Description
A refreshing, fruity sparkling water made with seasonal berries and lime. Light, customizable, and perfect for warm days!
Ingredients
Scale
- ⅔ cup water
- 4 cups fresh mixed berries (see notes)
- 2–3 tablespoons sweetener of choice (see notes)
- Juice of one lime
- Ice cubes
- Lime or mixed berry sparkling water
- Optional garnishes: fresh berries, lime slices, rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Combine water, fresh berries, and sweetener in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until berries soften enough to be easily mashed. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
- Once cooled enough to handle, press the berry mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, using the back of a spoon to extract maximum liquid. Allow juice to cool for several minutes, then add lime juice approximately ½ tablespoon at a time until desired flavor balance is achieved. Continue cooling if necessary.
- To serve, spoon 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup berry concentrate into 8-ounce glasses. Add ice cubes and fill with sparkling water. Garnish as desired with fresh berries, lime slices, or herbs.
- For best results, combine concentrate with sparkling water only immediately before serving. Store leftover concentrate in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- I recommend using one cup EACH of strawberries (halved), blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries for optimal color and flavor variety.
- Agave nectar or pure honey work beautifully in this recipe. Liquid or granulated stevia can be substituted for a lower-calorie option.
- Add lime juice gradually, tasting as you go to achieve your preferred level of brightness.
- Any variety of sparkling water complements this recipe wonderfully, though lime and mixed berry flavors offer particularly harmonious flavor profiles.
- Yields approximately 1¾ cups of concentrate, serving about 7 glasses when using ¼ cup concentrate per serving.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 15 minutes | Yield: 1¾ cups