Ingredients
- 500 g fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar, adjusted to taste
- 4 cups (960 ml) water, divided
- ½ cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the strawberries: Place strawberries, sugar, and 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries soften.
- Mash and strain: Lightly mash the fruit, then pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof pitcher. Press gently to extract the juice; pressing more firmly makes a cloudier drink like the one pictured.
- Add the lemon: Stir in the lemon juice and remaining 2 cups of cold water. Taste and adjust the sweetness or dilution.
- Chill: Let cool briefly, then refrigerate until cold.
- Serve: Stir well and pour over ice. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired.
Storage: Keep in clean, covered bottles in the refrigerator and use within 3–4 days. This is a fresh drink, not a shelf-stable bottled preserve.
For a sparkling version, replace the final 2 cups of water with chilled sparkling water just before serving.