Paraben Free Cucumber-Basil Lemon Mint Soda
This sparkling 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. Fresh cucumber, basil, and mint get muddled together until they're fragrant and juicy, then shaken with bright lemon juice and honey before being strained over ice and topped with chilled sparkling water. Every ingredient here is whole, recognizable, and straight from the produce aisle or your pantry — no preservatives, no synthetic additives, nothing you'd need to second-guess. That matters more than people realize with store-bought sodas and flavored sparkling waters, which often sneak in chemical preservatives that are harder to spot on a label. Making it yourself means you control exactly what goes into the glass. The slow pour of sparkling water down the side of the glass is a small but satisfying technique that keeps every sip perfectly effervescent. It's refreshing, a little herby, and genuinely beautiful to look at — the kind of drink you'll want to make again the moment the glass is empty.
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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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