Coarsely chop the mint leaves and place them in a medium saucepan with one cup of sugar and the water. Bring to a simmer, cover, and remove from the heat. Let the mint steep in the water for one hour. Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the mint mixture through the strainer. Let the leaves drain until all the liquid has drained through. Discard the mint.

Return the mint syrup to the saucepan. Add the remaining sugar, lemon juice, and strawberries to the pan. Bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar. Transfer to heat proof jars and refrigerate until ready to use.