Gut Friendly Cherry Lime Soda
Few drinks hit as satisfyingly as a cold, fizzy cherry soda made from scratch — and this one delivers that deep ruby color and bright, tangy flavor without any of the artificial dyes or mystery sweeteners hiding in store-bought versions. Real cherries are simmered down with honey until they release a gorgeous, jewel-toned syrup that forms the backbone of the whole drink. Fresh lime juice cuts through the sweetness with just the right amount of citrus punch, and chilled sparkling water brings the effervescence you want on a warm day. Because every ingredient here is whole and recognizable, it's a genuinely gut-friendly choice — no high-fructose corn syrup, no artificial additives, just simple things your body can actually work with. Honey offers a gentler sweetness than refined sugar, and the fresh fruit keeps things as close to nature as possible. The technique of pouring the sparkling water slowly down the side of the glass is a small but satisfying trick that keeps every sip properly bubbly. Garnish with a few fresh cherries and a lime wedge and it looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the cherry syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen sweet cherries, pitted
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp honey
For serving
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 ½ cups sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 lime wedges (optional)
- 4 fresh cherries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the pitted cherries, water, and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing the cherries gently with a spoon, until the cherries have softened and released their juice and the liquid is a deep ruby color, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Pour the cherry mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a small bowl or measuring cup, pressing the solids firmly to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the solids. Let the cherry syrup cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
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