Introduction: Virgin Strawberry Drink (with a Secret Ingredient!)

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About: Inspired by my cat Chili, who is full of fun and energy, I like to share about food and other home crafts with a new twist of 'chili'-fun. (This user was previously called Snowball10)

Strawberries are in abundance this time of the year, so it's only appropriate to use them for something delicious and, not the least, summery. Here, I have used them to make a non-alcoholic sparkling strawberry drink that kids and adults alike can enjoy. And the best thing is, it has a secret ingredient! I will give you three guesses...

...strawberries -- Bah! yes, that's obvious, but it's not a secret ingredient.

...sparkling water -- Nope, I aldready gave that away, so it's not secret.

...sugar -- Yes, but neither that is a secret ingredient in this context. However, the secret ingredient makes you use less sugar....

The secret ingredient is ... salt! Yes, really, salt in you strawberry drink! It heightens the natural sweetness of the strawberries, so you need to use less sugar. Give it a try! Here are the instructions...

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Step 1: Gather the Ingredients

First, pick or buy some fresh strawberries. Frozen, thawed strawberries could also work, but summer is a great time to use fresh produce.

Also, make sure you have sparkling water, salt (preferably sea or himalaya), and sugar (preferably raw sugar or something like that) on hand.

For two glasses, you will need:

- 1/2 kg. (about 1 lb.) fresh strawberries

- 1 pinch sea salt

- about 2 tsp. raw sugar or other equivalent sweetener

- sparkling water (unsweetened and unflavored), chilled

- fresh strawberries, fresh mint and/or straws, for garnish

Step 2: Mash the Strawberries

The first step in making the drink is to mash the strawberries. I used a potato masher for this, but a fork can also be used even though it is more difficult.

The strawberries should NOT be pureed in a blender or somethibg like that, as that will make it impossible to strain away the juice.

Step 3: Strain the Juice

When the strawberries a thoroughly mashed, and juice is oozing out, strain the juice into a container through a clean cotton cloth.

You can get special juice-straining cloths, but any piece of sheet, etc. will work.

Discard the strawberry pulp, or add it to a smoothie.

Step 4: Mix the Syrup

Now, season the juice. And here is the trick: Add a pinch of salt as the first thing, as that will increase the strawberries' natural sweetness, and then it will be easier to know how much sugar to add.

When you are happy with your 'syrup', refrigerate it till it is cold.

Step 5: Pour the Drink!

Divide the strawberry syrup between two glasses and add your garnish or choice. For the best presentation, the syrup should fill just barely half of the glasses.

The moment you are ready to serve, fill up with sparkling water in a 1:1 proportion to the strawberry syrup.

Enjoy your refreshing, tasty, healthy, and summery drink!

Now, tell me, where would you like to drink this? On the porch? In the pool? At a party? Also, please share pics if you try it, and vote for me in the summer food and drink contest if you enjoyed this instructable.

Thanks for reading!