Strawberry Soda

Strawberry Soda

This festive beverage uses real fruit for a bright flavor and gorgeous dark pink hue that store-bought soda could never match. Strawberries impart a refreshing taste that’s accented by a hint of lime. The lime juice also serves to balance out the sweetness of the syrup without overpowering the delicate strawberry. Much like bottled soda, this one is craveably sweet; feel free to adjust to your liking — add more syrup if you want it sweeter, or more lime juice or club soda for a lighter beverage (the melting ice will also dilute the soda). When cooking the strawberry purée, decrease the heat if it starts to foam up, to prevent it from boiling over. Club soda or seltzer will yield a fizzier homemade soda, but sparkling water works great too. For maximum carbonation, prepare the batch à la minute.  

Yield: 2 servings

FOR THE STRAWBERRY SYRUP

1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and rinsed (or frozen strawberries)

1 cup sugar

FOR THE SODA

1 ¼ cups club soda or sparkling water

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Sliced fresh strawberries (optional)

Make the strawberry syrup using a blender (see next step if you do not plan to use a blender): Add the strawberries and 1 cup water to a blender and purée. Pour the purée into a medium saucepan over medium-high. Stir in the sugar and bring to a boil. When boiling, decrease heat to medium, and stir occasionally until reduced by half, about 15 minutes (further decrease the heat if it starts to foam up and boil over). Remove the saucepan from the heat. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use, or for up to one week. (Yields about 2 cups.)

Make the strawberry syrup without using a blender: Add the strawberries, sugar and 1 cup water to a medium saucepan over medium-high and bring to a boil. When boiling, decrease heat to medium and stir occasionally until the strawberries soften, about 10 minutes (further decrease the heat if it starts to foam up and boil over). While the saucepan is still on the heat, use a fruit masher to thoroughly mash the strawberries. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is reduced by half, 5 minutes. Pour the mashed strawberry syrup through a strainer, pressing on the pulp to extract as much juice as possible. Remove the pulp and reserve for another purpose. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use, or for up to one week. (Yields about 1 ½ cups.)

Make the soda: Combine ½ cup strawberry syrup, the club soda and the lime juice in a large measuring cup or other vessel with a spout and stir well. Divide the soda evenly between two glasses filled with ice. Add sliced strawberries and serve immediately.

TIP: I freeze these syrups in an ice cube tray (order on Amazon w/lids) then you just take out as many cubes as you want and let them thaw in the glass-instant drinks. Works well with watermelon!

I made this for my wife with fresh strawberries from our garden. And she was pleased, which was all I was aiming for. Then she suggested we carbonate coconut water and use that with the strawberry syrup, it was delicious!

Prepare the strawberries without the sugar. Use a drop or two of simple syrup to sweeten to taste.

Strawberries have sugar. You don't need to add sugar unless you have trouble maintaining extra pounds and your diabetes medicine is annoyingly effective

IMO the amount of sweetener needed depends on the sweetness of the strawberries you have. Perhaps taste one first? I used 1/3 c. mixture of sugar and Stevia, with very sweet berries. I did steep the syrup with ~8 big mint leaves (to mask any potential cool flavor from the stevia), strained them at the end with a slotted spoon, and it was AMAZING! Still very sweet. Also, the higher sugar content perhaps lends to longer fridge storage if not using immediately-a difficult ask once sampled!