Few drinks feel as refreshing as a combination of sparkling water and fresh lemonade. This simple beverage brings the two together in equal amounts, with a small amount of salt to create a distinctive sweet-and-salty flavor.

The result is a naturally flavored homemade soda with a bright lemon taste and a subtle salty finish. It’s an excellent way to cool down while also making good use of an abundance of fresh lemons. The recipe comes together quickly, and if you blend the mixture with some ice, you can turn it into an icy sparkling slush. It’s incredibly delicious.

If you enjoy drinks such as San Pellegrino, this homemade version has a similar refreshing character while avoiding added natural flavors.

In Arizona, lemon trees can produce far more fruit than one household can easily use. It always seems like a shame to see perfectly good lemons left unused. When my mother once mentioned that she was thinking about removing her lemon tree, I was genuinely shocked. I immediately insisted that she keep it and promised to make use of every lemon it produced.

Making Good Use of a Lemon Tree and Free Lemons

It can be frustrating to watch lemons fall onto the ground when the same fruit can cost around 50 cents each at the store. Lemons are incredibly versatile, so there are plenty of ways to put a large harvest to good use.

Fresh lemon juice can be added to a comforting ginger tea for extra brightness and flavor. Lemon can also become an everyday cooking ingredient in sauces and other dishes.

A simple lemon sauce can completely transform a meal. Try massaging it into kale to make a fresh salad, or drizzle it over grilled meat and vegetables as a finishing sauce.

Desserts are another wonderful way to use a generous supply of lemons. Lemon custard ice cream, lemon bars, and angel food cake are all excellent possibilities. Angel food cake becomes especially delicious when paired with a lemon-vanilla glaze.

How to Make Refreshing Homemade Lemon Soda

This beverage is very easy to prepare, but there is one important requirement: the sparkling water needs to be thoroughly chilled. You can use bottled sparkling water or carbonate your own water with a soda maker. Personally, homemade carbonated water works especially well, and raw cane sugar or honey can be used as the sweetener.

To prepare two servings, cut approximately 10 lemons in half and squeeze out their juice. Placing a strainer over a medium bowl makes it easier to collect the juice while keeping seeds and pulp out of the mixture.

Transfer the fresh lemon juice to a blender and add 2 to 4 tablespoons of sugar, adjusting the amount according to your preferred sweetness. Raw turbinado cane sugar is particularly enjoyable in this drink and tends to blend into the lemon juice more easily than honey.

The salt may seem unusual at first, but it is an important part of the recipe. Add at least 1/4 teaspoon of salt, then taste the mixture and increase the amount if you prefer a more noticeable salty flavor. The combination of tart lemon, sweetness, carbonation, and salt gives the drink its characteristic taste.

Serve Immediately for Maximum Fizz

Once everything is combined, serve the lemon soda immediately while the carbonation is at its freshest and strongest. A small sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper on top adds another layer of flavor and gives the drink an interesting finishing touch.

For an especially cold treat, blend some ice into the drink to create a refreshing slushy-style version. Whether served over ice or enjoyed as a sparkling drink, this homemade salted lemon soda is a simple and flavorful way to use fresh lemons and cool off on a warm day.