Vibrant Fruit Refresher Drinks (Printer-friendly)

Thirst-quenching drinks blending fresh fruit purees with sparkling water and optional garnishes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit Purees

01 - 1 cup hulled strawberries (or substitute with mango, pineapple, or mixed berries)
02 - 1/2 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or frozen)
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or honey (optional, adjust to taste)
04 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice

→ Liquid Base

05 - 3 cups chilled sparkling water (plain or lightly flavored)
06 - Ice cubes, as needed

→ Garnish (Optional)

07 - Fresh mint leaves
08 - Extra fruit slices (strawberry, lemon, lime, etc.)

# Directions:

01 - Combine chosen fruits, sugar or honey if using, and lemon or lime juice in a blender; blend until completely smooth.
02 - Optional: strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher to remove seeds and pulp.
03 - Add sparkling water to the fruit puree and stir gently to combine.
04 - Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the fruit refresher mixture over ice.
05 - Top with fresh mint leaves and extra fruit slices as desired; serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like those fancy drinks but costs a fraction of the price, and you know exactly what's in it.
  • Takes barely ten minutes from fridge to glass, perfect for when the heat hits and you need something immediately.
  • Once you nail one flavor, you'll start experimenting with whatever fruit is on sale that week.
02 -
  • Straining makes all the difference between a drink and a smoothie—seeds and pulp change the entire mouthfeel, so don't skip it even if it feels fussy.
  • Cold fruit and cold sparkling water matter more than any ingredient ratio; warm fruit juice mixed with room-temperature water tastes like disappointment.
  • Don't add the sparkling water until you're ready to serve, or you'll end up with sad, flat drinks within an hour.
03 -
  • Taste the puree before you add sparkling water—it's your only chance to adjust sweetness, and doing it now saves you from a glass of regret later.
  • Buy fruit when it's on sale and freeze it immediately; the best batches of these drinks come from fruit that's ripe and cheap at the same moment.
Return