| > | | | | sturdy mug or glass (or, if the mood takes you, a |
| | | | small hammer). Put the crushed ice in a tall cup and |
| You may have heard of coffee syrups, but did you | | | | pour your chosen syrup(s) over. In goes a straw and |
| know how versatile they are? They have so many | | | | outside they go. |
| uses they really are a must for anyone’s | | | | If you are a bit of a purist when it comes to tea and |
| kitchen cupboard. | | | | coffee, then consider making a frappe°. |
| It is said that flavoured syrups are the coffee | | | | What’s a frappe°? Well it depends where |
| bean’s best friend. Good syrup adds | | | | you are in the world. It could be a frozen coffee |
| wonderful texture and depth to your drink so this is | | | | drink, a fruit drink with shaved ice, or an ice cold |
| hard to deny. With such an incredible range of | | | | milkshake. In the UK, it tends to be the latter. It |
| available flavours out there, you can be as creative | | | | always involves being cold, usually with ice and is |
| as you like. But it’s not just coffee, they can | | | | always refreshing, especially when the sun is out. |
| be added to tea too. A couple of dashes of fruity | | | | Of course, flavoured syrups don’t just work |
| syrups, some brewed tea and a slug of ice and you | | | | with drinks. They make wonderful, dessert sauces. |
| have yourself a Tropical Breeze iced tea. | | | | Chocolate or caramel syrups are fabulous when |
| And why stop there? Flavoured syrups can be used | | | | poured over cold ice cream sundaes or drizzled over |
| in some many ways. | | | | pancakes and waffles. Even a plate of fruit can |
| In Italy, pavement cafes keep carbonated soda | | | | benefit from a few drops of sweet syrup. Syrups |
| water behind their polished bars. Customers like to sit | | | | can also be used to intensify the flavour of cake, |
| and watch the world go by without resorting to | | | | muffin and pudding recipes. |
| endless alcoholic sustenance. Instead the barista | | | | It would be a mistake to think only sweet syrups |
| creates delicious light mocktails adding one or two | | | | have a place in the kitchen. Spicy syrups like ginger |
| syrups to the soda. Some more adventurous ones | | | | provide piquant marinades for salads, cold meats and |
| add a splash of lime syrup to light beers and in some | | | | fish. |
| countries it has been know for bars to serve beer | | | | So, you don’t need to be a culinary expert to |
| with strawberry syrup! | | | | incorporate syrups into your drinking and eating |
| For children, flavoured syrups are excellent slush or | | | | habits. Instead let your imagination run riot (or, if you |
| granite bases. On a scorching summer’s day | | | | are feeling a little nervous, download some recipes |
| there is nothing better. So keeping some in the | | | | from the Internet). The possibilities are endless and |
| cupboard ensures you can knock one up in no time. | | | | with such fantastic flavours to choose from you |
| Grab your ice cubes from the freezer, wrap them in | | | | can’t go wrong. |
| a clean drying-up cloth and crush with bottom of a | | | | |