Description
A refreshing, photogenic summer drink combining fresh blueberries, culinary lavender, and lemonade with sparkling water. It is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
- 1 cup water (for syrup)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large fresh lemons (about 1.5 cups juice)
- 1 cup water (for lemonade base)
- 4 cups sparkling water
- Ice (large cubes preferred)
- Optional garnish: fresh blueberries, lemon slices, fresh lavender sprig
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups blueberries, 2 tablespoons dried lavender, and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 5 minutes until blueberries burst.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup sugar until completely dissolved. Let cool for 10 minutes to allow lavender to infuse.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing on solids to extract flavor. Discard solids. You should have 1 to 1.5 cups of syrup.
- In a large pitcher, combine the juice of 4 lemons and 1 cup plain water.
- Add the lavender-blueberry syrup to the lemonade base (start with ¾ cup, adjust to taste). Add 4 cups of ice to the pitcher.
- Just before serving, gently pour in 4 cups of sparkling water to preserve bubbles. Stir once or twice.
- Ladle into glasses filled with fresh ice. Garnish with blueberries, lemon slices, and lavender sprig if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not boil lavender for more than 5 minutes to avoid bitterness. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. The syrup can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Add sparkling water only right before serving to prevent it from going flat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 18
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: blueberry lavender lemonade, summer drink, spritzer, gluten-free, vegan, refreshing, easy cocktail, party drink