Nightshade Free Garden Mint Citrus Cooler
Bright, herby, and refreshingly citrusy, this sparkling cooler is the kind of drink that makes any afternoon feel like a special occasion. Fresh orange juice and lime juice bring a natural tartness that pairs beautifully with a homemade mint simple syrup made from maple syrup — no refined sugar, no artificial flavors, just clean and vibrant ingredients. Nightshade avoiders often have to scrutinize packaged beverages for sneaky spice blends or natural flavoring that can hide problematic ingredients, so making your own from scratch is a genuinely satisfying workaround. The mint syrup comes together in under 20 minutes on the stovetop, and the steeping process pulls out every bit of that cool, fragrant flavor before you strain it into the pitcher. A gentle pour of chilled sparkling water at the end keeps the bubbles lively, so every glass is as effervescent as the first. Garnished with a lime wedge and a fresh sprig of mint, it looks stunning on a table without any extra effort.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
For the cooler
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 3 medium oranges)
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 lime wedges (optional)
- 4 small fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the maple syrup fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- 2
Add the mint leaves to the warm syrup and press them gently with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon until fragrant and slightly bruised. Let the mint steep for 15 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the leaves to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the spent mint.
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