This Earl Grey simple syrup recipe combines everything you love about your favorite cuppa tea with the sweetening abilities of a homemade simple syrup, allowing you to add the flavor of Earl Grey to ANY drink you want!
I first started making simple syrups in baking and pastry school in 2009. Since then, I’ve had plenty of time to play around with flavor combinations, so I’m always on the lookout for delicious drinks I can recreate at home. This recipe was inspired by a cult classic: the Starbucks London Fog drink. It’s a tea-based latte with vanilla and milk.
I enjoyed the tea, but I thought it could have even MORE Earl Grey flavor if it were made with an Earl Grey infused syrup instead of a vanilla one. I love to use this tea-infused syrup in a variety of beverage recipes, like the London Fog Cocktail, which uses a vanilla-infused vodka and this syrup, an Earl Grey soda pop, and even Earl Grey Lemonade– a fun spin on the classic Arnold Palmer!
why this Tea-Infused Syrup recipe works:
🫖 robust tea flavor. This simple syrup tastes like a strongly brewed and sweetened cup of Earl Grey tea! It’s full of black tea and bergamot flavor!
🧋perfect for beverages. This Earl Grey syrup is perfect for incorporating into any hot or cold drinks. You can use it to sweeten your morning lattes or to make homemade sodie pop! It’s also great for sweetening iced tea or lemonade!
⏱️ quick & easy. Making this syrup is as easy as steeping a cup of tea! In fact, it’s one of the quickest syrup recipes I have!
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Pour water into a small saucepan and place it over medium heat until it’s lightly simmering.
Step 2: Add in granulated sugar to the pot. Stir it until it dissolves, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 3: Once the sugar dissolves, add in the loose-leaf Earl Grey tea.
Step 4: Remove the pan from the heat and allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes. Add in lemon juice if you’re using it.
Step 5: Strain your cooled syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove the tea leaves.
Step 6: If desired, double-strain your syrup to remove any tea particles using cheese cloth.
Step 7: Store your finished syrup in an airtight container in the fridge.
Step 8: Use your Earl Grey simple syrup in any of your favorite beverages to sweeten them and add the flavor of Earl Grey tea!
Hint: Homemade simple syrups are great recipes for beginner cooks and cooking with kids! They’re easy to customize and unlock a new level of creativity!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
cocktails
One of the best ways to use simple syrup is in cocktails! Use this simple syrup in any classic cocktail recipes to create a customized earl grey cocktail! Here are a few ideas to get your mind going:
- London Fog – while there are many variations of this drink, this particular cocktail is inspired by the famous Starbucks latte beverage!
- Earl Grey martini – Mix up 1 ounce of this simple syrup with 2 ounces of your favorite gin and 3/4 ounce of lemon juice for the perfect earl grey gin martini!
- Earl Grey old fashioned – use this simple syrup in place of classic syrup in any old fashioned recipe for a tea-flavored whiskey or bourbon beverage!
mocktails and other drinks
Cocktails aren’t the only beverages that benefit from homemade simple syrups! You can use this tea-infused syrup in a variety of beverages, like non-alcoholic drinks or your favorite cup of hot tea in the morning!
- Earl Grey sour – this mocktail combines the flavors of earl grey tea with fresh lemon juice to make a fun and flavorful non-alcoholic drink.
- Earl Grey lemonade – mix this syrup with lemon juice and water to create a richly flavored earl grey lemonade that’s fit for any gathering!
- Earl Grey milk tea – heat a cup of your milk of choice in a small saucepan (or in a cup in the microwave) and steep a teaspoon of earl grey tea in the warmed milk. Add 1-2 ounces of this simple syrup for a milky sweet treat that’s flavor packed with earl grey goodness! You can even make some boba pearls to create homemade bubble tea!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too strong of a tea flavor – if the flavor of earl grey tea is too strong for you, you can add in more water and sugar to mellow the flavor out. You can also add in a bit of vanilla extract or lemon juice to balance the flavor out a little more.
- not enough tea flavor – if your syrup doesn’t have a strong enough flavor profile for your taste buds, you can return the syrup to a saucepan and add in more looseleaf tea. Steep it at a low simmer for up to 30 more minutes to infuse more tea flavor.
🔆 top tip
While you might be tempted to infuse your syrup for longer than 5 minutes, resist the urge! If you steep your syrup too long, the flavor can turn bitter. In order to intensify the flavor, add more tea instead of infusing it longer!
♻️ customize your homemade tea syrup
- other sweeteners – you can use another type of sugar or sweetener to make this syrup, like brown sugar or demerara sugar. Darker, less refined sugars and liquid sweeteners like honey will give this syrup a deeper more caramelized flavor.
- bagged tea – if you can’t find loose leaf earl grey tea, you can use bagged tea. Use 3-6 bags of tea, depending on the strength of the flavor you want. For a weaker flavor, use 3 bags of tea. For a stronger flavor, use 6 bags of tea.
- citrus earl grey syrup – add in the juice and zest of a lemon to make a citrus flavored syrup! You can also use oranges or even grapefruit to make a citrus syrup that plays up the flavor of bergamot in the tea!
- lavender earl grey syrup – add in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of dried lavender to make a lavender flavored syrup! Make sure to use culinary grade lavender, and start with less than you think you need.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 how to store your finished syrup
Store your finished syrup in an airtight storage container for up to two weeks in the fridge. You can also freeze your syrup for longer-term storage.
💬 q+a
What does earl grey tea taste like?
Earl Grey is a traditional English breakfast tea that is flavored with bergamot oil, which is a type of orange. It has an aromatic citrus flavor thanks to the essential oils from the citrus rind that is added to the black tea leaves.
Do I need to use loose leaf tea for this recipe?
Loose-leaf tea is stronger in flavor than bagged tea, so it is best to use loose-leaf tea in this recipe.
How can I use this simple syrup?
You can use this simple syrup in any of your beverages! It works well to sweeten hot drinks and cold beverages. It’s also perfect for imparting the flavor of Earl Grey tea into cocktails, mocktails, and more!
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Earl Grey Simple Syrup
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Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan
- 1 fine mesh sieve
- 1 spatula or spoon silicone preferred
- 1 kitchen scale or measuring cups
- 1 heat proof measuring glass for straining the syrup
- 1 airtight storage container
Ingredients
- 200 g granulated sugar 1 cup
- 355 g filtered water 1.5 cups
- 18 g Earl Grey tea loose leaf preferred, 4 TBSP
- 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed, optional
Instructions
- Pour 355 g of water (1.5 cups) into a small saucepan and place it over medium heat until it’s lightly simmering.
- Add in 200 g of granulated sugar to the pot (1 cup). Stir it until it dissolves, about 5 minutes.
- Once the sugar dissolves, add in 18 G of loose leaf earl grey tea.
- Reduce the heat to medium low so that it’s no longer simmering and allow the mix to infuse for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Once the syrup has reached the flavor you like, remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Add in 1 TBSP of fresh squeezed lemon juice from half a lemonif you are using it.
- Strain your cooled syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove the tea leaves. If desired, double strain using cheesecloth.
- Store your finished syrup in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Use your earl grey simple syrup in any of your favorite beverages to sweeten them and add the flavor of earl grey tea!
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
