Contents
- Carbonate the water first, then add flavour
- Fresh fruit for fruity bubbles
- Citrus for a tangy twist
- Fresh herbs to mix up the flavours
- Syrups for a stronger flavour
- Herbal infusions and ginger for something different
- How can you keep your flavoured water fizzy?
- FAQ
To flavour sparkling water at home, add fruit, citrus, fresh herbs, syrup or a chilled herbal infusion to water that has already been carbonated. Just a few ingredients are enough to create a drink that suits your taste, from lightly flavoured sparkling water to a more elaborate mocktail.
A handful of raspberries, a sprig of mint or a forgotten lemon in the fridge can become the starting point for your next recipe. Here are five simple ideas to mix up your everyday bubbles.
Carbonate the water first, then add flavour
With the Indigo Soda sparkling water maker, carbonate only cold, plain water. Then add fruit, juice, syrups and other ingredients directly to your glass.
- Fill the compatible bottle with cold water up to the fill line.
- Carbonate according to your machine’s instructions, then remove the bottle.
- Place your ingredients in a glass with enough room and gently pour the sparkling water over them.
Do not put a flavoured drink back into the Indigo machine to carbonate it again. Instead, keep plain sparkling water in the bottle and customise each glass when you are ready to serve.
The quantities below are starting amounts for 250 ml of sparkling water. Taste and adjust to your preferences.
1. Fresh fruit for fruity bubbles
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, mango or watermelon add a fruity touch to your homemade sparkling water. Wash the fruit, cut it into small pieces and gently mash some of it at the bottom of the glass to release more flavour.
Whole pieces of fruit give the drink a delicate flavour. A small amount of purée or juice creates a stronger taste, with a different texture or colour.
Two ideas to try
- Strawberry and blueberry: 2 sliced strawberries and 5 lightly mashed blueberries.
- Watermelon and cucumber: 2 small cubes of mashed watermelon and 3 thin cucumber slices.
You can also freeze fruit purée in an ice cube tray. Our watermelon and cucumber sparkling water recipe features fruity ice cubes that gradually release their flavours as they melt.
2. Citrus for a tangy twist
Lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit add a tangy note that works just as well with a meal as it does during a break in your day. For a quick result, add a little freshly squeezed juice. For a lighter flavour, use a few thin slices.
Two ideas to try
- Lemon and lime: 1 tsp of lemon juice and the juice of 1 lime wedge.
- Orange and rosemary: 1 tbsp of orange juice and a small, rinsed sprig of rosemary.
Start with a little juice: you can always add more. For a more elaborate lemon-based drink, discover our sparkling coconut lavender lemonade.
3. Fresh herbs to mix up the flavours
Mint, basil and rosemary let you flavour sparkling water with ingredients you already use in the kitchen. They pair easily with fruit and citrus, without the need for syrup.
Rinse the herbs and gently bruise the leaves between your fingers before placing them in the glass. Rosemary has a stronger flavour, so start with a small sprig.
Two ideas to try
- Cucumber and mint: 3 thin cucumber slices and 4 small mint leaves.
- Strawberry and basil: 2 lightly mashed strawberries and 2 small basil leaves.
For lemon and mint sparkling water, simply combine a few leaves with the juice of a lemon wedge. It is an easy way to change the flavour without adding sugar or syrup.
4. Syrups for a stronger flavour
Syrup is a quick way to create a stronger flavour. You can use beverage syrups from different brands with water that has already been carbonated: mix them in your glass after making the bubbles.
To discover Canadian flavours, explore KWE Cocktails syrups, including their blueberry-lavender and cranberry-fir blends. You can also use a fruit syrup or a touch of maple syrup.
Two ideas to try
- Raspberry and lime: 1 tsp of raspberry syrup and 1 tsp of lime juice.
- Maple and orange: 1 tsp of maple syrup and 1 tbsp of orange juice.
Mix the syrup with a small splash of sparkling water, then slowly add the rest. The amount needed varies by product: follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially for concentrates. If you want to limit sugar, compare labels and adjust the amount you pour.
5. Herbal infusions and ginger for something different
A chilled herbal infusion can add floral or spicy notes to homemade sparkling water. Prepare hibiscus or ginger tea according to the package instructions, then let it cool completely before mixing it with water that has already been carbonated.
Two ideas to try
- Hibiscus and orange: 2 tbsp of chilled hibiscus tea and a thin orange slice.
- Ginger and pineapple: 1 lightly crushed, thin slice of fresh ginger and 1 tbsp of pineapple juice.
Start with a small amount of herbal infusion to keep your drink nice and fizzy. If you add fresh ginger, taste the drink after a few minutes and remove the ginger when the flavour is as strong as you like.
How can you keep your flavoured water fizzy?
To preserve as much fizz as possible, use very cold water, pour slowly and stir gently. Prepare your glass just before drinking rather than mixing a large batch well in advance.
If you are serving several people, keep the bottle of plain sparkling water sealed in the fridge between servings. Everyone can choose their ingredients and adjust the flavour of their own glass.
To find your favourite combination, start with a fruit or citrus ingredient and add just one other flavour. You can then adjust the proportions without making the mix too complicated.
Find more inspiration in our sparkling drink recipes. And when your cylinder is empty, use our Indigo Soda exchange point map to find a retailer near you.
FAQ
How can I flavour sparkling water without added sugar?
Add lemon, lime, cucumber, fresh herbs or berries, without sugar or syrup. Fruit and juice contain naturally occurring sugars, so a drink with no added sugar is not necessarily sugar-free. A chilled, unsweetened herbal infusion is another option.
Can I add syrup or fruit before carbonating the water?
No. With an Indigo Soda machine, carbonate only cold, plain water. Add syrups, fruit, juice and herbal infusions afterwards, directly to your glass. Do not put a flavoured drink back into the machine.
How much syrup should I add to sparkling water?
For a standard syrup, start with about 1 tsp per 250 ml of sparkling water, then taste and adjust. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions if they recommend a different amount. Concentrates and flavour drops may require much smaller quantities.
