Xanthan Gum Free Honey Pomegranate Sparkling Cooler
Tart, floral, and fizzing with color, this sparkling cooler is the kind of drink that looks like it came from a fancy café but comes together in your own kitchen with just a handful of real ingredients. Many packaged beverages and flavored sparkling drinks sneak in stabilizers or thickeners that can be a problem for anyone avoiding xanthan gum — here, every component is completely transparent and naturally free of additives. The honey syrup is made by simply dissolving honey in warm water and steeping it with fresh mint, so you get a delicate herbal sweetness without any processed syrups or mystery thickeners. Fresh pomegranate juice pressed right from the fruit brings a deep, jewel-toned tartness that bottled versions rarely match. Layered over ice and topped with chilled sparkling water poured slowly to keep every bubble intact, the result is refreshing and genuinely beautiful. A few scattered pomegranate arils and a sprig of mint on top make it feel special enough for guests but easy enough for a quiet afternoon at home.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the honey syrup
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup water
- 2 sprigs fresh mint
For the cooler
- 1 cup fresh pomegranate juice (from 1 large pomegranate, seeds pressed)
- 1 ½ cups sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 sprigs fresh mint, for garnish (optional)
- 2 tbsp pomegranate arils, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the honey and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the honey fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add the 2 mint sprigs, remove from heat, and let steep for 10 minutes until fragrant. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the mint. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes.
- 2
To juice the pomegranate, cut it in half and press each half firmly on a citrus juicer, or press the arils through a fine-mesh strainer with the back of a spoon, until you have 1 cup of juice. Discard the solids.
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