Sparkling Iced Elderberry Spritz with Lime
Chilled cooked-elderberry tea topped with sparkling water and fresh lime—a tart, jammy, deep-purple iced refresher that's vibrant and caffeine-free.
This iced spritz turns elderberry's tart, dark-fruit character into a bright, bubbly summer refresher. Cooking the berries and chilling the brew yields a deep-purple base with a jammy berry flavor that comes alive against sparkling water.
Fresh lime is the perfect partner here—its zesty acidity sharpens elderberry's berry notes and keeps the drink crisp and thirst-quenching rather than syrupy. A touch of honey or agave balances the tartness without weighing it down.
Always simmer the elderberries first to cook them, then chill the concentrate thoroughly before building the drink. Brewing strong and cooling it down gives you a vivid base you can top with sparkling water just before serving for maximum fizz.
Pour over plenty of ice, top with bubbles, and garnish with lime and mint for a caffeine-free drink that feels celebratory. It's a perfect non-alcoholic option for warm afternoons, gatherings, or anytime you want something festive and fruit-forward.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp dried elderberries (or 3 elderberry tea bags)
- 1.5 cups water
- 2 tbsp honey or agave
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 cups chilled sparkling water
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lime wheels for garnish
- Ice cubes
How to make it
- 1Simmer elderberries in 1.5 cups water for 15 minutes to cook the berries and make a strong concentrate. Strain through a fine sieve.
- 2Stir honey or agave into the warm concentrate until dissolved, then add the lime juice. Refrigerate until fully chilled (at least 1 hour).
- 3Fill tall glasses with ice and divide the chilled elderberry concentrate among them.
- 4Top each glass with sparkling water, stir gently, and garnish with mint leaves and lime wheels.
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