How to Make Fresh Fruit Soda

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: agave syrup

Honey adds sweetness with potential health benefits.

sparkling water

🥗Healthier: seltzer water

💰Cheaper: club soda

Seltzer is a zero-calorie alternative.

lime juice

🥗Healthier: lemon juice

💰Cheaper: vinegar

Lemon juice provides a similar tartness.

fresh fruit

🥗Healthier: frozen fruit

💰Cheaper: canned fruit

Frozen fruit retains nutrients and is often cheaper.

Start by making simple syrup with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.

Heat the mixture until it comes to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved (about 5 minutes).

Once dissolved, move the syrup to the back burner to cool down.

Juice the berries using a strainer and a measuring cup, smushing the berries to extract juice while leaving the seeds behind.

Prepare seltzer water using a seltzer bottle, filling it with about a liter of water and charging it with a CO2 cartridge.

Pour seltzer water into a glass, adjusting the amount based on desired flavor strength.

Add a splash of cooled simple syrup to the seltzer water, tasting and adjusting sweetness as desired.

For watermelon soda, blend watermelon with lime juice and a splash of simple syrup, adding a little water if needed.

Strain the watermelon puree to remove seeds and solids, then pour it into the seltzer bottle and charge it with CO2.

Serve the soda garnished with a lemon slice and a basil leaf, optionally adding vodka for a kick.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary