Citric Acid Free Sparkling Blueberry Lemon Spritz
This vibrant, jewel-toned spritz 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. The base is a gorgeous deep-purple blueberry syrup made by simmering fresh or frozen blueberries with water, maple syrup, and lemon zest until the berries burst and release all their color and flavor. Fresh lemon juice gets stirred right into that syrup, giving the whole drink a bright, citrusy lift that comes entirely from whole fruit rather than any processed additive. For anyone navigating a sensitivity to manufactured citric acid — the kind used as a preservative in packaged drinks and mixes — this recipe is a genuinely refreshing solution, since every drop of tartness here comes straight from real lemons. The syrup gets strained smooth, then topped with chilled sparkling water for a fizzy, elegant finish that feels celebratory without any of the ingredient anxiety. A sprig of fresh mint and a lemon slice on the rim make it look stunning, whether you're serving it at a summer gathering or just treating yourself on a Tuesday afternoon.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the blueberry-lemon syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- ½ cup water
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
For the spritz
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
- 4 small fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the blueberries, water, maple syrup, and lemon zest in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries burst and the liquid turns deep purple, about 6–8 minutes.
- 2
Remove the pan from the heat and press the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher or large measuring cup, pressing the solids firmly with the back of a spoon to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the solids.
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