Fresh Blackberry Sage Lemonade
A refreshing and easy homemade lemonade featuring tart blackberries and aromatic sage, perfect for summer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh blackberries (about 300 grams)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from 4–5 medium lemons, approximately 240 ml)
- 6–8 fresh sage leaves, washed and gently bruised
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 grams), adjust to taste
- 4 cups water (960 ml), divided
- Ice cubes, as needed for serving
- Lemon slices and additional sage sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Make the sage simple syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup (240 ml) water and 3/4 cup (150 grams) sugar. Add the bruised sage leaves. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves completely, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the sage and set syrup aside to cool.
- Prepare the blackberries: Place 2 cups (300 grams) fresh blackberries in a large bowl or pitcher. Use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to gently crush the berries, releasing their juices but leaving some texture, about 2-3 minutes.
- Juice the lemons: Squeeze 4-5 medium lemons to extract about 1 cup (240 ml) fresh lemon juice. Strain to remove seeds and pulp.
- Combine ingredients: Add the cooled sage syrup and fresh lemon juice to the crushed blackberries. Pour in 3 cups (720 ml) cold water to dilute and stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness or water as needed.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld. Serve over ice cubes, garnished with lemon slices and fresh sage sprigs.
Notes
Let the simple syrup cool completely before mixing to avoid cooking the lemon juice. For smoother lemonade, strain the mixture again before chilling. Adjust sweetness after combining all ingredients. Can substitute sugar with honey, agave, or maple syrup. Use frozen blackberries thawed if fresh are unavailable. Add sparkling water for a fizzy version. Alcoholic additions like vodka or gin can be added for cocktails.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximate)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
Keywords: blackberry lemonade, sage lemonade, summer drink, refreshing drink, homemade lemonade, herbal lemonade