High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Cucumber-Basil Salty Mint Lemonade Soda
Few drinks feel as genuinely refreshing as a cold, herb-forward soda on a warm day, and this cucumber-basil creation delivers that in the most satisfying way. The sweetness here comes entirely from honey, which means you're skipping the corn syrup-laden simple syrups and flavored sodas that dominate the store shelves. Honey, fresh basil, and mint are steeped together into a fragrant syrup that smells incredible and tastes even better — floral, herby, and just sweet enough. Muddled cucumber adds a clean, cooling backbone, while fresh lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt give the whole drink a bright, slightly savory edge that makes it feel more complex than the ingredient list suggests. Topped with sparkling water, it fizzes up beautifully and looks stunning with a cucumber slice and a sprig of herbs tucked into the glass. It's the kind of drink that makes guests ask for the recipe before they've even finished the first sip.
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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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