You learned how to make Spice and Tea inspired cocktails in our last post, 4 Must Try Cocktails This Summer; now you get to go to the next level of bartending with our guide from Mixologist Meaghan Leonard on Simple Syrups. If you aren’t familiar with simple syrups, they are the yummy syrupy goodness that flavors so many delicious concoctions, from lattes and lemonades to cocktails and iced teas. Simple syrups have sooo many fantastic uses, but since this is a Be Your Own Bartender series (focus…), we all know what we’re after. Drinks! Cocktails! Libations! So, with no further ado, here’s how you do…
PPPPST … Don’t miss out! Get 20% Off Simple Syrup & Cocktail Samplers | Friday, July 20 – Sunday, July 22
Coconut Cucumber Simple Syrup
The delicious sweetness of our Poolside Sour Cocktail, this simple syrup combines the flavors of our Coconut Oolong Tea with the refreshing notes of cucumber for a delectably unique summer flavor. Use in cocktails, lemonades or as a glaze for baked goods like Coconut Pound Cake. Get the Simple Syrups Indulgences Sampler and give it a try!
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Ingredients
From The Spice & Tea Exchange
4 TBS Coconut Oolong Tea
From the Grocer
1 cup sugar (white or cane sugar works best)
½ cucumber
Instructions:
STEEP 8oz water with Coconut Oolong Tea at 175° for three minutes. Strain tea and set aside. Discard tea leaves.
SLICE cucumber (1-inch-thick pieces or so) and muddle in a medium sauce pan. Add brewed Coconut Oolong Tea and sugar. Bring all ingredients to a boil while stirring occasionally.
ONCE boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
REMOVE from heat. Strain, chill and enjoy!
Quick tip: Simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks!
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Mint-Basil Tea Simple Syrup
One of our best-selling teas, Mint-Basil Tea, becomes a delicious simple syrup with all the fantastically refreshing notes of the herbs lending amazing flavor to cocktails, like our Mint-Basil Collins, and even makes a great base for sparkling gelatin when combined with your favorite sparkling white wine. With flavors like these, the possibilities are endless! Get everything you need to make it in our Simple Syrup Classics Sampler or give as a gift to your favorite mixologist with our Simple Syrups Classics Gift Box.
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Ingredients
From The Spice & Tea Exchange
8 TBS Mint Basil Tea
From the Grocer
2 cup Sugar (white or cane sugar works best)
2 cups Filtered Water
Instructions:
STEEP 2 cups filtered water with Mint Basil Tea per package directions. Strain tea and set aside. Discard tea leaves.
ADD brewed tea and sugar to a medium sauce pan. Bring ingredients to a boil while stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
REMOVE from heat. Strain and chill before use.
Quick tip: Simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks!
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Chamomile Twist Turmeric Simple Syrup
Who knew Chamomile Tea could be so… after hours? Paired with Turmeric in this lip-smacking simple syrup, it flavors our Matcha Doin’? cocktail for a healthy trifecta you would never expect of your nightcap. Try it in your morning Matcha latte, too!
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Ingredients
From The Spice & Tea Exchange
4 TBS Chamomile Twist Herbal Tea
2 TBS Turmeric Powder
From the Grocer
2 cups Filtered Water – Divided
Instructions:
STEEP 1 cup water with Chamomile Twist Herbal Tea per package directions. Strain tea and set aside. Discard tea leaves.
COMBINE brewed Chamomile Twist tea, 1 cup water and turmeric in a medium sauce pan. Bring ingredients to a boil while stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
REMOVE from heat. Strain and chill before use.
Quick tip: Simple syrup can be stores in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks!
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Black Walnut Chocolate Espresso Simple Syrup
Awaken your taste buds with the smooth and delicious taste of espresso and cinnamon, paired with our Bourbon Black Walnut Sugar, that make up the simple syrup to flavor our Breakfast of Champions Cocktail. Now that’s something worth getting out of bed for!
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Ingredients
From The Spice & Tea Exchange
½ cup of Bourbon Black Walnut Sugar
½ TBS Vietnamese Cinnamon
From the Grocer
½ cup fresh brewed espresso
Instructions:
DISSOLVE Bourbon Black Walnut Sugar and Vietnamese Cinnamon in espresso. Bring all ingredients to a boil while stirring occasionally.
ONCE boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
REMOVE from heat. Strain and chill before use.
Quick tip: Simple syrup can be stores in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks!
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Simple Syrup Samplers
Ready to jump in and get started? Get everything you need with our NEW Simple Syrup Samplers! Hurry and get 20% Off Simple Syrup & Cocktail Samplers | Friday, July 20 – Sunday, July 22!
Simple Syrup Classics Sampler
The perfect simple syrup flavors to start out with, this bundle comes with all the classic flavors! Including Mint Basil Herbal and Green Tropical Teas, with Lemon and Ginger Sugars, mix and match to create tasty concoctions that will have everyone begging for the recipe!
Simple Syrup Indulgences Sampler
The decadent flavors or Coconut Oolong and Black Chocolate teas provide the perfect base for the included Raspberry and Espresso Sugars. If dessert cocktails are your thing, this sampler is a no brainer. All the delicious indulgence awaits!
More Ways to Enjoy
Looking for more recipes and delicious ideas? Check out our Summer Cocktails Category!
Meet the Mixologist
Originally from North Carolina, Meaghan Leonard is a bartender and cocktail curator residing in Jacksonville, Florida. After working in the hospitality industry in various forms for several years, she started honing her craft and love of spirits and cocktails in 2014 at Restaurant Orsay, a highly reputable establishment in Jacksonville. Now the head bartender, she focuses on creating new and innovative cocktails, winning many awards along the way!
Flex Your Mixing Muscles
Feeling inspired? Try your own simple syrup or cocktail combinations with our products and let us know how it goes by posting your results on FaceBook or Instagram with #SpiceAndTeaMixology and tag @SpiceAndTea and you could be our next share, repost or partner!