What I love most about this basil sparkling water recipe is the flavor in the simple syrup. It's the perfect balance of citrus, sweetness, and fresh garden flavor—without alcohol or soda.
Made with a homemade herbal syrup, seltzer, fresh citrus and berries, this Infused water recipe is as easy to make as it is beautiful to serve for brunches, parties, or quiet afternoons on the patio.
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Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 5 min | Cook/Bake: 0 min | Difficulty: Easy
What it is: A light, refreshing sparkling water infused with fresh basil leaves and a hint of citrus for a clean, garden-fresh taste.
Why you’ll love it: Quick to make and naturally flavored without added sugar—perfect for warm days or elegant entertaining.
How to make it: Muddle basil with lemon or lime, add chilled sparkling water, and serve over ice for a crisp herbal twist.
👉Click HERE to grab my Easy Tips for Growing and Cooking with Herbs eBook.
Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Looking for More Mocktail Recipes?
- How to Make Basil Water
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- My Kitchen Tools Essentials
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Directions
- Basil Infused Simple Syrup
- How to make Basil Water
- Drinks with Basil Simple Syrup
- Storage and Freezing Tips
- Beverage FAQ's
- More Mocktails to Enjoy
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Grab your copy of my Herbs eBook
- Beverage Safety Tips:
- 💬 Comments
Looking for More Mocktail Recipes?
Want more mocktail ideas? Download my FREE printable guide and learn how to make 5 refreshing, alcohol-free drinks!
How to Make Basil Water
- Use fresh basil: Tear the leaves to release their oils; dried basil won’t work.
- Dissolve sugar: Make sure it’s fully melted while simmering for a smooth syrup.
- Strain well: Use a fine mesh strainer to remove basil leaves.
- Chill completely: Cool the syrup before mixing so the ice doesn’t melt quickly.
- Adjust sweetness: Start with 2 tablespoons of syrup and add more if you like it sweeter.
- Prepare the drink: Open fresh sparkling water for the best fizz and flavor.
- Make ahead: Basil syrup keeps in the fridge for up to a week.
Looking for a few other mocktails or non-alcoholic drinks flavored with basil? Try my Lemon Basil Mint Spritzer or my Lemon Basil Mocktail.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
For a full list of kitchen tools used in this recipe, be sure to check the recipe card below. You can also browse my Favorite Kitchen Tools by clicking the photo below.
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My Kitchen Tools Essentials
Tools that will make your time easier and faster in the kitchen!
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Ingredients You’ll Need
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Substitutions and Variations
Herbs: Swap basil with fresh mint, rosemary, or thyme for a different herbal twist.
Citrus: Use lime or orange slices instead of lemon for a unique flavor profile.
Sweetener: Replace white sugar with honey, agave syrup, or coconut sugar for a natural sweetness.
Sparkling Water: Try flavored sparkling water (lemon, lime, or berry) to enhance the drink without adding extra sugar.
Berries: Use strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries instead of blueberries for a colorful garnish.
Sugar-Free: Make a sugar-free simple syrup using a sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
Step-by-Step Directions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes until the sugar fully dissolves.
Basil Infused Simple Syrup
Step 2: Remove the saucepan from heat, stir in fresh basil, let it steep for about an hour to cool, then strain the mixture through a mesh strainer into a mason jar.
Step 3: Refrigerate the jar of simple syrup for at least an hour, or overnight, until fully chilled.
How to make Basil Water
Step 4: In a tall pitcher, combine lemon sparkling water, lemon slices, and two tablespoons of basil simple syrup, then stir to mix.
Step 5: Serve over plenty of ice and garnish with lemon slices, blueberries, and fresh basil leaves.
Drinks with Basil Simple Syrup
Basil simple syrup is great for more than just this recipe for Basil Sparkling Water.
- Hot Tea - stir a teaspoon in hot plain black tea.
- Fresh Fruit or ice cream.
- Lemonade
Try adding a few teaspoons to my Homemade Peach Iced Tea recipe.
Storage and Freezing Tips
Freeze for Later: Pour any leftover basil sparkling water into ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag. Drop them into future drinks for instant flavor without watering them down.
Refrigerate the Syrup: Basil simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Store the Drink: Keep prepared basil sparkling water in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Use Citrus the Same Day: If you’ve added lemon slices or other citrus fruits, enjoy the drink the same day. Over time, citrus rind can make infused water taste bitter.
Beverage FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Basil infused simple syrup should stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 1 to 2 weeks.
You can freeze simple syrup. Try freezing it in ice cube trays and then once frozen pop them out and store in a plastic bag until you need to use for another recipe.
More Mocktails to Enjoy
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📖 Recipe Card
Basil Sparkling Water
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 bunch of fresh basil leaves
- 2 cups lemon seltzer
- 1 lemon sliced
- 3 tablespoons simple syrup
- Lemon slices
- Fresh blueberries
- Fresh basil leaves
Method
- Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan.
- Bring it to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Removed the water/sugar mixture from heat.
- Add the fresh basil.
- Stir to combine.
- Allow the mixture to sit for about an hour to cool.
- Then pour the basil and simple syrup combination into a metal mesh strainer over a mason jar.
- Place the jar in the refrigerator for another hour or even overnight to completely cool.
- Add the lemon sparkling water to a tall pitcher.
- Then slice the lemon and add the slices to the pitcher as well.
- Add two tablespoons of the basil simple syrup to the sparkling water.
- Stir to combine.
- Pour into a glass that's been filled with ice cubes.
- Garnish with lemon slices, blueberries and fresh basil leaves.
Nutrition
Notes
- Fresh basil gives the drink its best herbal flavor; dried won’t work. Tear or cut leaves to release their natural oils.
- Fully dissolve sugar while simmering to avoid any grainy texture in the syrup.
- Strain out basil leaves with a fine mesh strainer for a smooth, clear syrup.
- Let the syrup cool completely before adding sparkling water to keep ice from melting too fast. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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This drink recipe has been updated from its original 2021 version with new tips and improved instructions.
Beverage Safety Tips:
- Heat liquids to a safe temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) when required.
- Avoid using the same tools for raw and prepared ingredients without cleaning them thoroughly.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw ingredients like eggs or fruit.
- Do not leave perishable ingredients sitting at room temperature for long periods.
- Never leave heating or blending equipment unattended while in use.
- If a recipe calls for it, use oils with a high smoking point when crafting hot beverages to prevent harmful compounds.
- Ensure proper ventilation when using stovetops or burners for heating liquids.
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