Caffeine Free Cucumber-Basil Salty Mint Lemonade Soda
This sparkling drink is the kind of thing you make once and immediately want to serve at every warm-weather gathering. Fresh cucumber is muddled and strained for pure, clean juice, then layered with a homemade honey-herb syrup that steeps basil and mint together until the whole thing turns a gorgeous pale green. A hit of fresh lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt round it all out in a way that feels surprisingly sophisticated for something so simple to pull together. The whole build is naturally free of coffee, tea, and any other stimulants — every ingredient is a whole food or pantry staple you can trust at a glance. Topped with chilled sparkling water, it delivers that satisfying fizz without any of the jittery side effects you might be trying to avoid. The pinch of sea salt is the quiet hero here, sharpening the citrus and making the herbs pop in a way that keeps you reaching for another sip. Serve it immediately over ice for maximum sparkle and the freshest possible flavor.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the honey syrup
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp water
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
For the drink
- ½ cup cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 ½ lemons)
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 thin cucumber slices, for garnish (optional)
- 2 small fresh basil or mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the honey and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until the honey fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the basil and mint leaves, and stir to submerge them.
- 2
Let the herb syrup steep off the heat for 10 minutes, until fragrant and lightly tinted green.
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