DIY Fruit Refresher Drinks (Printable Version)

Thirst-quenching drinks blending real fruit purees with sparkling water for a fresh, vibrant taste.

# What You 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.)

# Steps:

01 - Combine selected fruits, sugar or honey if using, and lemon or lime juice in a blender. Blend until smooth.
02 - Strain the blended fruit mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher to remove seeds and pulp if desired.
03 - Gently stir chilled sparkling water into the fruit puree until combined.
04 - Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the fruit refresher mixture over them.
05 - Garnish drinks with fresh mint leaves and extra fruit slices as desired, then serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Real fruit flavor that tastes nothing like those powdered drink mixes, and you know exactly what's in it.
  • Takes about ten minutes from start to sip, which means you can make these whenever the craving hits without any complicated prep work.
  • Endlessly customizable—swap fruits, change the sweetness, add tea or juice if you're feeling adventurous.
  • Vegan, naturally gluten-free, and impressive enough to serve when people stop by.
02 -
  • The temperature of everything matters more than you'd think—if your sparkling water or fruit isn't cold, the whole drink becomes watered down quickly as the ice melts.
  • Fresh lemon or lime juice makes a tangible difference that bottled versions just can't match; the acid not only brightens the flavor but helps preserve the color of the drink.
03 -
  • Straining the puree takes an extra minute but gives you a professional-looking drink that tastes smoother and feels like you went to more effort than you actually did.
  • Room-temperature fruit will never make as satisfying a drink as cold fruit, so plan ahead and chill everything first—this single step changes everything about the final result.
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