Gomme syrup is a delightful golden sweetener that can take any beverage to the next level. This gum Arabic-based glaze can soften your drink while adding thickness, giving it a silky touch. We have become obsessed with using this sweetener in many beverages like our cocktails, coffee, and juices.
We adored it so much that we decided to experiment with it and make our own at home. After comparing recipes and many taste tests later, we bring you our foolproof recipe to make this glaze in the comfort of your home.
Our recipe is additive-free and incredibly versatile for those who like to jazz things up. So, continue reading to discover how to make gomme syrup in just 15 minutes.
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What Is Gomme Syrup Made Of?
This golden sweetener is made of sugar, water, and gum arabic. It is used to sweeten and enhance the texture of drinks. This sweetener tastes neutral, like any simple syrup. So, unless you add fruits or other ingredients, it won’t drown out the taste of your drinks.
Ultimately, gum arabic acts as the main thickening agent needed to achieve the silkiness of this glaze. It holds water and sugar molecules to form a thick gel. Furthermore, the gum prevents sugar from becoming crystals. As a result, your sweetener won’t turn lumpy and rancid in a short time.
This natural gum is sourced from the crystallised sap of the acacia tree. The gum has a golden-tan colour with a coarse surface. However, most store-bought gum arabic comes in tiny crystals. So, you would need to dissolve these crystals in hot water in order to get a pale orange solution.
What Is the Difference Between Gomme and Simple Syrup?
Gomme syrup has a thicker texture than simple syrup. The golden-tan glaze contains gum arabic. As a result of the gum arabic, we get a thick sauce with a silky consistency. However, in the simple version, the sweetener is made only with sugar and water. Therefore, its texture is thin and easy to pour.
Simple syrup can be a relatively good gomme syrup alternative despite the textural difference.
Gomme Syrup Uses
Cocktails
Gomme syrup is used in various cocktails to give your drink a silky texture. Furthermore, this sweetener also makes the alcohol less bitter, thus giving you a smoother taste. Start by adding one tablespoon of this liquid to your cocktails. However, if your drink still tastes strong, add another tablespoon.
Fruit Juice
This is the perfect sweetener for fruit juice. We particularly love to use it when making pineapple, peach or lemon juice.
To make pineapple juice, blend 2 cups of sliced pineapples with 1 cup of warm water. Transfer everything into a glass. Then, add one tablespoon of gomme syrup. Stir the drink well and add some ice.
As for peach juice, you need 2 cups of sliced peaches and 1 cup of warm water. Blend these ingredients well. Then, add two tablespoons of the golden sauce. If you decide to also add some peach syrup, use just one tablespoon of gomme syrup.
You would need about five sliced lemons and 2 cups of warm water when making lemonade. First, remove any seeds available. Then, squeeze the fruit juice and mix it with the water. You can throw in the pulp for extra texture. Afterwards, stir in 2 tablespoons of gomme syrup.
Soda Drink
For homemade soda, use gomme syrup. Add one tablespoon of this golden sauce to 1 cup of sparkling water. Stir everything well until fully incorporated. Finally, add some ice to give your drink a refreshing, chilled taste.
Coffee
Most coffee lovers, like us, love using chai syrup as their go-to sweetener. But if you’re not feeling a spicy and herbaceous sauce, use gomme syrup for a neutral taste. Add two tablespoons of this sweetener to 1 cup of coffee.
Tea
You can also use this sweetener for tea. Add two tablespoons of this sauce to 1 cup of hot water. Stir everything to let the sauce dissolve. Then, add the tea bag. Let everything blend for 5 minutes before serving.
Substitutes
You can always use simple syrup as a gomme syrup alternative. However, your cocktails won’t have the added thickness and smooth quality you would have with the golden sweetener.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a gomme syrup substitute with a sweeter taste and thicker texture, opt for maple syrup. Another great gomme syrup substitute that you can use is agave nectar. This brown sweetener has a caramel-like flavour with a medium-thick texture that blends well with most strong-tasting drinks.
Gomme Syrup Ingredients
You’ll need three main ingredients to make gomme syrup: gum arabic, sugar, and water.
Gum Arabic
Gum Arabic comes in both crystal and powder form. We will use the powdered version for our recipe as it dissolves more easily. The best ratio is four tablespoons of gum powder to ½ cup of hot water.
Sugar
Use ¼ cup of sugar for one tablespoon of powdered gum Arabic. Substitute white sugar with honey or brown sugar for a deeper flavour profile. These two ingredients add a sweet and caramel-like flavour to your drink. Alternatively, you can opt for stevia for a healthier, sugar-free alternative. Use one tablespoon of this natural sweetener with one tablespoon of gum Arabic powder.
Water
You should always use near-boiling water when making this sweetener. The temperature should be about 60 degrees Celsius. However, avoid boiling the water to prevent the buildup of thick foam on your sweetener. Boiling water can also turn your sauce too thick and make it hard to dissolve in drinks.
Furthermore, gum powder doesn’t dissolve well in cold water. Using cold water may result in lumps that are hard to dissolve.
Variations
You can mix gomme syrup with different ingredients to get a flavourful sauce. For instance:
Raspberry
Raspberries would add a floral, sweet, and sour taste to your sweetener. Its smooth flesh also blends well with other ingredients. This purplish-red sweetener is perfect for a fruity cocktail or mocktail.
You would need to add ½ cup of fresh raspberries to the recipe. After you have dissolved the gum in ½ cup of warm water, blend the raspberries in another ½ cup of water. Then, stir in the sugar until fully dissolved over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Finally, add in the gum mixture until fully blended.
Pineapple
Adding pineapples into the mix gives the sweetener a tropical, sweet and sour flavour that tastes similar to passion fruit syrup. The process of making this variation is the same as making the raspberry version. However, you would need 1 cup of fruit and 1 ½ cups of sugar instead. We would need more sugar to overcome the acidic nature of pineapple and make the sauce sweet.
Vanilla
Vanilla extract adds a sugary-floral taste to your sweetener. You only need one tablespoon of this solution for 1 cup of the golden sauce. Mix it with your coffee and tea to get that fresh vanilla aroma.
How to Make Gomme Syrup
Making gomme syrup is achievable in a few simple steps:
- First, heat ½ cup of water until nearly boiling for about 3 minutes. Then, in a separate container or jar, stir in 4 tablespoons of powdered gum with the hot water. It’s fine if there are small clumps. Allow the mixture to sit for 2-3 hours until the powder fully dissolves. After a few hours, you will have achieved a tan/golden glue-like gel. Mix the gel mixture until it is smooth.
- Put ½ cup of water and 1 cup of sugar into a saucepan. Heat everything over a slow boil. Continuously stir for about 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves. After that, turn off the heat and combine it with the gum mixture. Stir everything slowly for 5 minutes to ensure the paste blends well with the sugar mixture.
- Next, leave the mixture to simmer on low heat for 5-10 minutes. Stir the mixture continuously until you are left with a thick liquid. Ensure that the sauce does not reach a boil. You may remove any foam buildup with a spoon.
- Remove the golden sweetener from the heat and allow it to cool. Finally, transfer it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge. Additionally, you may strain the final glaze through a sieve before storage to attain a smoother product.
Storage
The best place to keep gomme syrup is in a refrigerator. It can last up to 5 months. Alternatively, you can easily store it in a cupboard, away from sunlight and moisture. Furthermore, you can also add one tablespoon of vodka or olive oil to the sauce to extend its shelf-life up to 6 months.
Vodka contains 40% alcohol, so it can suppress any bacterial growth. Meanwhile, olive oil acts as a natural preservative. It delays oxidation, which usually spoils the sweetener in a short time. We didn't think that adding olive oil altered the taste.
Gomme Syrup Recipe (Thick Sweetener)
Ingredients
- 4 tbsps gum arabic powder
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Firstly, heat ½ cup of water until nearly boiling for about 3 minutes. Then, mix the hot water with the powdered gum arabic in another container. Stir until well incorporated and set it aside for 3 hours to fully dissolve.
- Afterwards, slowly boil the sugar and ½ cup of water over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Next, remove the heat and add in the gum mixture. Stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Then, let the sauce simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes. You can skim off any foam buildup with a spoon. Ensure to mix the glaze continuously. Turn off the heat once you reach a thick consistency.
- Let the sweetener cool. Finally, transfer it to an airtight glass container, and leave it in the fridge until use.
Notes
- Avoid strongly boiling the water and sugar to avoid the buildup of thick foam on the sweetener. Your gomme syrup may turn out too thick and become hard to dissolve.
- Use a strainer to make your final product smoother.
- If you want to make a thicker syrupy sweetener, then reduce the amount of water.
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and are only rough estimations.
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