It’s finally beginning to feel like summer around here. Time for refreshing summer drinks. I made this herb infused syrup a few weeks ago, when I came home with pots of herbs on a teaser of a 75 degree spring day. Then the weather turned cold again and the jar of syrup sat in my fridge until this week when it finally felt right again to drink ice cold fizzy things.
- 1 cup turbinado sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 big handful of fresh mint leaves
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
- 1 sprig of fresh lemon thyme
- lemons
- seltzer
- ice
Chop up the herbs. Put the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the chopped herbs. Cover and let steep for about 30 minutes. Pour syrup through a sieve into a jar. Press on the herbs in the strainer with a spoon to extract as much flavor as possible. Cover and refrigerate syrup until cold.
Pour about two tablespoons of syrup over ice in a tall glass. Add the juice of half a lemon and fill the glass the rest of the way with seltzer. A sprig of mint is a nice garnish. A splash of bourbon is nice too.
The syrup will keep a good long while in the fridge.
I’ve also been making a refreshing drink since the weather has gotten warmer- it’s basically a virgin mojito: 4 limes and 1 lemon squeezed, 1 bunch fresh mint, agave nectar and 2 liters of seltzer.
Pour the citrus juices into a pitcher, add the mint leaves and 1/4 cup of agave nectar- use a muddler or the back of a spoon to release the mint oil and mix together- add the seltzer and serve over ice- you can add light rum for a traditional mojito.
ooh! sounds like that delicious lime mint soda! -kate
That’s the best use for leftover herbs I’ve seen! Thanks for the tip!
looks great! do you think adding a bit of champagne would make it a suitable evening drink?
not that there necessarily needs to be alcohol in everything, just am having soon to be married best friend over and she needs something for her cold feet.
agnes http://www.cookbystealth.wordpress.com
i hadn’t thought of that but it sounds good! -kate
Thanks for sharing the recipe. As you said it feels like summer again.
such a cool idea! kate = genius.
yes, wanted to stop by and say that this works great!
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