Step 1

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and water.

Step 2

2. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. This will create a clear simple syrup.

Step 3

3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately add the packed fresh mint leaves to the hot syrup.

Step 4

4. Gently press the mint leaves down to ensure they are fully submerged in the syrup.

Step 5

5. Let the mint steep in the hot syrup for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for a stronger mint flavor. Do not re-heat.

Step 6

6. Once steeped, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean, airtight glass bottle or jar, pressing on the mint leaves to extract all the liquid. Discard the spent mint leaves.

Step 7

7. Allow the syrup to cool completely before sealing and storing it in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 2-3 weeks.