Indulge in the bubby, berrylicious deliciousness of Homemade Strawberry Soda!
This refined sugar-free homemade soda recipe, made with basil and mint-infused strawberry concentrate and carbonated water, captures the essence of succulent summer strawberries and vibrant fresh herbs in every sparkling sip!
When you’re craving the refreshing fizz of strawberry soda, but trying to avoid the store-bought varieties that are loaded with refined sugar and artificial ingredients, look no further than making your own strawberry-flavored soda from scratch.
Doing so is VERY easy with herb-infused homemade strawberry syrup, sparkling water, and ice – and that’s it!
To make the concentrate, all you have to do is blend juicy strawberries with fresh basil, mint, and a touch of maple syrup until smooth.
Then, when that craving for a fruity, fizzy soda strikes, simply mix the strawberry concentrate with sparkling water and some ice cubes – and voila!
This is an excellent recipe for summertime when grocery stores and farmer’s markets are overflowing with fresh strawberries, but you can just as well make this with thawed, frozen strawberries or practically any berry or berry medley you like.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here are three reasons why this recipe is a keeper:
- No sugar or artificial sweeteners. This isn’t a “diet” strawberry soda per se, but it is a “guilt-free” version made with simple, clean ingredients for health-conscious individuals.
- Makes single-servings or a party-sized pitcher. You can store the soda concentrate and mix it with sparkling water whenever you want to sit back, relax, and sip on a tasty drink. Or, you can combine everything in a pitcher for large family gatherings, summer parties, and backyard barbecues.
- Easy to customize the flavor. You can make this homemade soda recipe with different types of fruit and berries, non-refined sweeteners, and other flavor-enhancing natural ingredients.
Ingredient Notes
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe:
- Fresh strawberries – Opt for fresh strawberries when they are in season for the best quality and strawberry flavor. Otherwise, you can thaw a bag of frozen strawberries overnight in the fridge for this recipe.
- Fresh basil and mint leaves – Basil offers an aromatic herbal and slightly peppery note, while mint adds a refreshing and cooling flavor.
- Maple syrup – It enhances the sweetness of the strawberry concentrate, making the flavor of the strawberry soda more balanced and satisfying.
- Sparkling water – Combining soda concentrates with sparkling water provides the carbonation that gives soda its characteristic bubbles and fizzy mouthfeel.
- Ice cubes – I like just a few ice cubes in my soda, but you can use more or less based on personal preference.
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Soda
Here is how to make strawberry sparkling water:
Step 1. Make strawberry soda concentrate.
Add the strawberries, basil, and mint to a food processor, and process until smooth and pureed. Add the maple syrup and pulse a few times to combine. Transfer the concentrate to a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator between uses.
Step 2. Mix the concentrate with seltzer.
- For single-servings, add a few ice cubes and about ¼ cup of the strawberry concentrate to a tall glass. Fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water (about 1 to 1½ cups), stir gently, and serve.
- For a pitcher, add 2 to 3 cups of ice and all of the strawberry concentrate to the pitcher. Fill the rest of the pitcher with sparkling water (about 9 cups), stir gently, and serve.
Recipe Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make the best strawberry soda drink:
- If you prefer a smoother consistency, strain the strawberry concentrate through a fine mesh strainer to remove any pulp and seeds. You may need to strain the concentrate twice to extract as much liquid as possible.
- To retain the refreshing fizz, hold the glass at an angle and gently pour the seltzer water into the glass. This helps preserve the carbonation and prevents the fizz from spilling over the top.
- If you are not immediately serving the strawberry soda drink, consider refrigerating the concentrate until it is thoroughly chilled. This gives the berry and herb flavors more time to meld, producing a more vibrant-flavored, thirst-quenching carbonated beverage.
Variations
Once you’ve mastered the art of making strawberry soda from scratch, the flavor possibilities are endless.
Here’s a list of more fruity soda flavors, along with the ingredients you’ll need for each one:
- Lemon Lime Soda – Stir freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly squeezed lime juice, and honey (to taste) directly into unflavored soda water. Add some zest as well for a more intense citrus taste.
- Orange Soda – Mix freshly squeezed orange juice and honey (to taste) with plain carbonated water.
- Raspberry Lime – Make a concentrate by pureeing fresh raspberries with maple syrup, then combine with sparkling water and a splash of freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Cherry Vanilla – Make a concentrate by pureeing fresh cherries with maple syrup and a dash of vanilla extract, then combine with sparkling water and a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Mango Mint – Make a concentrate by adding fresh mint leaves and maple syrup to this Mango Puree Recipe, then mix with seltzer water.
Storing & Freezing
To store: If stored properly in a tightly-sealed glass container, the strawberry soda concentrate keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze: To extend the shelf-life, I recommend freezing the strawberry concentrate in flexible ice cube trays and keeping the cubes frozen in a freezer-safe bag. That way, you can thaw the precise amount needed each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few related questions about making strawberry soda:
What does strawberry soda taste like?
Homemade strawberry soda’s most pronounced flavor is sweet, slightly tart, ripe strawberries.
The level of sweetness varies depending on the sweetener and the amount of sweetener used.
This recipe also incorporates herbs for complexity and to create an incredibly palatable, bubbly beverage with authentic, never artificial, flavor.
Can I use club soda instead of sparkling water?
Yes, you can use club soda instead of sparkling water, as club soda is simply carbonated water with added minerals like sodium bicarbonate and potassium sulfate.
Just keep in mind that homemade soda made with club soda may have a hint of saltiness from the added minerals.
How do you make strawberry cream soda?
For that distinct creamy texture and thick, velvety mouthfeel of cream soda, follow the recipe as written, stirring in splashes of heavy cream or coconut cream until your desired consistency is reached.
More Refreshing Drink Recipes
If you like making cold drinks at home, check out these easy recipes:
Homemade Strawberry Soda
This Homemade Strawberry Soda is refined sugar free and super refreshing. Mint and basil make this healthy drink even more flavorful.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
- 5 large basil leaves
- 5 large mint leaves
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- sparkling water
- ice cubes
Instructions
- To make the strawberry concentrate, place the strawberries, basil, and mint into a food processor and puree until smooth. Add the maple syrup and pulse a few times to combine. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate.
- To serve, pour about 1/4 cup of the strawberry concentrate into a glass. Add about 1 to 1 1/2 cup of sparkling water and a few ice cubes.
- To serve in a pitcher, pour the strawberry concentrate into the pitcher. Add about 2.1 L (9 cups) of sparkling water and 2 to 3 cups of ice.
Notes
The recipe makes about 1 1/2 cup.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 portions Serving Size 1/4 cupAmount Per Serving Calories 42Total Fat 0.2gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0.2gCholesterol 0mgSodium 1.6mgCarbohydrates 10.3gFiber 1.5gSugar 7.7gProtein 0.5g
Nutrition facts provided on this website are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a qualified health care provider for personalized diet advice and make sure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet.