Strawberry Lemonade Sparkling Drink (Printable)

Vibrant blend of strawberries, lemon, and sparkling water for a refreshing summer drink.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fruit

01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
02 - 1 lemon, sliced for garnish

→ Juices

03 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, approximately 2 lemons

→ Sweetener

04 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar or 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, adjusted to taste

→ Liquids

05 - 2 cups cold sparkling water
06 - 1/2 cup cold water

→ Ice

07 - 1 cup ice cubes, approximately 8 to 10 cubes

# Steps:

01 - Combine strawberries, lemon juice, sugar or honey/maple syrup, and 1/2 cup cold water in a blender. Blend until smooth and uniform.
02 - Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher, pressing gently to extract all liquid while removing seeds and pulp.
03 - Add ice to the pitcher and pour in sparkling water. Stir gently until all ingredients are well incorporated.
04 - Taste the mocktail and adjust sweetness as needed by adding additional sugar or honey to reach desired flavor profile.
05 - Pour into glasses filled with additional ice and garnish with lemon slices and whole strawberries if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like summer distilled into a glass, bright and tangy without being cloying.
  • You can make it in the time it takes to answer a text message, no cooking required.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free, so everyone at your table can enjoy it without questions or substitutions.
02 -
  • Don't skip the straining step thinking it won't matter—those little seeds get stuck between your teeth and ruin the whole experience.
  • Strawberries vary wildly in sweetness depending on the season and where they're from, so tasting before serving is non-negotiable.
03 -
  • If your strawberries are a little underwhelming, macerate them with sugar for 30 minutes before blending—this coaxes out more juice and intensifies their flavor dramatically.
  • Taste everything separately before it goes into the glass; a splash of sparkling water that's been sitting around tastes flat and sad compared to ice-cold fresh stuff.
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