Capsaicin Free Cucumber Mint Sparkling Cooler
Cool, crisp, and genuinely refreshing, this sparkling cooler is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel instantly more manageable. Fresh cucumber is blended and strained into a clean, pale green liquid that tastes like the best version of a garden in a glass. A homemade mint simple syrup — made by steeping fresh leaves in warm maple syrup and water — adds gentle sweetness and herbal depth without any artificial flavoring or hidden heat sources. For anyone navigating capsaicin sensitivity, this recipe is a natural fit: every ingredient is straightforward, plant-based, and completely free of peppers, spice blends, or anything that could sneak in a burn. A squeeze of fresh lime juice brightens the whole thing before chilled sparkling water is stirred in at the last moment to keep those bubbles lively. Served over ice with a sprig of mint and a lime slice, it looks as good as it tastes — the kind of drink you'd happily serve at a backyard gathering or sip solo on a quiet afternoon.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
For the cucumber base
- 1 medium english cucumber (about 12 oz), peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 cup cold water
To finish
- 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- lime slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the syrup dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the mint leaves, and stir to submerge. Let steep for 20 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl, pressing the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the spent mint. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- 2
Add the chopped cucumber and 1 cup cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour through the fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the solids with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids.
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