Try Herbs and Seltzer to Spice up Your Summer
September 7, 2020

Herbs are not just for flavoring foods. For those of you that are frequent visitors to our recipe section, there are plenty of great sparkling water beverage recipes that are enlivened by herbs.

According to this article on ProvidenceJournal.com, many of these herbs are easy to grow in the ground or in pots, or they are available fresh at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. Peppermint, for example, which grows profusely in most climates and needs little attention and  is included in many beverage recipes, and it also enhances lemonade, tea, water, fruit drinks and more.

Gardenknowhow.com pointed to spearmint as the “mint of choice” for mint julips, made popular by the Kentucky Derby (postponed from May to Sept. 5 because of COVID-19).

Other gardenknowhow.com herb suggestions for libations or mocktails include:

‒ Lemon verbena to spruce up sangria.
‒ English lavender with sparkling water with a simple syrup or honey.

One refreshing summer recipe that fits nicely in the Syfo family of recipes was featured last March in Town and Country magazine: The Cucumber-Mint Cooler has one small cucumber, cut into thin rounds; one 2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and cut into thin slices; four sprigs mint (of choice); two lime wedges; 2 ounces of Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint Vodka (or not) and 6 ounces of sparkling water.

Several of Taste of Home’s “23 Infused Water Ideas That Will Make You Forget About Soda” include some sort of mint, while the Juicy Citrus Herb recipe features fresh rosemary and another, Green Goddess, is made with fresh thyme. Our own Sparkling Cojito Cocktail calls for one bunch of fresh mint plus sprigs for garnish.

While some drinks are flavored with whole herb sprigs or leaves, others require that herbs be muddled. Gardeningknowhow.com informed: “Muddling is where you crush the herb leaves in a mortar and pestle to release flavor. The herbs are then added to the shaker with all the other ingredients.”

So grow that garden, muddle those herbs and kick back to enjoy the pleasures of summer and home with delicious sparkling water beverages during this challenging of all summers.

For more great Syfo Beverage recipes, click here.

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