Combine 1.5 cups granulated sugar and 0.75 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring until all the sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes to slightly thicken. Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes.

Season syrup

Stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt into the warm syrup. This balances sweetness and brightens flavor. Let syrup cool to room temperature before proceeding (about 15–20 minutes).

Flavoring (choose and prepare)

Fresh fruit puree

If using fresh fruit (1 cup), roughly chop and place in a blender. Puree until smooth. For fibrous fruits like pineapple or mango, strain through a fine mesh sieve if you prefer a smoother syrup. Measure 3/4 to 1/2 cup of puree to use per 4 cups sparkling water depending on desired intensity.

Tamarind or concentrated flavors

If using tamarind paste (2 tablespoons) or tamarind pulp, soften it with 2 tablespoons warm water, mash and strain to remove fibers and seeds. For ginger flavor, bruise or thinly slice a 1-inch piece of peeled ginger and simmer it with the syrup for 5 minutes then remove. For orange, stir 1 teaspoon orange zest into the warm syrup and strain out before cooling.

Combine flavor with syrup

Mix your chosen flavor (approximately 1/2 cup fruit puree or 1–2 tablespoons concentrated paste) into the cooled simple syrup. Taste and adjust: add more puree for stronger fruit flavor or more syrup for sweeter, milder flavor. For a single-batch Jarritos strength, aim for about 1/2 cup flavored syrup per 4 cups sparkling water (adjust to taste).

Assembly & Carbonation

Chill glasses

Fill serving glasses with ice, or chill them in the freezer for 10 minutes beforehand for extra cold Jarritos.

Mix drink

For each pitcher: fill a pitcher or large bottle with 4 cups cold sparkling water. Add 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the prepared flavored syrup to the sparkling water. Stir gently once to combine — avoid vigorous stirring to preserve carbonation. Taste and adjust: add up to 3/4 cup syrup for a sweeter, more intense soda, or dilute slightly with additional sparkling water if too sweet.

Serve

Pour the flavored sparkling water over ice-filled glasses. Garnish with a lime wedge on each glass. Serve immediately to preserve fizz.

Storage

Refrigerate any leftover flavored syrup in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks. Keep additional sparkling water separate and combine just before serving to retain carbonation. If you pre-mix in a sealed bottle, consume within 24 hours for best fizz.