This Earl Grey syrup is a versatile and elegant sweetener that’s about to elevate your cocktail and culinary repertoire. This simple and sophisticated Earl Grey simple syrup will add a touch of gourmet flair to everything from cocktails to mocktails, baked goods, coffee, and so much more.
This simple syrup is the backbone in my Earl Grey Tea Martini – it’s a gin martini that blends the bergamot flavor with lemon and gin for the most delicious cocktail.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Elevated Flavors: This syrup goes beyond plain sweeteners for a sophisticated twist. The subtle bergamot notes of Earl Grey infuse the syrup, adding a unique and elegant flavor dimension to cocktails, coffee or espresso-based drinks, and desserts.
Budget-Friendly and Versatile: Making your own syrup is often cheaper than buying store-bought sweeteners. You can control the sweetness and customize the strength of the Earl Grey flavor to your liking.
Gift-Giving Gold: It makes a delightful and thoughtful DIY gift for tea lovers, cocktail enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates gourmet touches. Package it attractively with a sprig of lavender or a handwritten note for a personalized touch.
What is Earl Grey Tea?
Earl Grey tea is a renowned type of black tea flavored with the oil of bergamot, a fragrant citrus fruit. The bergamot oil imparts a unique floral, slightly citrusy flavor, contrasting with the deep, full-bodied richness of black tea. Additionally, Earl Grey has an interesting history, often associated with British tea culture, adding an element of tradition and sophistication. Whether enjoyed hot or iced, plain or with milk and sugar, Earl Grey offers a delightful escape in every cup.
Ingredient Notes
Earl Grey Tea: Choose your favorite brand or blend! You can choose Earl Grey tea bags or loose tea. Consider the strength of the tea – some might infuse more intensely than others.
Water: Use filtered or bottled water for the best taste. Avoid tap water with strong mineral flavors, as they can clash with the delicate Earl Grey notes.
Sugar: Granulated sugar is the standard for its neutral sweetness, but you can get creative! Substitute brown sugar for a rich molasses flavor. Just remember, alternative sugars might affect the final syrup consistency and flavor slightly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add the water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil (about 212 degrees F) over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and add your Earl Grey tea. Allow to brew for 5 minutes and remove the tea bag or, if you’re using loose leaf, carefully strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl or large Pyrex heatproof glass measuring cup.
Step 2: Add the sugar and whisk until completely dissolved. You can do this in the heatproof bowl or saucepan. For loose-leaf tea, if the tea has cooled too much in the heatproof bowl, you can add it back to the saucepan and whisk over low heat until sugar is dissolved.
Step 3: Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool completely. Pour into a clean mason jar or other airtight bottle. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Expert Tips + Variations
- Steep the tea in hot water for 3-5 minutes. Oversteeping can lead to a bitter taste, while understeeping might result in a weak flavor.
- Simmer the mixture on low heat to dissolve the sugar completely without boiling, as boiling can alter the delicate flavors of the tea.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice or other citrus fruit. You can also try adding a splash of vanilla or a cinnamon stick for more unique flavor variations.
- Try using Lady Grey Tea, which is the similiar to Earl Grey, but contains more citrus flavor from pieces of orange and lemon peel that are used in the tea blend. Sometimes, it is also infused with lavender.
How to Store Homemade Syrup
Fridge
To store it in the fridge, first ensure it’s cooled to room temperature. Then, transfer it to a clean, airtight glass bottle or mason jar to maintain its freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors. In an airtight container, the syrup can last up to about 3 weeks in the fridge. If you notice the syrup becoming cloudy or has any signs of mold, immediately throw it away.
Freezer
For longer storage, you can freeze the syrup for up to 3 months. If you want to freeze it, I recommend pouring it into an empty ice tray, freeze until solid, and then put the frozen cubes in a ziplock bag to store in the freezer. That way, you can thaw out just a few cubes instead of an entire batch as you need it.
How to Use This Syrup
- Cocktail Enhancer: Replace the simple syrup in your cocktails with the Earl Grey Syrup for a citrusy, tea flavor. It’s the backbone of my Earl Grey Martini.
- Flavoring for Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Mocktails: Add a splash to lemonades, iced teas, or mocktails for a refreshing and aromatic drink. You can also use it to make your own homemade soda by adding some to seltzer water.
- Dessert and Breakfast Drizzle: Drizzle over cakes, pancakes, waffles, french toast, or overnight oats for a subtle, fragrant sweetness.
- Coffee and Tea Sweetener: Stir into iced or hot coffee and tea as a flavorful alternative to regular sugar or honey. You can also use it to make a London Fog Latte.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Use it to glaze roasted vegetables or drizzle it over fresh fruit salad for a unique and delicious touch.
FAQ
Does Earl Grey syrup have caffeine?
Yes, Earl Grey syrup does contain caffeine. The exact amount of caffeine in the syrup will depend on factors like the type and amount of tea used, and the steeping time.
However, it’s generally lower compared to a standard cup of Earl Grey tea, as the syrup is diluted with water and sugar. However, if you opt for decaffeinated Earl Grey tea, your syrup will be caffeine-free. Look for “decaffeinated” or “decaf” on the tea packaging.
Can I use loose-leaf tea?
Yes, you can use loose-leaf Earl Grey tea to make the syrup. In fact, using loose leaf tea has a great flavor depth compared to tea bags. Loose-leaf tea allows for a more even and full extraction of flavors, resulting in a more aromatic and flavorful syrup.
Just ensure you strain it well to remove all tea leaves after steeping. A fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth is ideal for this task.
Can I use other types of tea to make syrup?
Yes, you can use other types of tea to make syrup. Experimenting with different teas to make homemade syrups can create unique and diverse flavor profiles.
Each type of tea will impart its distinct characteristics to the syrup, offering a wide range of possibilities for creative and personalized drink recipes. Try my Spiced Chai or Elderflower Tea Syrups, if you’re looking for inspiration.
Why did my syrup crystallize?
Syrup crystallization can occur due to a few reasons:
- Over-saturation of Sugar: If too much sugar is added relative to the amount of water, it may not all dissolve properly, leading to crystallization as the syrup cools.
- Low Water Content: Insufficient water can also lead to sugar crystals forming, as there’s not enough liquid to keep the sugar molecules apart.
- Temperature: Keeping the heat too high or allowing the syrup to boil after adding the sugar can create crystalization.
- Impurities: Sometimes, impurities in the sugar or water can act as a ‘seed’ for crystals to form around.
To prevent this, ensure you have the correct sugar-to-water ratio, dissolve the sugar completely on low heat, and store the finished product in a stable, cool environment.
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📖 Recipe
Earl Grey Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 bag Earl Grey tea
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Add the water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and add your Earl Grey tea. Allow to brew for 5 minutes, then remove tea bag.
- Add the sugar to the saucepan and whisk until completely dissolved.
- Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool completely. Pour into a clean mason jar or other airtight bottle. Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
- Steep the tea in hot water for 3-5 minutes. Oversteeping can lead to a bitter taste, while understeeping might result in a weak flavor.
- Store in the fridge: To store the syrup in the fridge, first ensure it’s cooled to room temperature. Then, transfer it to a clean, airtight glass bottle or jar to maintain its freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors. In the fridge, the syrup can last up to about 3 weeks. If you notice the syrup becoming cloudy or any signs of mold, immediately throw it away.
- Store in the freezer: For longer storage, you can freeze the syrup for up to 3 months. If you want to freeze it, I recommend pouring the syrup into an empty ice tray, freeze until solid, and then put the frozen cubes in a ziplock bag to store in the freezer. That way, you can thaw out just a few cubes instead of an entire batch as you need it.
Nutrition
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