Artificial Food Coloring Free Classic Strawberry Mojito
Fresh strawberries, bright lime, and fragrant mint do all the heavy lifting here, delivering a vibrant pink color that comes entirely from real fruit — no dye packets, no artificially tinted syrups, nothing synthetic in sight. That's actually harder to find than you'd think when it comes to pre-made cocktail mixes and flavored sparkling waters, which often sneak in colorants to boost visual appeal. Here, the simple syrup is made from scratch with just sugar and water, so you know exactly what's going into your glass. Muddling the strawberries and mint together releases their natural oils and juices, creating that gorgeous ruby hue and layered flavor all on its own. The combination of fresh lime juice, white rum, and chilled sparkling water keeps everything crisp and refreshing without any shortcuts. It's the kind of drink that looks stunning on a table and tastes even better than it looks — proof that you don't need anything artificial to make something truly impressive.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the simple syrup
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
For the mojito
- 8 medium fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 16 fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
- 3 oz fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
- 3 oz white rum
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 2 fresh strawberries, halved, for garnish (optional)
- 2 lime wheels, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes. You will have about 1/3 cup simple syrup; use 2 tbsp for this recipe and refrigerate the rest for up to 2 weeks.
- 2
Divide the hulled strawberries and mint leaves evenly between the two tall glasses. Add 1 tbsp of the simple syrup to each glass, then muddle firmly until the strawberries are fully broken down and the mint is bruised and fragrant, about 10–12 presses.
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