Barley Free Maple Pineapple Mint Lemonade
This sparkling drink is the kind of thing you make once and immediately want to serve at every warm-weather gathering. Fresh pineapple is blended and strained into pure juice, muddled mint adds a cooling herbal note, and a quick maple simple syrup brings just enough sweetness without any refined sugar. Bright lemon juice ties it all together before a pour of chilled sparkling water gives the whole thing a lively, effervescent lift. For anyone navigating grain sensitivities, a refreshing drink like this can still be a minefield — many flavored syrups and store-bought lemonades sneak in unexpected additives or grain-derived ingredients. Here, every component is straightforward and naturally free of those concerns: real fruit, fresh herbs, pure maple syrup, and sparkling water. Nothing processed, nothing hidden. The technique is simple but thoughtful — muddling the mint directly into the pineapple juice before straining means you get all the fragrance without any bitter bits in your glass. Served over ice with a lemon slice and a little pineapple wedge on the rim, it looks genuinely impressive for how little effort it takes. This is the pitcher drink your summer has been waiting for.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the maple simple syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
For the lemonade
- 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks (from about ½ small pineapple)
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 5–6 lemons)
- 16 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 lemon slices (optional)
- 4 small pineapple wedges (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the syrup is fully dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes until no longer warm to the touch.
- 2
Blend the pineapple chunks until smooth, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the pulp to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids. You should have about 1 cup of pineapple juice.
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