Pandan Syrup

Method10 steps · about 29 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Rinse and thoroughly scrub 100 g pandan leaves under running water.

   Uses 100 g pandan leaves · running water for washing pandan leaves

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Use a towel to wipe off the excess water off of each leaf. The main reason to wipe off water is so we are measuring the right amount of leaves without extra water weight.

   Uses 100 g pandan leaves rinsed and scrubbed

3. 3

   Step 3: Use scissors to cut the leaves into 3-4 inch long pieces.

   Uses washed leaves towel dried so excess wash water is not weighed

   
4. 4

   Step 4: Add the 100 g pandan leaves and 400 g water to a blender. Cover with a lid.

   Uses 400 g water · 100 g clean dry leaves cut into three- to four-inch pieces

   
5. 5

   Step 5: Blend the leaves until there are no more large pieces and the pandan looks like a pulp. This process takes no more than 5-10 seconds. Do not overblend because this can cause bitter pandan water.

   Uses cut leaves and 400 g water loaded into blender

   
6. 6

   Step 6: Pour the pulp through a mesh strainer and use a spatula to gently press it to extract all the liquid.

   Uses leaves blended only until finely pulped

   
7. 7

   Step 7: Weigh the strained pandan water, then weigh out an equal amount of white cane sugar. For example, if you recover 388 g pandan water, use 388 g sugar.

   Uses white cane sugar weighed to match actual strained pandan-water mass · pulp pressed through strainer and recovered liquid weighed

   
8. 8

   Step 8: Combine the pandan water and sugar in a sauce pot and turn on the stove to medium-high heat.

   Uses actual recovered liquid from straining, not all initial leaf pulp · white cane sugar equal in weight to the recovered pandan liquid

   
9. 9

   Step 9: Stir constantly until sugar is fully dissolved, about 2-4 minutes. Continue to simmer and stir until the consistency is similar to agave, about 10-15 minutes. You’ll know that the syrup is almost done when the pandan extract debris begins to separate naturally from the clear liquid (see photo).

   Simmer pandan syrup · 15 minUses liquid and equal-mass sugar combined in saucepan

   
10. 10

    Step 10: Remove the pot from the stove and let it cool almost to room temperature before transferring to a new container. Keep this in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Before using, check the clarity and smell for any signs of spoilage.

    Uses sugar dissolved and syrup simmered to agave-like consistency