Jarritos Recipe

Make simple syrup

Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar fully dissolves. Once clear, remove from heat and let cool to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes).

Transfer syrup to a clean jar or bottle and refrigerate until ready to use. Keeps for up to 2 weeks refrigerated.

Prepare lime concentrate

While syrup cools, zest one or two limes to measure 1 tablespoon of zest, then squeeze fresh limes until you have 3/4 cup (6 fl oz) fresh lime juice. Strain the juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp if you prefer a clearer soda.

Combine syrup and lime

In a pitcher, whisk together 1/3 cup of the cooled simple syrup with the 3/4 cup fresh lime juice and the 1 tablespoon lime zest. Taste — this is a concentrated syrup base. If you prefer sweeter or less tart, add more simple syrup 1 tablespoon at a time.

Dilute to drinking strength

Add 3.5 cups cold water to the pitcher and stir until uniform. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so flavors meld. This yields a non-carbonated lime soda base.

Assemble Jarritos-style soda

When ready to serve, fill four tall glasses with about 1/2 cup ice each (approx. 2 cups total). Pour 3/4 cup of the chilled lime soda base into each glass, leaving room for carbonation. Top each glass with roughly 6 tablespoons (about 3/8 cup) chilled club soda to add fizz and lighten the flavor. Gently stir once to combine.

Garnish and serve

Garnish each glass with a lime slice on the rim. Optionally rim glasses with salt: rub a lime wedge around the rim then dip in salt. Serve immediately while carbonated.

If you want a bottled-style Jarritos experience, combine the soda base and chilled carbonated water in a large bottle or swing-top and gently invert once to mix; do not shake. Chill and consume within a day for best fizz.