Strawberry Soda Lemonade

Fruity lemonade, made from scratch

If fruits were people, being a strawberry would be ‘goals’. Don’t you agree? 

One immediately senses love in the air at the sight of these cute little fruitlets. Strawberries are so exotic…I just love them.

I have had ample experience in strawberry ‘purchase and maintenance’. From supermarkets to farmer’s markets to even freshly picked berries from fields. And believe me… the more ‘bio’ you go, the more joy these berries give you. What I’m trying to say is... try and buy farm-fresh strawberries over store-bought packed ones and you’ll know for yourself. 

Come summer, the farmer’s markets in Germany are overflowing with berries and I never miss a chance to buy them. They’re the sweetest, juiciest and fleshiest variety you can get. I bought a box-full last week to make my most favourite lemonade in the woooooooorrrrrrlllllllldddddd!

This lemonade is inspired from Italian sodas (which are anything but Italian) - sodas infused with fruit flavoured syrups.  Add in the right amount of lemon juice, fresh homemade strawberry syrup and soda or carbonated water. Finish. 

You have the simplest extraordinary beverage. And if you’re not a soda-fan, just use water. It’s the strawberries that make it so appealing.

You know, I like things that last long. So, I prepare this strawberry syrup, store in the refrigerator and use it as a sweetener or topping for pancakes or ice cream or just about anything.

Now, here’s presenting to you the beautiful love story of Mr. Lemon and Little Ms. Strawberry, who were always meant to be!

THE RECIPE

Category: Beverage

Servings:  ~ 5 glasses of lemonade

1 cup = 200 ml

Ingredients:

 - 250 grams strawberries, fresh

 - ½ cup Sugar
 - ¼ cup still water

 - ¼ glass lemon juice

 - 3-4 mint leaves

 - 2-3 slices lemon, thinly sliced

 - Ice cubes

 - Carbonated water, or soda

Instructions:

1. Wash, remove the hull and roughly chop the strawberries. Keep few aside for garnish.
2. In a saucepan, add the strawberries along with sugar and stir well. Add in still water and cook in medium heat for about 7-10 minutes, stirring and mashing continuously until the sugar is dissolved and the strawberries ooze out their natural juices. Let it cool.
3. Strain this strawberry pulp through a fine sieve until you can squeeze out most juice out of it.  Pour the strained syrup in a clean bottle and refrigerate (up to 1 month).
4. Do not throw away the remaining fruit flesh - I use it as fresh marmalade for toasts.

1. For the lemonade: Add roughly chopped fresh strawberries and mint leaves in an empty glass. Slightly mash or crush with a ladle to bring out the flavours. 
2. To this, add lemon juice and ice cubes. Pour carbonated water or soda over the ice cubes. In the end, pour the chilled strawberry syrup from the sides. This creates a beautiful gradient and the drink looks so professionally made. 
3. Serve with some lemon slices and a stirrer to mix.