Citric Acid Free Vegan Cherry Limeade with Lime Zest and Ice
Tart cherries and fresh lime come together in this sparkling drink that looks stunning and tastes even better — the kind of thing you'd happily pay too much for at a restaurant. Most commercial lemonades and fruit drinks sneak in added citric acid as a preservative or flavor booster, which makes finding a safe option genuinely tricky. This one sidesteps that entirely by relying on freshly squeezed lime juice and tart cherry juice for all the bright, tangy flavor you want. The lime zest gets steeped right into the agave simple syrup, which means every sip carries that aromatic citrus punch without any shortcuts. Agave dissolves beautifully into the syrup base, keeping the sweetness smooth and balanced against the bold cherry notes. A gentle stir before adding the sparkling water keeps the bubbles lively, so the final pour is crisp and refreshing over ice. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing drink that genuinely doesn't feel like it's missing a thing.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the simple syrup
- ½ cup agave syrup
- ½ cup water
For the limeade
- ¾ cup fresh lime juice (from about 6 limes)
- 1 tbsp lime zest (from about 2 limes)
- 1 cup tart cherry juice
- 2 cups sparkling water
For serving
- 2 cups ice
- 4 lime slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the agave syrup and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the agave is fully dissolved, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes until no longer warm to the touch.
- 2
Zest 2 limes directly into the cooled syrup and stir to combine, then juice enough limes to yield 3/4 cup fresh lime juice.
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