Earl Grey Simple Syrup

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This floral earl grey syrup is a unique flavoring for any type of drink. It’s easy to make with a tea bag or loose leaf tea in only 10 minutes.

Floral or herbal simple syrups are an easy way to elevate cocktails. For other herbal syrups, try this rosemary simple syrup, this thyme simple syrup, this basil simple syrup or this lavender syrup.

It’s also easy to make fruity flavored simple syrups. This pear simple syrup or this peach simple syrup would pair well with this earl grey syrup if you want to combine flavors.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Earl Grey Syrup vs Earl Grey Simple Syrup
• Ways To Use Earl Grey Simple Syrup
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• Equipment
• Step By Step Instructions
• Storage
• Expert Tips
• Recipe FAQs
• 📖 Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• With its floral orange bergamot flavors, this earl grey syrup is a unique and creative syrup.
• It is perfect for flavoring all kinds of drinks, including cocktails, lemonade and lattes.
• It takes only 10 minutes to make and you only need 3 ingredients.

Earl Grey Syrup vs Earl Grey Simple Syrup

Earl grey syrup and earl grey simple syrup are used interchangeably in recipes, but there is a slight difference. 

Earl grey simple syrup (and simple syrup in general) is much thinner and has the consistency of water. This makes it easier to dissolve in drinks. Simple syrup would be used in cocktails, lattes, iced teas and sodas.

Earl grey syrup is slightly thicker and is better for drizzling over desserts, such as ice cream. 

This recipe is primarily to make a simple syrup, since this is the most versatile type. However you can easily use this recipe to make a thicker syrup if you prefer.

To make a thicker syrup, boil the syrup for a few minutes until it thickens up. Be careful not to over-boil the syrup or it may crystallize.

Ways To Use Earl Grey Simple Syrup

There are lots of creative ways to use this syrup. Here are some ideas:

• Earl Grey Cocktails: Earl grey flavoring in cocktails creates a floral, elegant cocktail. Use this syrup to make one of these Earl Grey Cocktails, which include an early grey old fashioned or an earl grey gin fizz.
• Earl Grey Latte: Add 1 tablespoon of syrup to a shot of espresso and top with frothed milk. If you like floral lattes, this earl grey latte is very similar to this lavender latte.
• Earl Grey Lemonade: Stir 1 to 2 tablespoons of syrup into a glass of freshly made lemonade. You may want to make the lemonade with a bit less sugar since the earl grey syrup adds flavoring as well as sweetness.
• Earl Grey Soda: For a refreshing, fizzy drink, stir a couple tablespoons of syrup into a glass of soda water and serve with ice.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Earl Grey Tea: You can use either an earl grey tea bag or loose leaf tea to make this syrup. If you use loose leaf tea, you will need a tea steeper to separate out the loose tea leaves.
• Sugar: Sugar is dissolved in the tea to form the syrup. Typically simple syrup is made with granulated sugar for the most neutral flavor, but you can substitute this with brown sugar for a richer, caramel flavor.
• Water: Use filtered water, rather than tap water to prevent any unsavory flavors from seeping into the tea.

Equipment

Here is the equipment you will need for making this tea syrup:

• A kettle to boil the water for brewing the tea.
• A small saucepan to make the syrup in.
• An airtight glass jar to store the syrup in.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Steep the earl grey tea bag in ½ cup of boiling water for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Heat the tea, sugar and water together on a saucepan over medium heat. Continue to heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar fully dissolves.

Storage

• In the fridge: Let the earl grey syrup cool to room temperature. Then, store the syrup in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 weeks.
• In the freezer: Let the syrup cool fully, then store it in an airtight, freezer-safe glass jar for up to 2 months. Make sure to leave a bit of extra space in the jar to accommodate for the liquid expanding once frozen. To defrost, let the syrup thaw overnight in the fridge before using. Do not refreeze the syrup once you have thawed it.
• Storage containers: Use glass rather than plastic containers for storing the syrup. Plastic containers can alter the taste of the syrup. Make sure to thoroughly clean and dry your glass jar before storing the syrup in it.

Expert Tips

• Don’t over-boil the syrup. For a thin simple syrup that is perfect for drinks, don’t boil the syrup at all. If you want a syrup that is slightly thicker, boil the syrup for a couple of minutes once the sugar has dissolved. However, don’t over-boil the syrup or it will crystallize.
• The syrup thickens as it cools. If you decide to boil the syrup for a couple of minutes to make a thicker syrup, keep in mind that the syrup thickens up significantly as it cools.
• Add in lemon. For a brighter, more citrusy flavor, add in a dash of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Recipe FAQs

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📖 Recipe