This sweet, herbal syrup is made with fresh summer peaches. It's perfect for adding to sparkling water, lemonade, or iced tea!
There was a time, many years ago, when I only drank soda. Once in a while, when I was feeling like I wanted to be healthy, I'd drink juice too.
But not juice juice--the kind of juice that's pink and refrigerated and has all sorts of flavors and colors in it, but actual fruit is about tenth on the list of ingredients.
I didn't like the taste of water, so I didn't drink it. Ever.
Then I realized the ridiculous amount of empty calories in soda and I cut myself off cold turkey. No more!
For several years, I stuck to this but now I drink it again once in a great while. You know how every so often, you just crave a brownie or a chocolate bar? That's how I feel about soda now. It's a treat!
Not an everyday thing.
I try to buy brands made with natural ingredients, but my favorite soda is homemade soda.
We have a SodaStream, which I love, but I'm not a big fan of the syrups, which are made with artificial sweeteners and taste off to me.
So we use the SodaStream to carbonate water and I make my own syrups. Which sounds really intense, I know! And if you're rolling your eyes right now, I don't blame you!
But making your own syrups is easy. It's just a matter of combining fruits, herbs, and spices with the right amount of sugar.
It's impossible to walk two feet at the farmers market and not bump into pints and pints of peaches right now. The farmers market peaches aren't as plump and perfect as the ones you buy at the store, but they always seem to be sweeter and at the peak of ripeness.
I love adding an herbal note to syrups, so I added several sprigs of thyme too.
You combine the peaches, sugar, and thyme and let them cook down until the peaches are soft and the liquid is thick, then you strain the mixture and hello Peach Thyme Syrup!
I like Italian sodas because they're not overly sweet, so I usually pour a little syrup at the bottom of a glass and then pour sparkling water on top.
But this syrup can also be used to sweeten iced tea or lemonade instead of sugar!
The recipe only makes about a cup of syrup, so if you're making a big batch of tea or lemonade (or if you like your drinks extra sweet), you might want to double the recipe.
More Tasty Ideas
If you love this peach thyme syrup, be sure to check out my other drink recipes and these delicious ideas:
Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 large peaches pitted and diced (mine were about 20 ounces before dicing)
- ½ cup white sugar (organic for vegan-friendly)
- A few sprigs of thyme
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes.
- Every few minutes, stir the pot with a wooden spoon and use it to smash the peaches a little bit.
- Strain the syrup into a bowl using a fine mesh sieve and discard the solids.
- Transfer the syrup to a bottle or jar and refrigerate for up to a week.
marissa @ the boot says
wow, this is such a great idea! i love adding a little flavor to my water and seltzer and this would be so delicious! the herb/fruit combo is the best but i've never tried peach and thyme!
Kiersten says
Peaches and thyme are SO good together. Sometimes I grill peaches for dessert, drizzle them with a little honey, and sprinkle them with chopped fresh lemon thyme.
Christine @ Gotta Eat Green says
Your pictures are beautiful! I love the light in all of them. And this syrup - amazing!!!
Kiersten says
Thank you! I don't do fruit very often on my blog, so I was excited to have something different to photograph. 😉
Alissa N says
I love this idea!! Peaches and thyme sound like they would be an amazing combo. And you are right about getting smacked in the face by peaches at the farmers markets. Here it is like they will almost pay you to take peaches because they have so many of them!! 🙂
Kiersten says
It's true! All the vendors here try to get you to eat samples too--they practically shove them into your hands.
Caitlin says
what a great idea! i used to drink diet soda all the time until i had a horrible reaction to it and had to go to the hospital. after that, no (diet) soda for me! but, i do LOVE carbonated water. whenever i'm somewhere fancy with a bar, i ask for club soda with a wedge of lemon. i've always wanted a fancy soda machine just to make my own sparking water. i love that you make your own syrups. peach and thyme flavored soda sounds delicious!
Kiersten says
REALLY?! Holy crap, that is scary. I love sparkling water with lemon or lime too. I think it's the fizziness that I really like about soda, more than the sweetness, so most of the time a little bit of sparkling water is enough for me. But sometimes I really want soda. 😉
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
It's stone fruit season! Though not a soda drinker...but I love the peach thyme syrup. Would be great to serve with some breakfast pancakes.
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
Can't wait to try this! Peaches are everywhere right now and so juicy and delicious!!!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
Sodas are just a concentrate of modified sugars. Thumbs up for homemade juices and syrups! Gotta try this recipe of yours.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Mmm, this looks awesome! I bet it'd be good in the lemon shake up's we're making all the time right now.
Kiersten says
Ooh, yes, it would be! Or any kind of fruit syrup, really.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love peaches and this syrup is just gorgeous!
Maria Tadic says
I think homemade syrups and drinks are SO worth the effort. You know everything that goes in them and they always taste so much better. And where could you find a peach/thyme soda?! Nowhere! Can't wait to try this combo!
Kiersten says
Exactly! If you want crazy flavors, you have to DIY it. 🙂
Christy@SweetandSavoring says
I haven't had a good Italian Soda in years! What a great idea to use fresh peaches 🙂
Anna (Hidden Ponies) says
This is beautiful, and must taste amazing! I need to go on a peach hunt asap...
I used to drink Italian Sodas like they were going out of style when I worked in coffee shops!
Kiersten says
I don't drink coffee, so I always order Italian sodas at coffee shops. 🙂
JulieD says
🙂 this makes me smile so much! I'm so excited for peaches right now!
Suzanne @ hello, veggy!! says
I adore peaches! Is the syrup thick enough to pour atop pancakes/waffles??
Kiersten says
It's a little bit thinner than a pancake syrup, but to remedy that you could either boil it down a little bit longer OR puree some of the solids with the syrup--that would make it more of a sauce than a syrup, but it will still be delicious. 🙂
mjskit says
We both definitely have fruit sodas on our minds right now. 🙂 I've never made a peach syrup, which is surprising since I LOVE peaches! I happen to have about 12 peaches on the counter so this looks like a perfect idea for 3 of them. Love the addition of the thyme. GREAT syrup for a soda!!!!
Kiersten says
Ooh, perfect! I hope you like it if you make it! 😀
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
I must make this for my peach loving kid. I've been buying Minute Maid Peach "juice" for him to add to his tea. I never even thought of making homemade. So smart!
Kiersten says
I didn't even know Minute Maid had a peach juice?! That's one flavor of juice you rarely see in stores...
Honey What's Cooking says
sucha cool idea.. i love this. love peaches!
Richa says
i love this idea.. i am going to add this to plain chilled water! those flavors!
Andrea says
This peach syrup sound like a winner!
Once you strain the syrup, what do you do with the pulp?
Can a pie or cake be made with the fruit pulp?
Kiersten says
You definitely could! Just remove the sprigs of thyme first.
Stephanie Person says
This looks fabulous! What a yummy summer drink XOXO
Paula - bell'alimento says
This is summer perfection! You had me at peaches. And then thyme ; )
Marta @ What Should I eat for breakfast today says
It's hard to concentrate on a recipe while you keep uploding such an amazing pictures.
Kiersten says
That means a lot coming from you--I am always in awe of your photography! 🙂
Eat Good 4 Life says
What a great idea, I have never thought of adding thyme to them. It sounds mighty unique 🙂 and I bet delish!!
skoraq cooks says
Great idea. I'm soooo making such peach and thyme syrup at home. I'm bored with regular water and not that much into store-bought sodas so this is a perfect summer treat for me. And by the way, I have to tell you that, although you most probably know it well - you have really awesome blog. Great and easy vegetarian recipes and beautiful photos. Abolutely awesome 🙂 I'll keep visiting 🙂
Kiersten says
Aw, thank you! 🙂 And yes, if you don't like store-bought sodas, making your own at home is super easy and you can make an endless number of flavors!
Crista says
this is a great idea! and easy to make....