Sparkling Probiotic Mint Lemonade
A fun take on the best summer drink! Don't let the idea of fermentation scare you--all that happens is that you get some good bacteria in your gut and the lemonade becomes gently sparkling!
Ingredients
- 3 cups filtered water
- ⅓ cup honey raw and local is awesome here
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons whey* or powder from 1 probiotic supplement capsule** see note
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 litre flip-top bottle cleaned
- Small sieve or strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
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In a small saucepan, combine the water and honey over low heat until water is just warmed and honey is thoroughly dissolved.
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Take the pan off the heat and add the lemon juice and whey (or probiotic powder).
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In a blender, combine 1 cup of the liquid with the mint leaves and blend for 1 minute or until smooth.
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Set up your flip-top bottle with the funnel and sieve on top, then pour in the mint-infused liquid as well as the remaining honey lemon water to fill the bottle, leaving 1 inch of airspace at the top of the bottle. Cap the bottle and let sit out on the countertop for 2 days or until slightly effervescent.
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Transfer to the fridge and serve over ice.
Recipe Notes
Want to use whey, but don’t know where to get it? Yeah, you can’t buy it, but you can make it! Take 2 cups of whole milk yogurt, and place in a colander or strainer lined with a clean dishtowel. Put the colander over a bowl big enough to catch the liquid that drips from the straining yogurt. Put the whole thing in the fridge, and allow to strain for at least 2 to 4 hours, or overnight. Save the liquid that drains away from the yogurt, because this is the whey! You can put it in a mason jar with a lid and it should keep in the fridge for up to 6 months. The strained yogurt is now what you would consider Greek yogurt–extra thick and creamy! Eat it as you would any normal yogurt.
Dairy-free and don’t want to use whey? Take one capsule of your favorite probiotic, open it up and use the powder in place of the whey.