How Sweet It Is: Syrup Reconsidered

Before I moved to France, when I heard the word syrup I thought of breakfast pancakes or cough medicine. But here, sweet, flavored syrups are one of life’s little pleasures. They are everywhere and added to everything–wine, sparkling water, beer, warm drinks and even champagne.

Stop by the beverage aisle of any supermarché and you’ll be confronted with row after row of the stuff. They’re much like the syrups you find in American coffee shops for flavoring Italian sodas or lattes, but here the selection and availability are unbeatable. Litchi, mango-passion-pear, mint, peach iced tea, cinnamon, grenadine. The syrups are so popular that there are 3 brands of cherry at my Carrefour–thrifty store brand, mid-range, and one with packaging and a price tag verging on luxurious.

There are even two choice bottles of syrup in the teacher’s lounge at the school where I teach–just another staple like the coffee and tea. Today two little girls came in to pick up a lemon syrup with water for their teacher, who had requested it while on recess duty. It’s just like grabbing a soda, but with way more flavor choices.

At first I was wary of the syrups, but now that the weather’s gotten hot and chocolat chaud is no longer my drink of choice at cafés, I’m smitten. Grenadine syrup with water (called simply a grenadine) is a sweet treat, mint syrup in sparkling water is refreshing though shockingly green, and a demi pêche (light beer with peach syrup) is a big favorite around here.

We should start playing around more with syrups in the US. Torani (the big Italian soda brand) makes quite a few. I doubt they’re all available at your corner store, but you can order big bottles online for $6.95 each. And they have everything from pink grapefruit to creme de banane and anise. Treat yourself to a bottle and experiment. Mix white wine and cassis syrup for a kir, relive your childhood with a cherry and coke Shirley Temple, or make your own fun combinations. What about a tequila sunrise with something other than grenadine? Just be sure to share your ideas with us!