BHA & BHT Free Raspberry Lemon Agua Fresca
Bright, bubbly, and deeply refreshing, this sparkling raspberry lemonade-style drink is the kind of thing you'll want to make on repeat all summer long. The base starts with fresh raspberries simmered down into a rich, jewel-toned syrup that's sweetened with maple syrup — no refined sugars or synthetic additives in sight. A generous hit of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest keeps everything tart and lively before cold sparkling water brings the whole thing together with a satisfying fizz. For anyone navigating preservative sensitivities, store-bought flavored drinks and fruit punches can be a minefield of hidden additives, but every ingredient here is clean and straightforward. Straining out the seeds gives the finished drink a smooth, polished texture that feels genuinely special without any extra effort. Poured over ice with a sprig of fresh mint and a few lemon slices, it's as pretty as it is delicious — the kind of drink that looks like it came from a fancy café but came together in your own kitchen.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- ½ cup water
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 3 cups cold sparkling water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the raspberries, water, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing the raspberries against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon, until the berries have completely broken down and the mixture is deep red and steaming, about 4–5 minutes.
- 2
Pour the raspberry mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a pitcher, pressing firmly on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the seeds and pulp left in the strainer.
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