This Earl Grey Simple Syrup has just 3 ingredients, and it's ready in under 30 minutes! It has a delicious bergamot flavor, and you can use it in a variety of drinks from coffee, tea, and matcha lattes to cocktails, mocktails, and even desserts! It's vegan, gluten-free, and freezer-friendly.
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Why You'll Love This Earl Grey Syrup
Refreshing floral flavor - Earl Grey is a mix of black tea and bergamot oil, which has a floral, citrusy flavor. It's a very underrated syrup in my opinion! Especially for matcha or coffee lattes! You can also use it for cocktails, mocktails, lemonades, or any other drinks.
Easy and simple - This recipe has just 3 ingredients, and it can be ready in less than 30 minutes! All you need is water, sugar, and some Earl Grey tea. Making homemade syrup is easier than you may think, and once you get the hang of it, you can make any flavor you want! I have over 35 other flavors you can choose from in the Simple Syrups category!
Ingredients
- Earl Grey tea - The better the tea, the better the syrup. I like using loose Earl Grey tea bags because it's easier to use than regular loose tea, but it give the syrup the same flavor.
- Cane sugar - I recommend cane sugar because it's less processed than white sugar, but it still has a very neutral flavor and a light color. I don't recommend liquid sweeteners like maple syrup or honey because they would overpower the Earl Grey flavor.
- Water - Use filtered water for the best flavor whenever possible.
Variations and Substitutions
- Decaffeinated tea - Use decaf Earl Grey if necessary. It may not be available everywhere, but you should be able to find it in specialty stores or online.
- Different sugar - Theoretically, you could use other sweeteners to make this syrup, like brown sugar, maple syrup, agave, or a granulated sugar-free substitute, but they all can change the flavor of the syrup. Some more than others. I still recommend cane sugar or white sugar for the most pronounced Earl Grey flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil on the stove in a medium saucepan.
- Take it off the heat and add the Earl Grey teabags. Steep the tea for 10 minutes.
- Take the teabags out and squeeze out as much tea as you can from them with a spoon.
- Add the sugar and bring the mixture to a boil again, stirring constantly just until the sugar melts.
- Lower the heat and simmer the syrup for 10 minutes on low-medium heat.
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- Transfer the syrup to an airtight heatproof jar and allow it to cool before closing with a lid and storing in the fridge. You can also strain it through a fine mesh strainer if you are using loose-leaf tea to make sure no leaves stay in the finished syrup. You can pour it into a large measuring cup first to make it easier.
- Enjoy the syrup in your favorite drinks!
How to Use the Syrup
- Coffee - This might not be common, but Earl Grey syrup is delicious in coffee! I like to add it to my iced lattes.
- Matcha - It's a delicious syrup for matcha lattes as well, both hot and iced!
- Other lattes - Try it in this Hibiscus Earl Grey Latte, or this Iced London Fog Tea Latte.
- Cocktails and mocktails - Add it to any cocktail with vodka, tequila, or gin to add a floral flavor like this Lavender Gin Cocktail (instead of the lavender syrup). You can also add it to any mocktail with similar flavors. It's delicious with lemon, sparkling water, and mint.
- Lemonades, iced teas - Use it to sweeten your lemonade, soda, or iced tea. It's great in an Earl Grey iced tea to enhance the flavors!
- Desserts - You can also drizzle the syrup over desserts, ice cream, pancakes, or waffles, or brush it on layers of cake to add moisture and flavor.
Storing
Fridge: Store the syrup in an airtight container or a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Always use a clean spoon and discard the syrup if it changes consistency, color, flavor, or if it smells off.
Freezer: You can also freeze the syrup for up to 2-3 months in a freezer-safe container. I like using small plastic containers and measuring how much I'm putting in, so I always know how much to defrost. Because the syrup never freezes completely solid, I don't recommend freezing it in an ice cube tray.
FAQs
No, it doesn't have enough sugar to be room-temperature stable. You'd have to have equal amounts of sugar and water in weight, not in volume, which would be more sugar than this syrup has. I like doing it this way because it's less sweet and easier, but you can weigh it as well if you prefer.
Other Floral Syrups
If you want to try making other syrups with a similar floral flavor, try the four below! I included sage and mint because they have a similar floral feel compared to other herbs. There are many more to choose from! Head over to Flavored Syrups to see all the latest ones.
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Print📖 Recipe
Earl Grey Simple Syrup
This Earl Grey Simple Syrup has just 3 ingredients, and it's ready in under 30 minutes! It has a delicious bergamot flavor, and you can use it in a variety of drinks from coffee, tea, and matcha lattes, to cocktails, mocktails, and more! It's vegan, gluten-free, and freezer-friendly.
- Total Time25 minutes
- Yield1 ⅓ cup 1x
- DietVegan
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup water
- 4 Earl Grey teabags
- 1 cup cane sugar
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil on the stove in a medium saucepan.
- Take it off the heat and add the Earl Grey teabags. Steep the tea for 10 minutes.
- Take the teabags out and squeeze out as much tea as you can from them with a spoon.
- Add the sugar and bring the mixture to a boil again, stirring constantly just until the sugar melts.
- Lower the heat and simmer the syrup for 10 minutes on low-medium heat.
- Transfer the syrup to an airtight heatproof jar and allow it to cool before closing with a lid and storing in the fridge. You can pour it into a large measuring cup first to make it easier.
Notes
- Fridge: Store the syrup in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Discard if the syrup smells off, changes color, or texture. Always use a clean spoon.
- Freezer: You can freeze the syrup in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. I like using small plastic containers so I don’t have to defrost all of it at once. I don’t recommend using an ice cube tray because the syrup never freezes completely solid.
- Uses: Add it to coffee, tea, matcha, cocktails, mocktails, lemonades, sparkling water, and more!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Syrup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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Veronika Sykorova says
The light and floral flavor of this syrup is perfect for cocktails, mocktails, or even matcha! It's definitely going to be one of my favorites for spring going forward!