Preparation Steps

• In a medium saucepan, combine water and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and star anise to the saucepan.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Let the syrup steep for another 10-15 minutes, or until it reaches your desired flavor strength.
• Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jar or bottle, discarding the spices.
• Let the syrup cool completely before sealing and storing in the refrigerator.