This woodsy, earthy, and pine-flavored shrub is perfect in coffee and cocktails. It adds a great aroma and always reminds me of Christmas. Rosemary simple syrup is the best way to add it to any drink, and it’s so easy to make. It takes 3 ingredients and 5 minutes; it can’t get any simpler than that!

Here’s how to make this easy rosemary simple syrup at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s so easy and fast, you can literally make this in under 10 minutes!
• This syrup adds so much flavor to coffee, matcha, cocktails, and mocktails.
• Easy to make a large batch and store in bulk for a cafe or party.
• Saves you money from buying expensive premade rosemary syrup.
• It’s so fun to make!

What is Rosemary?

Rosemary is a bushy shrub from the Mediterranean with a pine-like flavor and aroma. It’s an evergreen plant, a part of the sage family that also has pine-like needles. People first used rosemary for medicinal purposes in Ancient Greece and Rome, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. It’s still used for medicinal purposes today, but now it’s grown into a popular seasoning for culinary use.

You can use the sprigs to infuse meat, sauces, soup, batter, and syrup. The plant concentrates the woody, minty flavor in its leaves, which are released when crushed or heated. Not only is it aromatic, but it’s also very pretty as a garnish or decoration.

What Does Rosemary Simple Syrup Taste Like?

Rosemary has a pine flavor, with woody, earthy, lemony, and minty undertones. It’s refreshing yet herbaceous, perfect for cutting fat or creamy foods. The leaves by themselves don’t smell very strong, but infusing them in syrup unlocks all the flavor.

Rosemary simple syrup is a strong, concentrated solution of rosemary’s aromatic compounds. It’s deeply pine-y and eucalyptus-forward, and the more you infuse the rosemary into the syrup, the stronger it gets. And obviously, the syrup tastes sweet from the sugar.

Regular sugar doesn’t add any additional flavor, but different sweeteners can change the flavor slightly.

Rosemary Simple Syrup: What You’ll Need

Equipment:

• A mason jar
• A small or medium-sized pot

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2-3 sprigs of rosemary

How to Make Rosemary Simple Syrup

1. Dissolve Sugar. Add sugar and water to a pot and heat on medium heat. Gently heat and stir until all the sugar dissolves.
2. Infuse Rosemary. Add rosemary sprigs and heat on low for 5 – 7 minutes until aromatic. Infuse longer for a stronger rosemary flavor.
3. Store. Either keep or remove the sprigs from the syrup, then pour it into a heatproof jar or bottle. Let it cool completely before putting it in the fridge. It should keep well for 2 – 3 weeks in the fridge.
4. Use and Enjoy! Use this in mocktails, cocktails, lattes, and more!

How to Store Simple Syrup

Although sugar is a great preservative, homemade simple syrup is best kept in the fridge. You’ll want to store it in a jar or syrup bottle that has an airtight seal, like a mason jar. The more air you expose the syrup to, the higher the chance of contamination and bacterial growth.

When kept properly, rosemary simple syrup lasts from 2 – 3 weeks. However, if you see discoloration or smell a weird odor, your syrup isn’t good anymore and should be tossed. Better safe than sorry!

Tips for the Best Rosemary Syrup

• Store the Syrup with the Sprigs: For a super-strong simple syrup, add the infused rosemary sprigs to your jarred syrup. It’ll marinate in the syrup even further and pull out all the yummy flavors in the fridge.
• Clap Rosemary: I learnt this trick when I worked as a bobarista! To release more flavor, clap the rosemary sprig in between your hands before adding it to your syrup. You’ll get more flavor with it faster since it’s been crushed.
• Freeze Leftover Syrup: If you’re not going to use the syrup right away, pour the cooled syrup into ice cube trays or a container and freeze. Let it thaw before using the next time! It will stay fresher longer.
• Use Homegrown Rosemary: I love fresh herbs, but the ones from the store aren’t as fresh sometimes. For the best flavor, use rosemary from your garden! It’ll be the best quality you can get for virtually free.

Simple Syrup With Dried Rosemary

If you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can also make rosemary simple syrup with dried rosemary. Dried herbs are much stronger since drying concentrates the flavor. However, dried rosemary is more heat-sensitive and can become bitter if heated too much.

For simple syrup with dried rosemary, make the simple syrup first, then add the dried herbs off heat. This way, you get rosemary flavor without any bitterness. Plus, you can use way less of the dried herb compared to fresh, about 1 – 2 teaspoons per cup of water.

How to Use Rosemary Simple Syrup

This is the best part about making syrup: using it! There are so many ways to use rosemary syrup. The most popular is in cocktails like a rosemary gimlet or a rosemary baby cocktail. I’ve used them in mocktails with cranberry, pomegranate, and raspberry.

But my favorite way is to use them in cafe beverages! I’ve made a rosemary latte, a honey rosemary latte, and a vanilla rosemary latte (my favorite). You can try a rosemary matcha latte with those same flavor variations, or add it to a brewed tea.

Not only can you use them with beverages, but they’re great for infusing cakes, cupcakes, and desserts, too.

Rosemary Simple Syrup Variations

The best part of homemade syrups is that you can customize and experiment with flavors. Rosemary simple syrup is great on its own, but here are some other variations to try:

• Honey: Swap sugar for honey for a honey rosemary syrup that’s slightly floral and fragrant.
• Maple
• Cranberry
• Lemon
• Ginger (My favorite variation, so warming!)
• Blackberry

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does rosemary simple syrup last?

This simple syrup should last up to 3 weeks in the fridge if stored properly. I like using a mason jar for a proper airtight seal and leaving it in a spot where I can see it. Otherwise, I forget it exists, haha. Labelling it with the date you made it also helps keep track of how long it’s been there.

Can I replace rosemary with a different herb?

Yes! You can make any flavor of infused simple syrup since the base is just sugar and water. For a similar flavor to rosemary, I would use (edible) pine needles, thyme, sage, mint, or a combination of the 4. Infuse them in the same way!

Other Simple Syrup Recipes to Try

Now, you’re probably super excited to try making other types of simple syrup after learning how easy it is! Beyond herby flavors, here are some other delicious simple syrup recipes to try next:

• Caramel Simple Syrup
• Brown Sugar Syrup
• Lavender Simple Syrup
• Toasted Marshmallow Syrup