Hi! Is the water hot when you add to the blender? Or do you steep simple syrup ingredients together before blending?

Yes, the water is hot when you add it to the blender. No steeping is necessary.

I recommend holding the blender lid down tight, covering the top with a tea towel, while blending, as the pressure from the hot liquid in the blender could otherwise make things a bit, shall we say, interesting. ;o)