Simple syrup, that clever little tool for sweetening all sorts of cold beverages and an essential ingredient in so many cocktails, is ridiculously easy to prepare and very handy to have on hand. It can also be conveniently and aromatically infused with the unforgettable flavor of rosemary. The addition of a few rosemary sprigs adds a fragrant and woodsy dimension to your basic simple syrup. Made with honey (rather than white sugar), this rosemary simple syrup has some serious character and depth. Use it to sweeten your lemonade, iced tea, or to make an irresistible cocktail...like the Rosemary Lemon Drop.
Ingredients for Rosemary Simple Syrup
- honey
- water
- fresh rosemary sprigs
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Place the honey in a small saucepan.
Then add the water.
Warm the mixture over medium low heat, stirring until the honey has dissolved. This will only take about 5 minutes or so.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the rosemary sprigs. Then allow the mixture to steep (and cool) for about an hour.
Remove the rosemary sprigs and pour the syrup into a small bottle or jar with a lid.
Substitutions
If you prefer, you can certainly substitute an equal amount of plain white sugar for the honey here. But then your rosemary simple syrup will taste rather...more simple.
Storage
Rosemary simple syrup will keep in a covered bottle or jar for about a month. I like to store mine in the refrigerator, but given the natural properties of honey, you could probably also get away with storing this at room temperature.
Top tip
The specific type of honey that you choose will noticeably impact the flavor profile of your simple syrup. As a general rule, flavor is going to be correlated with color, with the light colored honey typically tasting more mild and the dark more rich. For instance, a pale yellow clover or fireweed variety will produce a much more delicate simple syrup than a deep golden brown buckwheat or Manuka variety. So choose your own adventure when it comes to selecting honey for making simple syrup.
📖 Recipe
Rosemary Simple Syrup
Equipment
- small saucepan
- small bottle or jar with a lid (to store)
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup water
- 2 or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Place the honey and water in a small saucepan.
- Warm the mixture over medium low heat, stirring until the honey has dissolved. This will only take about 5 minutes or so.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the rosemary sprigs.
- Allow the mixture to steep (and cool) for about an hour. Then remove the rosemary sprigs.
- Pour the rosemary simple syrup into a small bottle or jar with a lid and store for up to about a month in the refrigerator.
Leave a Reply