simple syrup is 1:1. Use 1 cup of sugar for every 1 cup of water. Mix together in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and allow to cool. This is how you make the simple syrup.

Adding a Flavoring. A drink made with a simple syrup could have many different kinds of flavoring added. Fruit juice is a very popular idea. Some fruit juices that would work well are orange, tangerine, lemon, lime, grapefruit or cranberry. Be sure you are using 100% juice, not a fruit drink or cocktail mix. Fresh juice will taste the best. Mix one cup of fruit juice with one cup of simple syrup. Wait until your mixture has cooled and you are mixing your drink to add the fruit juice.

Another flavoring option is fresh herbs. Add about ¾ cup torn mint leaves to 1 cup of simple syrup. Basil would work for this also and provide an interesting flavor. Fresh herbs should be added to the mixture before boiling, and removed after through straining. Finally, you can flavor your simple syrup drink with an extract. Extracts should be added to the mixture after boiling. Add 1 teapoon of extract per 1 cup of simple syrup, or more to taste. Some ideas are vanilla, almond, mint, orange, cinnamon, lemon or even rootbeer extracts or flavorings. Use your imagination.

Mixing the Drink. Once you have made your flavored simple syrup and allowed it to cool you can make a drink with it. If you have used fresh herbs or an extract to flavor your simple syrup, the ratio of simple syrup to water is 1:2. Mix 1 cup of flavored simple syrup with 2 cups of water for 3 cups of your mixed drink. If you are adding fruit juice, mix 1 cup fruit juice, 1 cup simple syrup and 1 cup of water. Mix your flavored simple syrup with soda water for a sparkling drink, or flat for more of a juice taste.