Vibrant black currant beverage served three refreshing ways: sparkling mocktail, smoothie, or infused water.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sparkling Black Currant Mocktail
01 - 1 cup black currant juice, unsweetened
02 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
03 - 2 tablespoons simple syrup
04 - 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
05 - Ice cubes
06 - Fresh black currants and mint sprigs for garnish
→ Black Currant Smoothie
07 - 1 cup frozen black currants
08 - 1 ripe banana
09 - 1 cup plant-based milk
10 - 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Ice cubes, optional
→ Black Currant Infused Water
13 - 1/2 cup fresh black currants, lightly crushed
14 - 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
15 - 1 lemon, thinly sliced
16 - 1.5 liters cold filtered water
17 - Ice cubes
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Combine black currant juice, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher. Stir thoroughly until the syrup dissolves completely.
02 - Add chilled sparkling water to the juice mixture and stir gently. Fill serving glasses with ice cubes, pour the mocktail over ice, and garnish generously with fresh black currants and mint sprigs.
03 - Place frozen black currants, ripe banana, plant-based milk, honey or agave syrup, and vanilla extract into a blender container. Blend on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, approximately 45 to 60 seconds. Add ice during blending if extra chill is desired.
04 - Pour the blended smoothie immediately into chilled glasses. Serve right away while the texture remains thick and frothy.
05 - Add lightly crushed fresh black currants, fresh mint leaves, and thin lemon slices to a large glass jug or pitcher. Use a muddler or wooden spoon to gently crush the currants and release their juices.
06 - Pour cold filtered water over the fruit and herbs. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to infuse properly. Serve over ice in tall glasses.
