This Bubbly Blueberry Basil Limeade in 3 Easy Steps features a delicious blueberry simple syrup steeped with basil and mint leaves. Fresh lime or lemon juice and sparkling water are added to finish this pretty and refreshing summer drink.
This recipe for Bubbly Blueberry Basil Limeade in 3 Easy Steps can be served over ice as is, but it’s also lovely with a splash of vodka added at the end. Served as a mocktail or cocktail – it’s delicious either way!
Jump to RecipeBlueberries reign supreme on Michigan’s Southwest side
It’s been a little while since I last posted a beverage recipe. With summer and blueberry season in full swing, I thought I’d combine a few of my favorite flavors and offer you this humble blueberry limeade recipe. How could you not love something so bright, bubbly and crisp as a tall, cold, glass of limeade? Honestly, it’s as fun to sip as it is to say!
I have a soft spot for Michigan agriculture, and whenever possible, I like to shine a light on all the great things that are home grown in my state. One of the first recipes I ever posted was for the Ultimate Smitten Mitten Cocktail. This cheerful beverage features a simple syrup made with tart cherry juice and sugar, paired with the warmth of ginger ale and cool notes of fresh mint. Whether you choose to serve it as a cocktail or mocktail, it’s refreshingly delicious.
So, what do we produce here in Michigan? On the Eastern side of the state, the Michigan Sugar Company is headquartered in Bay City, Michigan. Crosby Mint Farm – a family farm established in 1912, and the oldest mint producer in the state is located in Saint Johns. Representing Southeast Michigan, Vernors is the oldest ginger ale in the United States originated in the “D”. These are just a few of the amazing food and beverage resources we have in our backyard, so you can see why I get excited.
But for this post, I’m all about blueberries! Blueberries reign on Michigan’s Southwest side. In fact, Michigan is the third largest grower of blueberries in the United States. Since 1963, the city of South Haven has hosted the National Blueberry Festival the second week of August.
In addition to being delicious, they’re also pretty darn good for you. Blueberries deliver a long list of health benefits. They’re rich in antioxidants, high in fiber and low in calories. They’re also a great food to add to your diet if you’re looking for natural ways to manage your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It’s no wonder this little berry is so loved!
It’s the simple syrup that makes this Bubbly Blueberry Basil Limeade in 3 Easy Steps so Delicious
Like the Smitten Mitten, this recipe builds off of a fruit-infused simple syrup. Blueberries are smashed and mixed with sugar and water. Fresh basil and mint leaves are also included in the cooking process – delivering fresh herbal notes to the syrup. Once the syrup is cooled and strained, it is blended with fresh squeezed lime juice and sparkling water.
The ratios for this recipe are simple: one ounce lime juice, mixed with two ounces of the blueberry syrup and three ounces of sparkling water. Once you know the ratios of 1:2:3 it’s easy to double or quadruple the recipe for a larger group.
This recipe for Bubbly Blueberry Basil Limeade in 3 Easy Steps can be served over ice as is, but it’s also lovely with a splash of vodka added at the end. Served as a mocktail or cocktail – it’s delicious either way!
July marks the middle of blueberry season here in Michigan, so I can pretty much find them at a local farmers market without any trouble. If I find a really good source, I’ll often stock up, eat a few, freeze a few and bake with a few more. It’s a great way to get that farm-fresh flavor all year.
If you can find fresh, in-season blueberries, use them in this recipe for Bubbly Blueberry Basil Limeade in 3 Easy Steps for the best flavor. You just can’t beat the flavor of fresh, in-season fruit. But it’s also good with frozen berries as well.
A quick word on the differences between sparkling, soda and tonic waters – they’re not interchangeable
This recipe for Bubbly Blueberry Basil Limeade in 3 Easy Steps calls for sparkling water. If you already have a bottle of club soda or tonic water in the cupboard, you may be tempted to substitute one of these mixers instead, but don’t. Although all three are fizzy and refreshing, there are significant differences that prevent them from being interchangeable in this recipe.
- Tonic Water. In addition to being sweetened (either with real sugar or artificially) tonic water also contains citric acid, sodium benzoate and quinine. Tonic gives a bitter flavor to beverages, which is great if you’re mixing it with gin, but not so much with the blueberry simple syrup that serves as the base for this recipe.
- Soda Water. Also known as Club Soda, Soda Water is another mixer commonly used in drinks. It’s a blend of carbonated water with sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium sulfate. Because of the added sodium in Soda Water (Club Soda) it’s not a suitable substitute. As you know, I like to test out everything when I develop a recipe to see if substitutions will work. The elevated sodium levels makes this drink too salty.
- Sparkling Water. You’ll see Sparkling Water also referred to as Seltzer. You want a plain seltzer or sparkling water for this recipe. Plain seltzer is water with added carbonation to make it bubbly, but there’s no added salt or flavorings. We want the flavor of the blueberry syrup and lime juice to shine through. For this reason, Sparkling Water (plain seltzer) is the only option for this Bubbly Blueberry Limeade in 3 Easy Steps.
Use only sparkling water or plain seltzer in this drink and you’ll get a perfectly delicious Bubbly Blueberry Limeade in 3 Easy Steps – every time. Pinky up and cheers!
Bubbly Blueberry Basil Limeade in 3 Easy Steps
Course: BeveragesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutes10
minutesThis recipe produces enough blueberry syrup for four beverages. The ratios are 1 part lime juice, 2 parts blueberry syrup and 3 parts sparkling water – making it easy to duplicate for larger groups.
Ingredients
- For the blueberry simple syrup
1 cup blueberries, cleaned
1 cup cold water
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves torn and lightly packed
1/4 cup fresh mint, torn and lightly packed
Pinch of kosher salt
- Measurements for finishing the limeade
1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice (or lemon juice – see notes section below)
2 ounces blueberry simple syrup
3 ounces sparkling water (NOT tonic or soda water)
Vodka to taste (optional)
Extra lime or lemon slices, mint and basil leaves for garnish
Directions
- Prepare the blueberry simple syrup
- In a small saucepan, lightly smash the blueberries with a fork to break them up. Add the water, sugar, basil, mint and salt and bring to a boil.
- Stir constantly while the syrup is boiling. When the berries have mostly broken down and the sugar has dissolved – approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour the syrup through a strainer, gently pressing as much liquid as possible out of the fruit. You should have anywhere from 1 cup to 1 1/3 cups of syrup.
- Allow the syrup to cool completely before mixing.
- Mix yourself a Bubbly Blueberry Limeade
- Fill a large glass with ice.
- Add 1 ounce of fresh squeezed lime juice and 2 ounces of blueberry syrup to the glass. Stir to incorporate.
- Add 3 ounces of cold sparkling water. Give the mixture a quick stir and top with a fresh lime slice, basil and mint. Serve immediately.
- Optional – add 1 ounce of vodka to the lime juice and blueberry syrup mixture before adding the sparkling water. Adjust the amount of vodka according to taste.
Notes
- Can I use lemon juice or a combination of both lime and lemon juice instead? After several iterations, the husband and I both preferred the flavor of straight lime juice overall. It’s a little less tart, and lets the blueberry syrup shine. Straight lemon juice can be substituted and is very nice, but a bit sharper overall. And of course, you can cut the difference and do a blend of lemon and lime juice as well. Definitely experiment, but straight lime juice remains my favorite for this drink.
What a lovely drink, i just add a little Rum instead of Vodka, but the taste is Awesome