MSG Free Cucumber-Basil Lemon Mint Soda
This garden-fresh soda is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting on a shaded patio somewhere wonderful, even if you're just in your kitchen on a Tuesday. Muddled cucumber, basil, and mint come together with bright lemon juice and a touch of honey, then get lifted by chilled sparkling water for something genuinely refreshing and a little fancy. Every single ingredient here is whole and recognizable — no flavor packets, no powdered drink mixes, no additives hiding behind vague labels. That matters more than people realize, since a lot of commercial sodas and flavored sparkling waters sneak in glutamates or yeast extracts under ingredient names that don't always raise a red flag. Here, you control everything from start to finish, and the result is cleaner and more vibrant than anything bottled. The five-minute infusion step is a small but smart move that lets the herbs really open up before you strain and pour. Serve it immediately to catch the carbonation at its peak — this one disappears fast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- ½ medium cucumber, thinly sliced (about ½ cup)
- 8 fresh basil leaves
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 ½ lemons)
- 1 ½ tbsp honey
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 ½ cups plain sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 thin lemon slices, for serving (optional)
- 2 small fresh basil or mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cucumber slices, basil leaves, and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker or large mason jar. Muddle firmly until the cucumber releases its juice and the herbs are bruised and fragrant, about 20–25 presses.
- 2
Add the lemon juice, honey, and cold water to the shaker. Seal and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds, until the honey is fully dissolved and the mixture is well combined.
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