Mint and lemon drink

Name: Mint and lemon drink
Ingredients: 1 bunch (25 g) mint; 225 g granulated sugar; 1 large lemon (150 g); 1500 ml sparkling mineral water

Beverages - Mint and lemon drink by Andrada P. - Recipia

The mint and lemon drink is a cold beverage with lemon pulp and chopped leaves, sweetened and topped up with sparkling mineral water. After two hours in the fridge, it is strained very finely; the flavor stays citrusy, and the water keeps its fizz. I choose small mint leaves because they chop easily. Preparation: 15 minutes. Cooking: 0 minutes. Rest: 2 hours. Total time: 2 hours and 15 minutes. Servings: 6. Approximately 155 kcal and 0.5 g protein per serving.

Ingredients

1 bunch (25 g) mint
225 g granulated sugar
1 large lemon (150 g)
1500 ml sparkling mineral water

Preparation

1. Peel the lemon, removing the thick white pith, discard the seeds and keep the pulp. 2. Put the mint, sugar and lemon pulp in a food processor and blend until smooth. 3. Pour the mixture into a bottle, top up with 1500 ml of sparkling mineral water and close the bottle. Leave it in the fridge for 2 hours. 4. Strain the drink through a very fine sieve before serving.

Notes

I had frozen mint; I think fresh mint would give it a nicer green color. Frozen leaves are easier to chop if you separate them while they are still firm, before putting them in the food processor. The thick white pith of the lemon can make the drink bitter, especially when the peel is thick and there is little pulp. Taste the pulp before deciding how much sugar to add from the amount given, since some lemons are more acidic than others. It is closer to homemade lemonade than to a syrup, and you can smell the mint as soon as you lift the glass. Small, chilled glasses with ice added just before pouring keep the drink cold without diluting what is in the bottle. A tightly closed bottle keeps the fizz better; store the drink in the fridge and have it the same day. It goes well with a fresh cheese sandwich, without a filling that is too salty and would cover up the citrus flavor.