Limonade Noire Recipe

Warm infusion

In a small saucepan combine the honey and 2 tablespoons water. Warm gently over low heat just until the honey loosens and becomes more fluid (do not boil), about 2–3 minutes.

Infuse with rosemary

Add 4 fresh rosemary sprigs to the warm honey, remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 20–25 minutes to allow aromatic oils to infuse. Taste after 20 minutes; steep longer if a stronger rosemary note is desired (up to 40 minutes).

Strain and cool

Strain out the rosemary, pressing lightly on the sprigs to extract honey. Transfer infused honey to a small jar and let cool to room temperature before using. Reserve one fresh sprig for garnish if desired.

Prepare activated charcoal slurry

In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon activated charcoal powder with 1 tablespoon of the fresh lemon juice or a little water to make a smooth slurry. Stir thoroughly to break up any lumps so it will disperse evenly in the drink.

Combine citrus and verjuice

In a large pitcher or mixing jug, add the remaining lemon juice (about 2 tablespoons if using 3 total) and 2 tablespoons verjuice. Whisk briefly to combine.

Sweeten with rosemary honey

Add 2–3 tablespoons of the cooled rosemary-infused honey to the citrus-verjuice mixture. Stir until the honey has dissolved. Taste and add more honey if you prefer sweeter—remember the sparkling water will dilute slightly.

Incorporate charcoal

Whisk in the activated charcoal slurry until uniformly black and smooth. The mixture should be opaque and even in color.

Finish with sparkling water

Add 3 cups of cold sparkling water to the pitcher and stir gently to combine. Adjust sweetness or acidity: a splash more verjuice or lemon if too sweet; more honey if too tart.

Chill with ice

Fill four serving glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup each).

Pour and serve

Divide the limonade evenly among the glasses over the ice. Leave a small gap at the top to add garnishes.

Garnish

Float a thin lemon wheel in each glass and add a rosemary sprig. If desired, grate a little lemon zest over the top for aromatic lift.

Serve

Serve immediately while sparkling and cold. Stir gently before drinking to redistribute any sediment from the charcoal.