Nitrate & Nitrite Free Sparkling Grape Mint Agua Fresca
This drink is the kind of thing you make once and then find yourself craving all summer long. Fresh grapes get blended with bright mint, tangy lime juice, and a touch of maple syrup before being strained into a silky, jewel-toned base that's equal parts refreshing and elegant. The whole thing comes together with nothing but whole, recognizable ingredients — no cured meats, no processed additives, no preservatives hiding in the mix. That matters more than you might think, since nitrates and nitrites sneak into a surprising number of packaged beverages and flavored drink mixes. Here, every ingredient is exactly what it says it is: fruit, herbs, citrus, and a little natural sweetness. The finishing touch of chilled sparkling water poured gently down the side of the pitcher keeps the bubbles alive and gives the drink a festive, almost celebratory fizz. Serve it over ice with a sprig of mint and a lime slice, and it looks like something you'd order at a rooftop bar.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 3 cups seedless green or red grapes
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, or more to taste
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 1 pinch fine salt
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
- lime slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the grapes, mint leaves, lime juice, maple syrup, cold water, and salt in a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 45 seconds.
- 2
Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a pitcher, pressing the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
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