Used to make beverages, sodas, cocktails, and mocktails, in French households, syrups are a staple.
Besides tasting delicious, they are cost-effective, convenient, environmentally friendly, and better quality than many other drinks and sodas.
In French culture, these syrups are a comforting tradition. Children and adults love them for their classic flavors like cassis, pink grapefruit, raspberry, mint, and lemon.
They also come in unique flavors such as lavender, rose, and cucumber.
While French syrups contain sugar, my recipe for a drink has 4 grams, the same as one tablespoon of ketchup.
One bottle lasts for up to a year and makes 100 drinks. You can eliminate buying boxes and cartons of beverages, which is better for the environment. At about $9 a bottle, syrups are economical, delicious, and practical.
Serve a French syrup before dinner for an apéritif instead of a sweet drink with dinner. Sweet drinks served with a meal overshadow the flavors of the food. They also obscure the taste of food, making the drink more interesting than the meal — which may undermine your efforts to encourage your children to eat what's on their plate and try new foods.
When choosing French syrups, 1883 Maison Routin stands out to me for its quality and variety.
Founded in 1883, Maison Routin is the only brand of syrup that is entirely made in France. 1883 Maison Routin makes drink syrups in the traditional French style, using at least 10 percent real fruit juice and pure cane sugar, instead of high-fructose corn syrup, and water sourced from the French Alps at the base of Mount Blanc. Many flavors contain no artificial flavoring or color and no preservatives.
I have no doubt you'll enjoy discovering the brand 1883 Maison Routin. Founded by herbalist Philibert Routin, the company has maintained Routin’s commitment to quality. The company says that Alpine water is the key ingredient to their syrups, to ensure consistent quality of the syrups without any need for preservatives.
Using your favorite mixers with 1 of the 120 flavors from 1883 Maison Routin, you will discover endless possibilities. Mix 1 part syrup with 10 parts flat or sparkling water. You can add more or less mixer, but I find 1 to 10 is the right balance for a flavorful blend that is not too sweet.
To make a drink, pour the syrup into a glass, then add the water or other mixer over the syrup. When you pour the mixer over the syrup, the two mix without the need to stir. Kids think this is “magic.” It's so fun to make French syrups. Note that if you add the syrup to the mixer, the syrup will go to the bottom, and you will need to stir to mix.
These additions not only add exciting flavor but can help you broaden children’s palates by introducing new tastes and combinations.
You can also use French syrups for desserts. A very slight drizzle on panna cotta is divine.
Or add a smidge to your fruit soup or berry coulis.
A straw storage basket and copper water pitcher are elegant and useful additions to your French Syrup apéritifs.
You can find them in various online stores. I order from the Lolicup store because they have a great selection at good prices. The prices, even with shipping, are usually less than on Amazon. Pick your favorite flavors today — try several; they will keep for a year!
What flavors should you try first? Cassis and pamplemousse rosé (pink grapefruit) are classics that you can't go wrong with — pamplemousse rosé is surprisingly popular among children. Equally popular are grenadine, raspberry, and strawberry.
With a sparkling water maker in your kitchen, you can make sparkling water in seconds and save money. You can skip buying bottles and cans. Tap here to learn more.
