Artificial Food Coloring Free Sparkling Grape Mint Lemonade
This vibrant, jewel-toned drink is the kind of thing that makes people stop mid-sip and ask what's in it. Tart fresh lemon juice meets the deep, fruity sweetness of real grape juice, all lifted by a homemade mint syrup that takes just minutes to pull together on the stove. The sparkling water gives it that festive fizz without any of the mystery ingredients you'd find in a store-bought flavored soda or powdered drink mix. So many colorful beverages rely on synthetic dyes to get that gorgeous purple hue, but here the color comes entirely from 100% grape juice — no additives, no shortcuts. Maple syrup stands in as the sweetener, bringing a gentle warmth that plays beautifully with the bright citrus and cool mint. It's refreshing enough for a hot afternoon and pretty enough for a dinner party, and the whole thing comes together in one pitcher with barely any effort.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
For the lemonade
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons)
- 1 cup 100% red sugar or purple grape juice, no added sugar
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice
For serving
- 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
- 4 lemon slices (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the maple syrup fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the mint leaves, and let steep for 15 minutes until the syrup is fragrant and pale green.
- 2
Pour the mint syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl or measuring cup, pressing the mint leaves gently to extract the liquid. Discard the spent mint.
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