Pine Syrup

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About This Syrup

Simple syrup, sometimes called “sugar syrup,” is a basic syrup that’s commonly used in cocktails and other beverages as a sweetener. Unflavored simple syrup is made by dissolving an equal amount of granulated sugar in an equal amount of water, usually in a 1:1 ratio, to create a sweet-tasting liquid. Although it was once customary to use sugar itself in recipes, simple syrups have become the go-to sweetener in cocktails especially because they blend more easily with the other ingredients without leaving behind undissolved sugar crystals.

One of my favorite ways to create delicious new flavor combinations in our cocktails is to use simple syrups infused with fruits, herbs, and other additives. There are lots of pre-made flavored syrups on the market these days, but I prefer to create my own recipes for them because it’s easy and much more affordable to make them in batches at home.

When making drinks with earth-inspired flavors, simple syrups made with various teas are quick way to infuse their flavors. This recipe is for a homemade pine syrup that was first used in the Partridge in a Pear Tree, a Christmas cocktail created by food writer and author Jessica Strand. The recipe in her book Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season didn’t call for woodsy pine, spruce, or birch-flavored ingredients at all, but we decided to add them in as a nod to the “tree” part of the drink’s name and for more complexity. The latter two came from a unique bottle of bitters made by Crude Bitters & Sodas, but the pine came from this syrup I made at home using loose leaf pine tea.

Syrup Ingredients

To make this simple syrup, you’ll need the following ingredients:

White Sugar: This is a type of sugar that has been processed, crystallized, and dried. I used C&H Pure Cane Granulated Sugar.

Water: This is a flavorless fluid that turns the syrup into a liquid. I used filtered water to prevent contamination.

Pine Tea: This is a type of herbal tea made with dried pine tree needles. I used FullChea Dried Pine Needle Tea.

How to Make This Syrup

When making syrups, I prefer to make most of ours using the sous vide method, but I made this one on the stovetop because the tea only needs to steep for about half an hour.

To make this syrup, you’ll need the following tools:

Measuring Cups: These are used to measure the ingredients. I use the OXO 8 Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set and the OXO Good Grips Silicone Measuring Cup Set.

Food Scale: This is used to precisely weigh the ingredients. I use the GDEALER Food Scale because it offers extremely accurate weights and is easy to store thanks to its compact size.

Saucepan: This is what the syrup ingredients are placed inside to cook. I use the Cuisinart 3 Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan.

Silicone Spatula: This is used to stir the syrup. I use the OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Spatula because its flexibility allows me to stir and wipe the syrups out of the pan more thoroughly than a spoon.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is used to remove solid ingredients from the syrup during the transfer process. I use the Barfly Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer because its tightly woven mesh is excellent for removing small seeds and pieces of fruit.

Funnel: This is used to transfer the syrup from the bag to the storage containers without making a mess. I use the ANNIOCA Silicone Food Grade Funnel because it’s flexible and easy to store.

Squeeze Bottle: This is used to store the syrup in the refrigerator for immediate use. I use the OXO Good Grips Squeeze Bottles because they’re high quality.

Storage Pouch with Pouring Spout: This is used to store extra syrup in the freezer for later use. I use the OHMAXHO 16 oz Reusable Plastic Pouches because they’re made with a thick material that doesn’t come open after freezing the syrup.

How to Store This Syrup

Once the syrup is made, it will need to be kept cool to preserve its freshness. Whether it will be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer affects the type of container I use, and I make the decision on where to store it based on when I expect to use some or all of the syrup in cocktails.

Refrigerator Storage: I will usually store our syrups in the refrigerator when I plan to use them in a cocktail either right away or within a few days. If that’s the case, I will store some in a condiment squeeze bottle so I can easily pour the syrup into a jigger when I make the drink. It’s rare that I need all sixteen ounces right away though, so I often keep some in the refrigerator and will transfer the rest of the syrup to a pouch so it can be frozen and used later.

Freezer Storage: I will usually store our syrups in the freezer when I don’t think I will use them in a cocktail within a week. If that’s the case, I store them in pouches with pouring spouts because those are made with a flexible material that won’t come open as the syrup expands during the freezing process. I will then thaw the pouches in a bowl of water when I want to use the syrup again.

Flavored syrups like this one should last one to two weeks in the refrigerator and can last up to six months if frozen. I recommend listing the date the syrup was made before storing it so you can keep track of when batches should be used or discarded.

Recipe

This recipe yields approximately sixteen ounces of syrup, which is enough for anywhere from fifteen to thirty-five cocktails depending on the amount needed for the drink.

AuthorSips From Scripts

Yields1 ServingPrep Time45 mins

Ingredients
 200 g White Sugar
 200 ml Hot Water
 2 Pine Tea Bags

Method
1

Add 200 ml hot water to a saucepan.

2

Heat over high heat until boiling, then remove pan from heat.

3

Add pine tea bags and let steep for 15-20 minutes.

4

Remove tea bags and return pan to burner over high heat.

5

Add 200 g sugar and heat while stirring for 3-5 minutes until sugar is dissolved.

6

Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.

7

Strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer 1-2 times to remove any tea or sugar particles.

8

Pour syrup into a squeeze bottle or pouch with a spout using a funnel, then refrigerate or freeze.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 200 g White Sugar
 200 ml Hot Water
 2 Pine Tea Bags

Directions

Method
1

Add 200 ml hot water to a saucepan.

2

Heat over high heat until boiling, then remove pan from heat.

3

Add pine tea bags and let steep for 15-20 minutes.

4

Remove tea bags and return pan to burner over high heat.

5

Add 200 g sugar and heat while stirring for 3-5 minutes until sugar is dissolved.

6

Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.

7

Strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer 1-2 times to remove any tea or sugar particles.

8

Pour syrup into a squeeze bottle or pouch with a spout using a funnel, then refrigerate or freeze.

Pine Syrup

Shop Syrup-Making Tools

Find collections of syrup-making tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.

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OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set, 2.9, 8 Piece
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set, 2.9, 8 Piece
Set includes: 1/4 Cup, 1/3 Cup, 1/2 Cup, 1 Cup, 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp and 1 T Spoons; Handles feature permanent, etched measurement markings
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OXO Good Grips 3 Piece Squeeze & Pour Silicone Measuring Cup Set, Blue
OXO Good Grips 3 Piece Squeeze & Pour Silicone Measuring Cup Set, Blue
Honeycomb pattern dissipates heat and keeps hands protected; Flexible silicone is microwave safe and ideal for melting butter, chocolate and more
$27.69 Amazon Prime
Sale
Cuisinart SPB-7CH SmartPower 40-Ounce 7-Speed Electronic Bar Blender, Chrome
Cuisinart SPB-7CH SmartPower 40-Ounce 7-Speed Electronic Bar Blender, Chrome
Perfect for blending, pureeing, mixing, liquefying and stirring; 7-speed touch pad control with easy-to-read indicator lights
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OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Spatula - Peppercorn
OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Spatula – Peppercorn
Silicone Everyday Spatula is the perfect tool for stirring, mixing, scraping and more; Flexible edges are polished and beveled to get every bit from bowls and cookware
OXO Good Grips Chef's Squeeze Bottle - Set
OXO Good Grips Chef’s Squeeze Bottle – Set
Set consists of medium bottle and large bottle with one thick tip and one thin tip; Unique attached cap stays open while you squeeze for a precise pour
$11.99 Amazon Prime

More Syrup Recipes

If you like this syrup, here are a few others we make and use in our cocktails that you may enjoy:

White Tea Syrup for Cocktails

White Tea Syrup: A stovetop syrup made with white tea leaves, white sugar, and water

Winter Herb Syrup Recipe for Cocktails

Winter Herb Syrup: A stovetop syrup made with rosemary, thyme, sage, white sugar, gum Arabic powder, and water

Mushroom Honey Syrup Recipe for Cocktails

Mushroom Honey Syrup: A stovetop syrup made with baby portobello mushrooms, honey, and water

Salted Sage Syrup Recipe for Cocktails

Salted Sage Syrup: A stovetop syrup made with fresh sage, sea salt, white sugar, and water

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-03-19.

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