Holiday Flavor with Torani Flavored Syrups

By Linh Nguyen

I can proudly say that I spent the better part of my twenties in coffeehouses. 

This is before Starbucks came to town and coffeehouses were not filled with yuppie hipsters.  I took my first sip of café mocha in the same coffeehouse that would host my first non-school related photography show. 

I clearly remember many, many nights smoking and drinking coffee while discussing life, love and all those things that the newly emancipate youth discuss when left to their own devices. 

I also attended many a spoken word showcase at the same coffee shop that I would work at, for all of twenty minutes (okay, more like twenty days because I would leave my then live in boyfriend and no part time job was worth driving from the west side to the east side of Cleveland no matter how much I loved it).  And, at that same coffee house, I would have a one night stand lovely friendship with one of these spoken word artists.  Don’t even get me started at the number of love affairs that actually ended or never started at a coffeehouse table because they did not drink coffee or worse they drank *gasp* tea. Oh, yeah - technically, the Husband and I had a first date at a coffeehouse where I raced him to finish a piece of Sinful Chocolate cake (seven different types of chocolate). 

Oh, the memories…

Now that I am *cough* older, with kids and bills - hanging out at the coffeehouse is right up there with tying one on and going to a rave.  (Do they have those anymore?)  At least, I can make yummy coffee drinks at home with Torani.

Yes, that is right folks; your expensive latte can be made at home with Torani! And, at a fraction of the cost!

Sure, you can invest in an espresso machine, but it is wholly unnecessary because with a little (okay, a lot, in my case) of strong coffee and a stove top you can make with Torani a version of café au lait at home.

Torani was kind enough to send me two of their holiday flavored syrups: Sugar Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Peppermint to try.  I wanted to share their kindness and donated the Peppermint to the gift basket of coffee that the Cuyahoga Group donated to our Soles4Souls party but kept the Sugar Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon for my family to try and I must say – worth it! (You can also read about my thoughts here on SheSpeaks.)

To make a café au lait at home:  heat approximately a ½ cup of milk in a sauce pan and add two tablespoons of Torani as it is starring to heat and just before it starts to boil take it off the heat source (aka stove, unless you are in a college dorm and then hot plate).  Hopefully, you have brewed your coffee already and have poured your self ½ a cup, saving room for your “scalded” milk. 

Have flavored milk left over?  You now have a steamer for the kids!  Both the baby and my first grader drank theirs down and asked for more before I even finished my coffee. 

See yummies in the background - added Torani to it. Come back tomorrow!

I have just added the flavor to some milk and then poured myself a cup of coffee.  For some reason I think it just tastes better added to the milk first and then add coffee.  It could just be me though.  I also only add one tablespoon of syrup when I use sugar free because I think it is sweeter then the regular Torani Flavored Syrup. Torani’s website hosts a ton of recipes so when I want to really get creative with the flavors I have a wonderful resource a few mouse clicks away.

I must say - I was more then thrilled to get to try Torani at home and pleased as punch to find that it is not very expensive.  On their website, a bottle goes for about $7.95 and that is for sugar free as well as fully sugared versions.  You can also get Torani on Amazon.com by the case and they even have those clever little pumps to give you the authentic barista feel right in the kitchen. 

About Torani:

Since 1925, family-owned Torani has been crafting great tasting flavored syrups that coffeehouses use to make their flavored drinks taste so delicious. With over 120 flavors in regular and sugar free varieties, Torani flavored syrups are perfect for flavored lattes, mochas, coffees, cocoas, Italian sodas, teas, lemonades, cocktails and smoothies. Coffeehouse professionals choose Torani flavors because they are expertly crafted and made with the highest quality ingredients, like natural flavors and pure cane sugar. The sugar free flavors have no calories and are sweetened with Splenda. Now, Torani Flavored Syrups are widely available at retail so you can easily create authentic coffeehouse quality drinks at home.

Torani Syrup Flavor Varieties: Torani flavored syrups are available in over 122 flavors, which include regular and sugar free varieties. Please go to www.Torani.com to see all flavors.

Distribution/Where to Buy Torani Flavored Syrups: Torani syrups are primarily used at coffeehouses and restaurants in over 40 countries. Within the retail flavored syrup category, Torani has a dominant market share exceeding 60%.

Fine Print:

I received two 750ml bottles of Torani Syrup...plus a recipe booklet, a special offer code to receive a discount on Torani.com, and FREE coupons to giveaway.  I have not been paid for my post and the opinions in this post are 100% my own.  I truly do like this product and would recommend it highly to anyone who asks me (or doesn't ask me).  This post contains an affiliate link.