I brought a jug of this punch to a picnic and watched six adults drink it in under an hour. The juice of two limes, two tablespoons of raw sugar, a slice of fresh ginger, mint leaves from one or two twigs, and 500 grams (about one pound) of hulled and quartered strawberries, muddled gently in a jug. One litre of sparkling water poured in, stirred, and served over ice.
The ginger is the ingredient nobody expects. A single slice, muddled with the strawberries and mint, releases enough heat to warm the back of your throat without announcing itself. The sparkling water stretches everything into a long, cold drink that is refreshing enough to keep pouring without thinking about it.
Tips for Making Strawberry-Mint Picnic Punch
Muddle gently, do not crush
Press the strawberries, mint leaves, and ginger slice against the bottom of the jug with a muddler or wooden spoon. You want to bruise the mint and break the strawberries open, not pulverise them into a paste.
Over-muddled mint turns bitter. A few firm presses are enough to release the oils.
Add the sparkling water last
Combine the lime juice, sugar, ginger, mint, and strawberries first. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Then pour in the sparkling water gently.
Aggressive stirring after adding the sparkling water releases the carbonation. One or two gentle folds with a long spoon are enough.
Strawberry-Mint Picnic Punch
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 8 glasses of 200 ml
Description
A refreshing non-alcoholic punch combining strawberries, mint, ginger, and lime, perfect for picnics and family gatherings.
Ingredients
Units
- juice of 2 limes
- 2 tbsp. Raw sugar
- 1 slice of fresh ginger
- leaves of 1–2 twigs of mint
- 500g strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 liter sparkling water
Instructions
- In a large jug, combine the lime juice, raw sugar, and ginger slice.
- Add the mint leaves and strawberries, and muddle gently to release flavors.
- Pour in the sparkling water and stir to combine.
- Serve over ice in glasses.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
Category: Cocktail
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this ahead?
Muddle everything except the sparkling water up to an hour ahead and refrigerate. Add the sparkling water and ice right before serving to keep the fizz.
Is this alcoholic?
No. This is a non-alcoholic punch. If you want to add spirits, two ounces of vodka or white rum per litre of punch works. Adjust the sugar if you add alcohol.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Fresh strawberries muddle better and release cleaner juice. Frozen strawberries are softer and waterier, which dilutes the punch. If using frozen, skip the ice.
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