Sesame Free Cucumber-Basil Salty Mint Lemonade Soda
This drink is the kind of thing you make once and then crave every warm afternoon for the rest of the summer. Fresh cucumber gets muddled down to pure juice, then layered with a honey-basil-mint syrup that you steep right on the stovetop — the result is floral, cooling, and just a little salty in the best possible way. That pinch of sea salt is the secret weapon here, rounding out the brightness of the lemon and making every sip taste more alive. Because everything in this glass is a whole ingredient you can see and name, there's zero guesswork about hidden additives or allergen cross-contact from processed syrups or flavored sodas. The herb syrup comes together in minutes and the muddling step is genuinely satisfying — no special equipment required beyond a wooden spoon and a strainer. Sparkling water brings the fizz without any of the mystery ingredients that show up in store-bought flavored seltzers. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon and a sprig of mint and it looks like something from a fancy café, but it's entirely yours to make at home.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!